HORSE RACING

• Pletcher ties stakes record at Meadowlands

  
  

  East Rutherford, NJ (Sports Network) - Master Command, ridden by John Velazquez, went wire to wire Friday night to win the $500,000 Meadowlands Breeders' Cup. The victory gave trainer Todd Pletcher his 91st stakes win of the year, equaling the record held by D. Wayne Lukas.

  Master Command broke well from the gate in the 1 1/8 mile race. He took the lead at the start followed by Wild Desert, Reverberate and Jersey Peach. Midway up the backstretch Iselin Handicap winner Park Avenue Ball joined the lead group.

  Around the turn for home Master Command maintained the lead as Wild Desert continued running second and Park Avenue Ball moved into third on the outside. Park Avenue Ball faded down the stretch as Master Command kept his advantage over Wild Desert.

  Master Command finished 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Wild Desert with Awesome Twist rallying for third. Completing the order of finish was Reverberate, Park Avenue Ball, Jersey Peach and We Can Seek.

  The time for the Meadowlands Breeders' Cup was 1:46.21 on a fast track.

  The win in the Grade 2 event also gave Pletcher his 51st graded stakes victory of 2006.It was second graded stakes win of the year for Master Command. He captured the William Schaefer Handicap at Pimlico on Preakness Stakes day. Master Command also won the Schaefer as the pace-setter.

  The four-year-old colt is owned by Marie and Aaron Jones and adds $300,000 to his bankroll. In his career, Master Command has won five times in 11 starts for $512,420.

  Master Command returned $6.80, $4.00 and $3.60. Wild Desert paid $5.80 and $4.60, and Awesome Twist paid $4.60 for show.

  10/13 22:57:40 ET