EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Ohana Empire became a winner for the first time in more than two years when the 6-year-old gelding was elevated from second to first following the disqualification of See the Truth in Friday night’s featured $52,000 allowance optional claimer during the Monmouth-at-Meadowlands meet.

Owned and trained by James Frangella and ridden by Ramon Moya, Ohana Empire rallied from eighth entering the final turn in the field of nine to be a near-miss second in the mile and a sixteenth race for Jersey-breds.

But race winner See the Truth was disqualified from first to last for interfering with Here Comes Billy in mid-stretch as he launched a rally up the rail.

Ohana Empire, flying late on the far outside, paid $18.60 to win.

The winning time over a turf course listed as firm was 1:42.92.

Giant James and Vesparo, who finished in a dead heat for third, a head behind the eventual winner, were elevated to second.

Legendary Thunder, originally another neck back in fourth, was placed third.

The victory was the fourth in 35 career starts for the son of Soaring Empire. He last won on Aug. 28, 2022 at Monmouth Park, with the victory snapping a 15-race losing streak.

Closers created a logjam of eight horses across the track in mid-stretch after early pace setter Leo Monte faded after setting fractions of :23.75, :47.87 and 1:11.95 for six furlongs. The top three finishers all came from well off the pace.

Racing resumes Saturday with a six-race all-turf card at the Meadowlands. First race post time is 7 p.m.