The New
Jersey Sires Stakes for three year old pacers headlined Saturday’s card at the
Meadowlands Racetrack.
The damp cool evening didn’t slow them down at all, as the Western Ideal filly
Miss Caila J Fra reduced her record to 1:50.2 upsetting 1/2 favorite
Jerseylicious in the $43,000 filly pace. Simon Allard secured the pocket early
and followed the top choice through honest fractions then sent his charge
through on the inside for the nose victory.
The Fra Stable, LLC bred and owns Miss Caila J Fra, who was unraced at two and
flashed promise earlier this spring but has really come to hand lately for
trainer Steve Elliott.
The colts split into a pair of divisions and Johny Rock scored a front running 1:50.4 win in the $24,000 first one.
Andy
Miller released longshot Rockaholic, removed back to the lead and rated
comfortable fractions while the public choice, Emeritus Maximus, found himself
confined to a position behind the fading Rockaholic until too late and could
not chase down the winner once free.
Johny Rock is trained out of the Julie Miller barn for partnership of Wiswell,
Goehlen and Schick.
Real Rocker pulled a real shocker in the second colt division, his task made
far easier when heavy favorite Wake Up Peter broke before the start and lost
all chance. Ima Giggity Fool and Rock Star took turns on the lead with the
eventual winner grinding up first over for Corey Callahan. Sandwiched by Ima
Giggity Fool and Rocks N Bonds in a photo, Real Rocker prevailed by half a head
in 1:52-.
Real Rocker is racing from the Trish Foulk barn for his New Jersey engagements.
She is babysitting the gelding for Steve Carter and his partners, Peggy Carter,
Robert Reid & Chuck Grubbs, all Ohio residents.
The top performers form this and last week’s legs will return next Saturday for the $150,000 final offered to each of the four sophomore divisions.
Despite cold, damp and windy conditions, The
Meadowlands still managed to show a substantial increase in its betting
handle. The Saturday night handle marked an increase of 32-percent from
the same Saturday in 2012.
Racing returns on Friday with first race post time at 7:15 P.M. June gets off to a flying start with next Saturday’s card including the four New Jersey Sire Stakes Finals, The Golden Girls and the next leg of the TVG FFA Pacing Championship series.
