Saturday morning
qualifiers at The Meadowlands were conducted over a track that was dry but
dulled by overnight rain with spring-like temperatures and a steady 10-15 mph
breeze from the west (against the wind in the homestretch).
The first race for 3YO filly
trotters and Lifetime Pursuit led virtually all the way to win in 1:58.4 / 28.4
for Yannick Gingras. She is one of fourteen programmed to qualify this morning
from the Jimmy Takter stable. Brittany Farms bred and owns the Cantab Hall
filly who made $270k and took a record of 1:52.3 as quietly as could be facing
the deepest group of trotting fillies in memory last season.
The queen of that crop,
Shake It Cerry was up next and she held off a challenge on both sides to win in
1:58 /29 for Ron Pierce. Takter conditions her for Solveig’s Racing Partners.
Highest Peak and Scream And Shout threaten the winner in solid efforts.
Takter swept the early
pick three (which would have paid around $8) with Trixton, and he was really
powerful today for Jimmy. Martiniwithmuscle left from post ten and set
fractions through the 1:29.2 three panels when Takter edged Trixon from the
pocket and rolled on by under no urging in 1:57.2. The highest priced trotting
yearling of 2012 at $360,000 was a striking but at times immature looking baby
last season that has clearly grown into a man. Nuncio, also now a Takter
trainee, was quite settled in his soph debut sitting comfortably in third for
John Campbell and offering a mild close.
The fifth race for 3yo
colt trotters looked like a Hambo elimination. Father Patrick made his debut
here for Takter and caught a loaded field with the headstrong Odds On Amethyst
dragging Tim Tetrick through hot numbers of 27.4, 56, and 1:24.3 with Father
Patrick guided into an early tuck third by Gingras. Odds On Amethyst was well
clear into the stretch and held for the 1:54.1 win though visibly tiring in a
solid effort. Father Patrick was shown racetrack only in the last eighth,
closing willingly to be second in a purposeful mile. Valley Victory stake
winner Muscle Network made his first appearance, was taken back with willing
trot late in what amounted to a charted workout.
Older trotters took the
track next and Corky was another winner from the Takter barn. Jimmy drove the
four year old in his third qualifier and sat the pocket behind Fico, tipped as
they straightened up and went by under his own power. D’Orsay sat in
comfortably throughout and gained late for second. Swedish champion Sebastian
K, a stunning individual on the track, followed along and had trot in the
stretch under no urging from Swedish trainer Ake Svanstedt who was making his
first appearance at The Meadowlands this morning.
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| Maven and Market Share (Photo by Ken Weingartner) |
After a warm up break in
the action, one of the day’s marquee match ups, a battle of the sexes pitting
Market Share against Maven came around. On this day Maven struck a blow for
equality with a 1:54- win over her male rival. Yannick sent her right to the
top and sailed along through the 1:25.2 three panels with Market Share on his
back. Tetrick never tipped Market Share, had a clear shot up the inside but did
not gain while maintaining a comfortable hold with Maven under confident
handling and well within herself.
With sun and wind making
the track faster as the morning wore on, next up were the pacing portion of
today’s races. Hunger Games held off Uffizi Hanover in 1:54 for Ron Pierce,
home in 27.3 in the first of these. She’s a Somebeachsomewhere lass who
accomplished little at two but trainer Linda Toscano has her looking like a
winner this year.
Gettingreadytoroll won
another qualifier for Takter/Gingras in 1:53.4 / 27- and was once again
visually impressive. She had but a single start last year but surely has the
look of a stakes filly. Sanbetweenurtoes and Ken Doll J followed her under the
wire, both offering solid efforts.
Capital Account is back.
The American Ideal colt was given a respite after his second in the Buddy
Gilmour final and looked good and safe this morning, winning in 1:54 / 27.3 for
Gingras / Takter / Brittany. Somewhere Fancy (Toscano) was a good second in
this one.
Western Vintage made his
came out this morning and won from well off the pace in 1:52.4 / 27- with his
individual last quarter in around 26 flat under no urging at all. Gingras drove
for trainer Nancy Johansson and owners Perry Soderberg and Marvin Katz. Maxi
Bon closed to be second and Sweet Talkin Clyde was a restrained third after a
couple of moves in a good effort.
In the twelfth race,
Scott Zeron directed That’s My Opinion to the front from his outside post with
Tellitlikeitis (Gingras) on his back through the 56.1 half and 1:24.2 three
quarters. In the stretch, Gingras drew from the pocket and away they went mano
a mano through a 26.4 last quarter with Tellitlikeitis getting the nod over
That’s My Opinion in 1:51.1. Takter trains the winner.
Warrawee Needy is a very
fast horse. Actually, he is one of three (Somebeachsomewhere and Holborn
Hanover the others) to hold the World Race Record of 1:46.4, taken last season
right here. After two preps at Pocono, he went 1:50- this morning for Tim
Tetrick, looking powerful under just a few gentle reminders through the
stretch. He appears ready for the wars off that effort.
Sweet Lou wrapped up the
day’s events with an uneventful 1:52.1 / 27.1 tour on the front on his own.
Odds On Equuleus looked good and passed the top mare Drop The Ball late in the
stretch to be second.
Live racing tonight at
7:15 with the Reynolds Memorial Grand Circuit stake and the $30,000 final of
the Legends vs Phenoms drivers’ competition.
Results and charts of
today’s qualifiers are available at The Meadowlands website.
