MANALAPAN,
NJ – April 30, 2014 – Western Vintage, who swept last year’s New Jersey Sire
Stakes for two-year-old colt pacers, is among the 22 eligibles for the $250,000
estimated Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic while 29 fillies were nominated
to the $125,000 estimated Thomas D’Altrui Miss New Jersey.
Both
stakes, which will be contested on August 2, 2014, Hambletonian Day at the
Meadowland, are restricted to New Jersey-sired three-year-old pacers and are
sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey.
Perry
Soderberg of Hightstown, NJ, who owns Western Vintage in partnership with
Marvin Katz of Toronto, is pointing his son of Western Ideal toward a return to
the races in the New Jersey Sire Stakes, which begin on May 17 at the
Meadowlands.
“Western
Vintage qualified last Saturday [April 26] and was awesome,” said Soderberg, a
bloodstock agent. “Yannick [Gingras] just sat with him and then let him
roll a bit down the stretch. He won in 1:52.4 with a 26.1 at the end, in
to a pretty strong head wind. His heart rate was low afterwards and
Yannick was very happy with him.
“The
plan is to skip a week, then qualify again, then do the New Jersey Sire Stakes
[May 17, 24 and 31] at the Meadowlands,” Soderberg explained. “After
that, we take it as it comes and let the horse tell us the schedule. He
has been strong, happy and loves to race, so we are aiming for the big
ones. The New Jersey Classic is on his stakes schedule, but we make more
plans after the New Jersey Sire Stakes and see what suits us the best.”
Swedish-born
Soderberg, who has been evaluating horses since 1986, usually picks out
yearlings for others, primarily trainer Jimmy Takter and his owners. But
when no one wanted Western Vintage, he purchased the colt for himself for
$7,000. Katz bought an interest last October.
Western
Vintage completed his two-year-old campaign with five wins and one second [in
the Metro] from eight starts for earnings of $316,838.
“The
horse jogged 1:49.4 at two [winning a stakes at Lexington’s Red Mile] and feels
a lot stronger this year, so we are optimistic,” Soderberg noted. “We, as
all others, need some racing luck and the three-year-old pacers this year are
good and many of them could show up. So we have to wait and see how it
plays out.”
This
year’s New Jersey Classic eligibles represent 15 sons of Rocknroll Hanover,
three by Cam’s Card Shark and two each by Tell All and Western Ideal. The
Miss New Jersey includes 19 by Rocknroll Hanover, seven by Western Ideal, two
by Tell All and one by Cam’s Card Shark.
2014
Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic Eligibles
Account Rollover, Beat The Drum, Bushwacker, Card Shock, Dancin
Hill, Doo Wop Hanover, Earthshaker, Gold Rocks, In The Clear, Papa Fra,
Rediscovery, Rock Fame, Rock Out, Rockeyed Optimist, Rocknroll Reality,
Rockstar Stride, Say Uncle, Spanishtown, Sweet Rock, This Is Bill Byrne,
Western Vintage, and Whisky N Pie.
2014
Thomas D'Altrui Miss New Jersey Eligibles
Act Now, Atsallrite Hanover, Beautiful Lady, Blixtra, Color
Palette K, Cut A Deal, Fiyonce, Gettingreadytoroll, Highland Rockstar, I Need
Hotstuff, Ideal Helen, Kate Can't Wait, Magnifique, Mako Wish, Mona Mona, My
Lady Day, My Sweet Clara, Nikites, Poppies Pride, Rock N Roll Meg, Rockin
Smile, Rockingcam Park, Rocknroll Queen, Rosie De Vie, She's Dangerous,
Surfside Sexy, Val Di Noto, Wishfor Rocknroll, and Zip Zip Boom.
--From Carol Hodes for the SBOANJ
