Qualifiers on Friday morning featured the return of 2013 Pacer of the Year
Captaintreacherous. Overcast skies threatened rain with temperatures around 70
and the races began with a stiff east wind (at their back for the final
quarter) blowing.
The Captain, looking calm and poised, set slow numbers for Tetrick going
28.2, 57.3 and 1:25.2 then tacked a 26.1 sprint on the end in his seasonal
debut to finish the 1:51.3 mile. He was tracked throughout by 2013 Adios winner
Sunfire Blue Chip, holding that one at bay by a length. Both colts were very
willing and finished with good energy. We’ll likely see both in the morning
another time or two with Team Treacherous stating that the June 13 Meadowlands
Maturity Pace will be his first money start of 2014.
Cooler Schooner started the day with another impressive mile, pretty kind
through the early going for John Campbell with moderate fractions then kicking
home in a wind-aided 27.3 to close the 1:55.3 circuit. Love Talk followed her
around and was a comfortable second.
Uva Hanover scooted home in 27 flat for Tim Tetrick in his 1:56.4 win in
race two. He was a presence in the PASS program at two and made the final of
that series before being shut down in September. Dejatiero was a good second in
his second career try for Smedshammer. He was unraced at two.
Speak The Truth looked sharp again with a win from just off the lead,
finishing strong in 27 (the wind has increased as the races continue) on the
end of a 1:56.4 mile. He’s headed for next week’s second leg of the NJSS.
Hillustrious stayed flat today and Yannick Gingras let the speedy Muscle
Hill half to Snow White roll. He opened a long lead passing the half in 57 flat
then shortened stride late winning in 1:56.1 / 29.2. Hallanet had some trot
finishing for Smeds and Muscle Midas went very well in his first try of the
season closing to be third for Marcus Johansson.
A few good older trotters came along in race five and they flew home in 26.3
on the end of a 1:56- mile. Team Six got up on the wire for Marcus Miller to nail
Swan In A Million on the wire.
Lightning Storm went well on the lead for Corey Callahan winning easily in
1:55.2 / 27.2 with Helios second and Caveat Emptor closing for third with good
energy.
The pacers began with race seven where Winds Of Change stormed home to get
the nod of four across the wire for Tetrick in the eighth with a 26.2 end to a
1:52.4 mile. Unlocked, Bondi Hanover and Lyonssomewhere were there with him and
all four were flying.
More three year old pacers came forth in the ninth with Capital Account
leading all the way in 1:51 / 26.2 for Gingras, winning easily. Bakersfield was
a strong second and Ideal Fashion came first over and held for third in a brave
effort.
Androvette and Shelliscape squared off in the last of the day’s races with Shelliscape
setting slow numbers and Androvette stalking from the pocket until the stretch
run where Tetrick edged the great mare to the outside and went by in a 26.2
final quarter, the mile in 1:53.
There’s plenty going on at The Meadowlands this weekend beginning with
tonight’s live card beginning at 7:15 featuring the first leg of the New Jersey
Sires Stakes trots.
On Saturday we begin with the simulcast of the Preakness, host the Lisa
Photo Stride For The Cure 5k run and night at the races, the Rosevelt Raceway
Legacy Night features personalities from that great track and NJSS pacers.
The evening’s pièce de résistance is the $175,000 final of the Arthur J.
Cutler Memorial trot which is the first marquee event of the Championship Meet
pitting American champ Market Share against international invader Sebastian K
among a top field of very accomplished trotters.
Visit http://www.playmeadowlands.com/
for further details.
