East Rutherford, NJ – Spring arrived at The
Meadowlands this morning and with it came a fair number of stakes types
shipping up from the farms to be put through some fast miles and several of
past year’s stars getting some work in the qualifying races on a perfect day.
Sarcy was second beaten just a head in last
year’s $251,100 Kindergarten final and made her sophomore debut a winning one
in 1:55.2 with Yannick Gingras driving for trainer Jimmy Takter. Christina
Takter, Oakwood Farms and John & Jim Fielding share ownership of the Donato
Hanover filly.
Canepa Hanover, the $300,000 yearling Muscle
Hill half-brother to Glidemaster wowed onlookers with a dazzling 1:52.2 tour of
the oval with Takter aboard. He led all the way through even fractions with
minimal encouragement from the driver. Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Al Libfeld
and Brixton Medical own the exciting prospect.
It looks like Tom Fanning has selected another
nice three year old trotter for owner Joe Smith. After the successes enjoyed
with Possessed Fashion and Sumatra the past two years, Fashion Creditor appears
poised to carry the torch this year. He rallied from well back to pass the
field through a 28.3 final quarter for the 1:56.2 win with Brett Miller in the
bike.
Meladys Monet bounced back nicely after a severe
bout with muscle cramping put him on the Steward’s List last week with a
comfortable 1:53.3/27 score for John Campbell. Left in his wake were top
performers like Bee A Magician, D’Orsay and Muscle Network who are all working
their way back to the wars. Kevon McDermott trains the winner for Melady
Enterprises.
The 2014 Trotter of the Year Shake It Cerry made
her first appearance of the new season and picked up right where she left off
with a workman-like 1:55/ 27.1 win for Takter. She sat a comfortable pocket
behind easy fractions and went by willingly when tipped by the driver. Jimmy
trains the now four-year-old daughter for owners Solveig’s Racing Partners.
Three year old pacers were up next with some
sharp lookers about. Gingras and Takter teamed up on Blood Brother, a lightly
raced Somebeachsomewhere colt who flew home sub 26 to win in 1:52.2. Diamond
Creek Racing and J&T Silva are the owners.
Soto
was razor sharp in his first trial closing out a 1:51.1 tour with a 26.1 final
quarter, widening for Brett Miller as he pleased. He also hails from the Takter
barn where he is trained on behalf of owners Christina Takter, RAW Equine and
John & Jim Fielding.
A pair of last year’s freshman filly pace sire
stake final winners squared off next with Southwind Roulette (PA) finishing
second and Stacia Hanover (NJ) third, both gave good accounts and were in hand.
Winning the race was the Rocknroll Hanover filly Happiness in 1:54.1/27.
Gingras drove the winner for Ron Burke.
Another good pair of pacing fillies from the
Burke barn finished one-two in the next with last year’s American National
winner Well Hello There holding Lissan at bay in 1:53.1/27.1. The winner is a
Well Said that earned over $200,000 at two for Burke Racing, Blue Chip
Bloodstock, Our Horse Cents and Weaver Bruscemi.
Rocknroll
Hanover fillies came one-two in the thirteenth race where Wicked Little Minx
held The Show Returns at bay in 1:54.1. Tim Tetrick drove the winner for the
Ake Svanstedt stable and owner Courant AB.
Limelight Beach and Set Me Up (both Burke
horses) went to the wire together in 1:52.4/26.3 in the next race with Gingras
and Matt Kakaley measuring.
The
last of the day featured a good group of fresh four-year-old pacing horses in
Somewhere In LA, Somessizesomestyle and All Bets Off finished in a line, the
mile in 1:52.1 with a 26.2 closing fraction. If that race is any indication the
brand new Graduate series for that group is going to be a humdinger.
Live racing resumes tonight at 7:15pm.
