By Carol Hodes for the SBOANJ
MANALAPAN, NJ – May 16, 2015 –
Artspeak, the Dan Patch Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year in 2014, coasted
to a three and a half-length victory in his season’s debut, a $20,000 first leg
of the New Jersey Sire Stakes, the fourth race on Saturday, May 16, 2015 at the
Meadowlands.
Scott Zeron tipped the 3-2
favorite out and brushed to the lead before the half, hand driving the son of
Western Ideal to a career best 1:49 flat. Gokudo Hanover [Cam’s Card
Shark] is second best with five and a half lengths to Dealt A Winner [Cam’s
Card Shark] in third.
Artspeak, winner of the
Governor’s Cup and Metro Pace at two, lifted his bankroll to $752,185 with nine
wins and two thirds in 11 career starts.
The Tony Alagna trainee is
owned by Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Joe Sbrocco and the In The Gym Partners.
Hurrikane Ali, driven by
Yannick Gingras and trained by John McDermott Jr., won the second of the two
$20,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings,
the ninth race, in 1:50 flat on a surfaced rated good.
Sent off as the 3-5 favorite,
Hurrikane Ali claimed the lead before the half and held off Rock N’ Roll World
by two lengths. Rock Of The Ages was third by seven and a quarter
lengths. All three are sons of Rocknroll Hanover.
Hurrikane Ali now has two wins
in two starts in 2015 after going winless in five starts at two. He has
earned $55,575 for the partnership of Kuhen Racing LLC, Jonathan Klee Racing,
Dr. Kenneth Rucker and Robert Pucila.
The card began with victories
by daughters of Rocknroll Hanover in both of two $20,000 divisions of New
Jersey Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies.
In the first race, 3-5
favorite Lindys Old Lady, unraced at two, posted her second straight victory,
drawing away to a two and a half-length victory over Cheyenne Robin [Rocknroll
Hanover] with three and three-quarter lengths to Wicked Little Minx [Rocknroll
Hanover] in third.
Lindys Old Lady, driven by Tim
Tetrick and trained by Frank Antonacci, paced the mile in 1:51 flat.
Lindy Farms of Connecticut owns and bred the filly who has now earned $19,200.
In the second race, 1-9 favorite
Happiness by Rocknroll Hanover, controlled the pace and repelled the late
challenge of Stacia Hanover [Western Ideal] to win by a length and a
quarter. Hollyrocker [Rocknroll Hanover] was third by three lengths in
the 1:50.4 mile.
Yannick Gingras drove the Ron
Burke-trained Happiness for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi
LLC. She won three of six starts at two and now has two wins and one
third in three outings this year. Overall, she has banked $67,765.
