Talented trotter
continues road to the Hambletonian at the Meadowlands on Friday, May 22
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (May
20, 2015) – Most trainers would be
happy if their prized pupil started their three-year-old season with an
impressive win, but Nik Drennan continues to describe Guess Who’s Back as a
work in progress.
“He was good and I was happy,
just not 100-percent happy,” said Drennan in describing his colt’s win in last
week’s opening leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes at the Meadowlands. “He put in
a few steps around the first turn so we’re just trying to work some things out.
He has to get over his issues. We need to get him on a regular routine of
racing so that we can build his confidence and get him stronger both mentally
and physically.”
Guess Who’s Back has been
installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite in the second leg of the New Jersey
Sire Stakes, co-feature on the Meadowlands 12-race Friday program. Brian Sears
will drive the Muscles Yankee colt. The other opening leg winner, French
Laundry, was given the week off by trainer Jimmy Takter.
Guess Who’s Back sold for
$90,000 as a yearling at the Harrisburg Sale. His dam is a half-sister to the
millionaire Breeders Crown champion Poof She’s Gone. He is owned by Joseph
Davino in partnership with Brad Shackman, TLP Stable and J&T Silva Stables.
Drennan said he has never had
a horse as good as Guess Who’s Back, yet he is far from a finished product. He
flashed major talent last year, winning the $100,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes
Final, but also frustrated Drennan by going off-stride in four starts.
“He was pretty big,”
explained Drennan. “Last year he looked like a four-year-old and was racing
against horses that were half his size. Now he probably looks like a
five-year-old. He had to get over some aches and pains last year. It’s more
mental than anything with him now. The next couple of starts will tell with
him.”
Friday’s card also includes
the second leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for three-year-old trotting
fillies and an Open Handicap for pacing mares that serves as the seasonal debut
of stakes-winning four-year-olds Sandbetweenurtoes and Act Now. There is a
carryover of $124,509 in the race five Jackpot Super High 5 and $96,746 in the
last race Jackpot Super High 5. Post time is 7:15 p.m.
Belmont Stakes Trip
Giveaway
With the eyes of the racing
world fixed upon American Pharoah and his quest for thoroughbred racing’s
Triple Crown, the Meadowlands is going to give one of its fans a trip of a
lifetime. Fans visiting the Meadowlands during live racing can enter to win a
VIP trip to the Belmont Stakes. The prize package includes clubhouse seating
for four, dining in the Marquee Tent, and a parking pass. The winner will be
drawn May 29. Fans must be present to win the grand prize.
