East Rutherford, NJ
– A quartet of $100,000 Finals bring the sophomore division of the New
Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS) to a conclusion on Saturday night (May 30) at The
Meadowlands.
The trotting fillies
come up first in the fourth race with the defending champion Mission
Brief starting from the far outside in post ten. The fastest freshman in
trotting history by virtue of her 1:50.3 tour of The Red Mile last fall and Breeders
Crown champ, Mission Brief won the first leg in a measured 1:53.4, then
stayed home last week while Rules Of The Road took the second leg.
Yannick Gingras takes
his regular position behind Mission Brief for trainer Ron Burke, who owns her
in partnership with Our Horse Cents Stable, J&T Silva and Weaver Bruscemi.
Race six is the glamour
boy division, the pacing colts. Artspeak was the winner of last season’s NJSS
Final for this group on his way to year end honors while his main for here,
Hurrikane Ali has an abbreviated five start freshman campaign in which he was
winless.
What a difference a year
can make, for as they come into the Final Hurrikane Ali has won all three of
his 2015 starts including two NJSS legs in 1:50 and 1:50.1 with relative ease
for young trainer John McDermott, Jr. Gingras has the drive here as well for
the ownership group of Kuhen Racing, Jonathan Klee Racing, Dr Ken Rucker and
Robert Pucila.
Artspeak spoke toward
his potential for a big season via his effortless 1:49 romp in leg
one. Trainer Tony Alagna then held him out of last week’s with an eye toward
the long campaign, setting up this interesting match-up on Saturday. Artspeak
won eight of ten last season, among those the Metro and Governor’s Cup
trophies. Scott Zeron has been his constant companion in all races for the
owners, Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Joe Sbrocco and In The Gym Partners (John
Fodera and Steve Wienick).
The pacing fillies (race
8) shapes up to be the most contentious of the four Finals.
Lindy’s Old Lady (Tim
Tetrick) didn’t race at two, but is quickly gaining notice by virtue of a pair
of wins in as many starts. She was a leg one NJSS winner in 1:51, then stayed
home at Lindy Farm last week as trainer Frank Antonacci carefully manages the
frequency of his trips to the well with the talented filly.
Happiness also skipped
leg two after a comfortable 1:50.4 win in leg one for Gingras and Burke.
She has a Grand Circuit win on her résumé via the Simpson Memorial
stake in 1:50.3 earlier this season for Burke Racing & Weaver Bruscemi.
Wicked Little Minx took
the lone division of leg two, holding off the furious late charge of Stacia
Hanover in 1:51.1. Nancy Johansson conditions Wicked Little Minx for Courant AB
and Brett Miller is back in the driver’s seat for the Final.
Stacia Hanover won this
division last year and has the as the look of a filly on the verge of a
big mile for her trainer driver combo of Steve Elliott and Zeron and
owners David Van Dusen and Michael Cimaglio of Ohio.
Bringing the NJSS curtain
down on the 2015 season in the eleventh race will be the sophomore trotting
colts and a powerful group they are.
Guess Whos Back (winner
of this division's final in 2014) has won both preliminary legs including
a hard-fought 1:52.4 decision over Canepa Hanover last week. Driver Brian Sears
used the entire stretch to eke out the half-length tally with Canepa Hanover
never giving in. Nik Drennan trains Guess Whos Back for owners Joe Davino, Brad
Shackman, TLP Stable and J&T Silva.
The potent duo of Canepa
Hanover and French Laundry represent the Jimmy Takter barn and both are
top colts.
Canepa has been third
and second in the two legs and last week’s effort was a gritty one after being
used hard to get to the front then facing a strong wind in the homestretch.
With Takter off to Sweden for the Elitlopp, Yannick Gingras will drive for the
interests of Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Sam Goldband, Al Libfeld, Brixton
Medical and Christina Takter.
French Laundry was a
winner in the first leg, his only 2015 start to this point. He has been rock
solid throughout his career for owners Christina Takter, John & Jim
Fielding, Katz and Libfeld. Brett Miller is his regular driver and will be
aboard on Saturday night.
Both Hi-5 Jackpots
remain intact going into Friday night's live card with the totals now at
$131,037 (race 5) and $105,195 (race 12). Saturday night promotions include the
chance to win a first class trip to the June 6 Belmont Stakes and JerseyFest
which features the NJ vs
Philly Food Truck Mash-Up. The thirteen race
program starts at 7:15.
