East Rutherford, NJ - Friday night featured the second leg of the
New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS) for three-year-old trotters with the fillies and
colts each competing in a single $25,000 race with next week's $100,000 finals
as their target.
Nine fillies went to the post absent last week's winner
Mission Brief who remained in the barn with her final berth
secure and Rules Of The Road took full advantage of that
circumstance.
The Muscle Hill filly from Right On Renee led all the way for
David Miller through comfortable fractions and held off a serious bid from
Model Behavior to win in 1:55. Riley's Dream was third. Arden Homestead Stable
and trainer Janice Connor share ownership of Rules Of The Road.
Guess Who's Back took another step on the Hambletonian trail with
a measured 1:52.4 win over a game Canepa Hanover in the colt division. Sent for
the front early, Guess Who's Back led by the 55:3 half where Brian
Sears deferred to the Jimmy Takter driven Canepa Hanover who was working his
way up through a wind-aided sub 27 second quarter. Using the cover as a
breather for his colt, Sears fanned his mount for the drive off the last turn
and went by for a narrow win under is own power with a 29.2 final stanza
into the wind. Aldebaran Eagle gained some late to be third.
Guess Who's Back moves onto the final as the horse to beat for
trainer Nik Drennan and owners Joe Davino, Brad Shackman, TLP Stable and
J&T Silva.
Weeper won the $27,500 Mare Open Pace again, this time in a
front-running effort for Yannick Gingras. Allowed uncontested fractions, Weeper
responded with a 26.4 close to the 1:50.3 mile. Inittowinafortune held second
after a pocket ride and Coffee Addict was a gallant third after an uncovered
charge at the winner around the final bend. Jimmy Takter trains the winner for
the Bay Pond Racing Stable.
Live racing resumes tomorrow night at 7:15pm.
