On the racetrack, the 13-race Saturday program at The
Meadowlands featured four $100,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Championships for
three year olds, with big names making big headlines. On the track apron,
over 15,000 patrons enjoyed the Jerseyfest festivities and the Food Truck
Mash-up at the East Rutherford oval.
There are certain performances in any sport that warrant
somebody standing up and saying “wow, did you see that?” That is the best
way to explain the turn of foot shown by Artspeak in the New Jersey Sire Stakes
Final for three year old pacing colts on Saturday night at The Meadowlands.
Sent off as the 3/5 favorite, Artspeak was allowed to
settle well off the speed off the gate and into the first turn as the 8/5
second choice, Hurrikane Ali sprinted to the lead past the opening quarter in
26.3. As the field turned down the backstretch, Artspeak appeared to be
nearly 10 lengths off his main competition, a margin that Scott Zeron acknowledged
in a post-race interview “seemed to be too far back.” But, that didn’t
last long. As soon as Zeron showed his champion colt racetrack,
Artspeak
grabbed the bit and “took off all on his own,” showing a turn of foot that you
don’t see every day, to say the least. In just an eighth of a mile,
Artspeak made up all the ground on Hurrikane Ali and blew past him, taking the
lead past the half in 54.3, while settling into a high-cruising speed. At
this point, Hurrikane Ali was asked to keep up with the favorite, but Artspeak
was well within himself as ripped through three-quarters in 1:21.3 while
opening up on the field. The lead continued to expand through the stretch
and Artspeak reached the wire in a lifetime best 1:48.4. Gokudo Hanover
finished well to be second with Revenge Shark third.
Winning trainer Tony Alagna spoke to how well his champion
wintered. “When he came off the truck from Brittany Farms, he looked like
a million bucks,” said Alagna. “When I saw him, I knew we made the right
move skipping the Breeders Crown. Those extra 30 days really helped him.”
Artspeak’s driver Scott Zeron was very impressed with his
effort tonight. “That move was vicious,” claimed Zeron. “He did it
all on his own. He was always professional, but now as a three year old,
he is bigger and stronger.”
In addition to being trained by Alagna and driven by Zeron,
Artspeak is owned by Brittany Farms, Katz, Sbrocco and In The Gym
Partners. With the win, his career earnings have surpassed
$800,000. Two weeks from the North America Cup eliminations, Artspeak is
the presumptive favorite.
The other star on the program was Mission Brief, who was
making her second start of her three year old campaign. Ron Burke
reported to Harness Racing Update that Mission Brief is “not perfect right
now,” but that did not prevent the betting public from sending her to the post
as the 1/5 favorite.
Yannick Gingras allowed his world champion to float away to
the gate and ease her way on the outside of horses as Marion Millionair established
a tepid 28.4 opening quarter. As the field straightened up on the
backstretch, Mission Brief assumed command and led past the half-mile in just
58.2. A challenge would soon follow as Tim Tetrick launched Model
Behavior after the favorite as the field reached three-quarters in
1:27.1. Model Behavior put a head in front under strong urging, while
Gingras remained motionless behind Mission Brief, not asking her for any more
speed than he had to. Mission Brief fought back to win by a measured
length in 1:54.3. Model Behavior was a very good second with Riley’s
Dream third.
Driver Yannick Gingras was happy to win, but recognized
there is room for improvement for his filly. “She warmed up really good,”
said Gingras. “But honestly, I was going as fast as I could with her on
the turn. She wasn’t having it. Time is on our side, but there is
work to do.”
Mission Brief is trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing
Stable, Our Horse Cents Stables, J & T Silva Stables and Weaver
Bruscemi. With the victory, her earnings have now eclipsed $650,000.
While the favorites did what was expected in the first two
Sire Stakes finals, there was an upset by a familiar name in the three year old
filly pace.
At post time, the bettors had a difficult time separating
Stacia Hanover and Happiness, with less than $600 separating them in the win
pool. Happiness would get the first call as she led the field past the
quarter in 27.2, but she relinquished that lead to Lindys Old Lady down the
backstretch, who reached the half-mile in 56.1. At that point, Stacia
Hanover committed first over and she launched a move around the far turn,
challenged for and assumed the lead past three quarters in 1:23.4. From
there, Stacia Hanover opened up a lead in the stretch, but an upset was looming
as The Show Returns who was well-back early hit her best stride and showed the
kind of speed we saw from her at times last year and she rolled through the
stretch to nail Stacia Hanover on the wire to spring the 40-1 upset for John
Campbell. Stacia Hanover was second with Wicked Little Mix third.
John Campbell spoke about the acceleration his filly
showed. “Chris (Ryder) made some changes to her bridle and some shoeing
changes tonight and it definitely worked,” said Campbell. “Obviously
that’s the best finish she has shown this year.” The Show Returns is a
sister to world-champion Put On A Show who also raced for trainer Chris Ryder
and owners Richard and Joanne Young. The 1:51 clocking was a new lifetime mark.
The New Jersey Sire Stakes for the trotting colts looked
like a bit of a Hambletonian preview with the big three, Guess Whos Back,
French Laundry and Canepa Hanover taking center stage. However, one of
the three, Guess Whos Back wouldn’t survive the first turn as he made a break
while pressing the pace nearing the first quarter. That pace was
established by Canepa Hanover who reached the lead in a 28-second opening
panel, with French Laundry four lengths off the speed in third. Canepa
Hanover would hit the half-mile in 56.2 before stretching his legs around the
far turn and trotting a back half-mile in 54.4 to dominate the Sire Stake
Final, hitting the wire in 1:51.1, a lifetime mark for Yannick Gingras, who
replaced Jimmy Takter in the bike as Takter conditions Maven for her Elitlopp
attempt in Sweden. French Laundry was second with Aldebaran Eagle
third. Gingras was very impressed with his colt.
“Last year training down he (Canepa Hanover) looked like
the best one. Everyone liked him,” said Gingras. “Before Jimmy left
for Sweden he told me he had this horse as good as he could be. He got a
little playful in the stretch, so I popped the plugs just to give him a
reminder and he found another gear.”
It will be interesting to see if Gingras continues to drive
Canepa Hanover, of if Takter will get back in the sulky upon his return from
Sweden. Gingras also drives Mission Brief who is being pointed to The
Hambletonian as well but while speaking about Canepa Hanover he stated that
with Mission Brief “there are concerns for sure, but she’s go trot and she
wants to do it.” It could be an interesting 10 weeks leading up to The
Hambletonian.
Handle for the Saturday program was $3,053,853 with over
15,000 people attending the Jerseyfest
Foodtruck Mash-up event.
Both Jackpots in the Super Hi-5 went unclaimed. The
fifth race Jackpot carryover grew to $141,175 while the last race carryover
will be $115,348 into the Friday program, when racing resumes at 7:15 P.M.
