The second edition of the
$443,300 Hambletonian Maturity Stake attracted the attention of the fastest trotter
in Meadowlands history: JL Cruze, whose connections supplemented their
Cinderella story purchase for a fee of $50,000.
“He’s just awesome,” said William
Dittmar Jr., who co-owns with Kenneth Wood and Stephen Iaquinta, in a post-race
interview after JL Cruze’s 1:49.4 victory in the Graduate Final. Delaware-based
trainer Eric Ell purchased the horse for $37,000 in last year’s Harrisburg sale
and with the victory on Saturday has earned $396,138 with 15 wins in 17 starts.
Just five eligible trotters entered
against JL Cruze, but they include Dan Patch Trotter of the Year, the filly
Shake It Cerry, who was just a nose back of JL Cruze in the historic 1:49.4
mile, and Dan Patch sophomore trotting colt of the year, Father Patrick, with
earnings of $2.5 million lifetime. Both are trained by Jimmy Takter.
Also entered are Il Sogno Dream
and Resolve, the fourth and fifth place finishers in last year’s Hambletonian
won by Trixton. The Charlie Beaver-trained Il Sogno Dream will be making his
first start at The Meadowlands this year. The son of Cantab Hall was sixth in
Northfield Trotting Classic on July 3.
Resolve is owned by Hans Enggren,
who won the Hambletonian 30 years ago with Prakas and will be seeking a unique
double in the Maturity. Resolve is trained and driven by Ake Svanstadt and was
third in the Graduate to JL Cruze and Shake It Cerry.
Gural Hanover completes the field
of six. The hard-knocking son of Crazed
hails from the Ron Burke barn, and was timed in 1:50.3 while finishing fourth
in last Saturday’s Graduate.
The Hambletonian Maturity will be
raced Saturday, July 18, along with $2.6 million in stakes, anchored by the
Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East
Rutherford, NJ.
Created by the Hambletonian
Society and the Meadowlands as a racing opportunity solely for 4-year-olds
previously eligible to the Hambletonian and Oaks, the inaugural event drew a
field of 14 that included the 2013 Oaks winner and Dan Patch Horse of the Year,
Bee A Magician and the Hambletonian champion, Royalty For Life. It was won by Your So Vain and Ake Svanstadt.
Like the Hambletonian and Oaks,
the Maturity racing conditions prohibit the use of Lasix, the only race day
medication permitted in New Jersey and entrants are subject to out of
competition testing. The distance is a mile and eighth.
All starters in the race will
receive money, with the winner receiving 50% of the purse. One percent of the
total purse will be paid to the owners of the finalist finishing sixth. The
remainder of the purse for the Maturity will be divided 50-24 -16-10% for the
horses finishing second through fifth.
Post positions will be drawn
later today.
