EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. _ Lock Down Lindy and Spirit To Win captured
the Hambletonian Oaks eliminations Saturday night at Meadowlands Racing &
Entertainment.
The $500,000 Oaks for 3-year-old trotting fillies is the companion
event to the $1 million Hambletonian. The finals of both races take place here
on Aug. 8.
The post position draw for the Oaks and the Hambletonian is Monday
afternoon. The first five finishers in each elimination advanced to the final.
Lock Down Lindy took charge turning for home and held off a rally
from 4/5 favorite Wild Honey by two lengths. Tim Tetrick drove for trainer Tony
Alagna as she won for only the second time in 10 starts this season.
"I've had a lot of confidence in this filly all year, and it hasn't
really worked out," Tetrick said. "A lot of bad spots and a few
mistakes here and there, mostly mine. She showed tonight what talent she does
have."
Lock Down Lindy, owned by Mystical Marker Farms, Crawford
Partners, Joe Sbrocco and In The Gym Partners trotted the mile in a career-best
1:51 4/5, paying $16.60.
Bright Baby Blues was third. Lady Winona and Smokinmombo also
advanced to the final.
Spirit To Win reeled in 4/5 favorite Livinthefastlane in deep
stretch for a two-length victory in 1:52 2/5. It was her second straight
Meadowlands stakes victory for the determined filly, having captured the Delvin
Miller Memorial last month.
She paid $9.60 to win with Brett Miller in the sulky for trainer
Dustin Jones and owners Frederick Hertrich III and Noblock Racing.
“After the last race, I had a lot of confidence in her,” Miller
said. “She acts like one of those horses that gives 110 percent. She won’t stop
until she gets by them.”
The time was 1:52 2/5.
Sarcy was third with Rules Of The Road and Speak To Me also making
the final.
Hambletonian Oaks Field:
Bright Baby Blue Eyes
Lady Winona
Livininthefastlane
Lock Down Lindy
Rules Of The Road
Sarcy
Smokinmombo
Speak To Me
Spirit To Win
Wild Honey
$50,000 TVG OPEN TROT
Flanagan Memory edged Natural Herbie by a nose to earn his first
victory of the season in a 12-1 upset. The 5-year-old trained by co-owner Rene
Dion and driven by Tim Tetrick paid $26.40 for his 12th career
win in 43 starts.
The exacta returned $174.60. Intimidate, 20-1, got third to
complete a $2,423.60 trifecta.
The time was a lifetime best 1:51 4/5.
$50,000 TVG OPEN PACE
JK Endofanera ruled the featured pacing event of the night in wire
to wire fashion, winning by a head over Doo Wop Hanover and State Treasure in
1:49.
The win was the second of the season for the North America Cup
winner. The first six finishers were separated by no more than one
length. JK Endofanera is trained by Jimmy Takter for 3 Brothers Stables.
Brett Miller was in the sulky.
The winner returned $8.60 for the
victory.
PICK 5 CARRYOVER
There were no winning tickets in the Pick 5 on Saturday night at
The Meadowlands. There will be a Pick 5 carryover into the Friday, August
7 program of $29,460.76.
JACKPOT SUPER HI-5 CARRYOVER
There were multiple winning tickets in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 on
Saturday night. The wager will not be offered on Friday, August 7th and
there will be a mandatory payout on Hambletonian Day, Saturday, August 8th with
a carryover of $231,403.
Racing resumes on Friday, with first post time at 7:15 P.M.
