by
Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST
RUTHERFORD, NJ – Heavy
favorites were sent to the gate in four $100,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes finals
Saturday night at the Meadowlands, and when the dust cleared, the results for
chalk players were clearly mixed.
Southwind
Frank continued his march toward the Hambletonian with an easy win in the
3-year-old colt and gelding trot. The son of Muscle Hill went the mile in
1:52.3 for trainer Ron Burke, upping his lifetime record to 13 wins in 14
starts.
As
the 2-5 favorite, Southwind Frank returned $2.80 to win for driver Yannick
Gingras and finished 2 lengths in front of Brooklyn Hill. Mavens Way was third.
“Frank’s
pretty good right now,” understated Burke in the winner’s circle.
Blue
Moon Stride crushed her 3-year-old filly pacing foes for a third straight week,
winning in 1:51.2 by 2¾ lengths
over JK Fannie. Rocknroll Vision was third.
Sent
off at 1-9, Blue Moon Stride paid $2.20 for driver Andrew McCarthy and trainer
Mark Harder. She’s now seven-for-17 lifetime.
Unfortunately,
things did not go as well for Boston Red Rocks and All The Time.
Boston
Red Rocks had the lead turning for home in the 3-year-old colt and gelding pace
but could not hold off a determined Katies Rocker, who prevailed by a neck over
the 1-9 favorite despite racing first-over for the final three-eighths of a
mile. Ideal Rocky was third.
Katies
Rocker paced the mile in 1:50.3 and returned $12.60 to win for driver David
Miller and trainer Jim Campbell.
In
the 3-year-old filly trot, 1-5 choice All The Time provided live cover for
eventual winner Southwind Hope, who stormed home to win by 1¼ lengths in
1:54.2. All The Time held second while Jazebel De Vie was third.
Southwind
Hope paid $25.40 to win for driver Andy Miller and trainer Julie Miller.
MARVELOUS
MEL: Mel
Mara bullied a talented field of open handicap pacers, and in the process,
missed the all-time race-mile record by just a fifth of a second when the son
of Lis Mara stopped the clock in 1:47, equaling State Treasurer's world-record
for an older pacing stallion on a mile track. Always B Miki, the 3-5 favorite,
was no match for the winner after racing first-over most of the way.
Mel
Mara returned $6.80 to win for driver Corey Callahan and trainer Dylan Davis.
CARRRYING
ON: The
two Jackpot Super High Five wagers offered at the Big M have carryovers that
are, in one case, good, and in the other, incredible. The 5th race
JSH5 carryover now stands at $12,789.86, while the 12th race wager
now has $246,843.80 waiting in the pool for the next program. … All-source
wagering on the card totaled $2,883,028. … The Meadowlands returns with live
racing Friday at 7:15 p.m.
