East Rutherford, NJ –
Racing at The Meadowlands is down to the final two weeks of the Championship
Meet and the stars are out on Friday.
The
cream of the freshman trotting crop thus far is well represented in two $20,000
elimination races each for the Peter Haughton and Jim Doherty Memorials housing
two-year-old colts and fillies respectively. Their collective aim is to make it
through to next week’s rich finals on Hambletonian Day, August 6.
The
undefeated Rubio takes on six rivals in the fourth race. The tractable son of
Cantab Hall has had the right answer each week for trainer Jimmy Takter and
driver Yannick Gingras, most recently a 1:56.1 Kindergarten score by a widening
three lengths. Christina Takter, John & Jim Fielding and Brixton Medical
share ownership of Rubio.
The
tenth race division fields eight and boasts several precocious colts yearning
to advance to the $295,000 final.
Takter
has a powerful presence here as well in the Italian bred son of French super horse
Ready Cash known as Victor Gio IT. Blessed with tremendous speed, Victor Gio IT
went off-stride in his first foray under the lights and will require careful
handling. Fortunately, Yannick Gingras is able to provide that
guidance for the ownership group of Christina, Takter, Antonio Somma &
Frencesco Ruscigno of Italy and Nicolas Pietro De Mitri of Sweden.
He’ll
face Ronnie Burke’s What The Hill, winner of the New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS)
final in 1:55.2 earlier this month. What The Hill has speed on both ends and
may have a seasoning edge on his chief rival. Burke Racing, Our Horse Cents and
J&T Silva own the imposing son of Muscle Hill.
These
Grand Circuit stakes are designed to showcase extreme talent and ideally
provide the stage for intriguing match-ups. The fillies for the Doherty split
into a pair of eights and if their past performance is any indicator, next
week’s $305,000 final has the potential to be one of those races we recall
fondly.
The amazing
Ariana G is clearly the one to beat in the first division, race two. She’s been
nothing short of spectacular thus far, romping to a 1:53.4 win in the NJSS
filly final by a widening seven lengths under wraps for Gingras. She’s also a
Takter pupil, owned by the breeders Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld.
Those
same connections will bring another prodigy to the party in race eight with
That’s All Moni.
Add George Segal’s storied Brittany Farms to the registration with
Mssr’s Katz and Libfeld and you have the group that shelled out $230,000 for
this close sibling to the legendary Snow White. She boasts a pair of PA Sires
Stakes wins coming in for trainer Takter and the Yannick Gingras may face
one of those “difficult” choices a driver must sometimes face if both fillies
advance as expected.
Also
among the Friday features is a $25,000 Open trot which older stars like
Obrigado, JL Cruze and Hannelore Hanover will use as a springboard into
supporting Free For All stakes on the Hambletonian card.
For
the horseplayer, we offer a free look into the $50,000
Guaranteed Late Pick 4 wagers each week.
Come
on along and see the best of the best battle for the big money at The Meadowlands.
Post time is 7:15 p.m.
