East Rutherford, NJ - The first round of the popular Grand Circuit series for
two-year-olds , the Kindergarten Classic rolls into The Meadowlands this
weekend with a brand new look. Previously just for freshmen of the trotting
persuasion, the Kindergarten now offers a spin-off for pacers. The
trotting colts and fillies will race on Friday, July 22 with the pacers
competing on the Saturday, July 23 card. The series will host a total
of five preliminary legs leading into the $600,000 finals on November 5.
All Kindergarten leg purses are $10,000.
The trotting colts split three ways and open the Friday stakes
action in the second race where a field of eight is led by Andy Miller
Stable, Arden Homestead and GTY Stable's Fly On. The talented Muscle Hill
colt won a leg of the recently concluded New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS) in
1:55.4 then had more trot than room in the final where he rallied to be third.
Julie Miller trains and husband Andy will drive Fly On.
International blood courses through the veins of several
participants in this year's Kindergarten including a pair of colts in the
fourth race.
Rubio is by the successful US sire Cantab Hall with
a taste of France coming from his dam Italienne Girl via her
sire In Dix Huit. He races out of the Jimmy Takter stable and is unbeaten to
date, the fastest a 1:57 overnight at The Meadowlands to go with
a Pennsylvania All Stars win for driver Yannick Gingras.
Christina Takter, John & Jim Fielding and Brixton Medical share the
ownership of Rubio.
International Moni is one of the last foals from the immortal
Moni Maker with French blood on the topside of his pedigree in the
form of the accomplished French sire Love You. A winner of a
Vernon qualifier in 1:59.4, the royally bred colt will be handled by Tim
Tetrick for trainer Frank Antonacci and owners Moni Market Stable.
Victor Gio IT is yet another foreign-bred who has
flashed exceptional talent in the morning trials and makes his pari-mutuel
debut in the eleventh race on Friday. He is by the French champion Ready
Cash while his dam, Ilaria Jet, campaigned in Europe and won over
$1.5 million including a heat of the 2010 Elitlopp for Italian
interests. Victor Gio IT has flashed wicked foot in both morning
trials, winning the latest by a dozen lengths in 1:56.4 for Gingras. Born in
Italy, the colt was imported into the Jimmy Takter barn by Italian
owners Antonio Somma and Francesco Ruscigno, Swede Nicolas Pietro de Mitri
and Mrs. Takter.
Moni Maker's estimable shadow is also cast in the first filly
division (race three) as the grand dam of the aptly named Grandma's Moni.
She's a Donato Hanover filly who was absolutely vicious in her most recent
morning effort rolling home in 27.1 on the end of a 2:00.2 mile for Tim Tetrick.
She is also trained in the Frank Antonacci barn for the Moni Market
Stable.
Overdraft Volo is the logical choice in the other filly division
(race six) for the Andy and Julie Miller team. She put daylight on her
competition in a qualifier last week with a solid 1:56.1 win. Pinske Stables
and Kentuckian Racing Stable share ownership of this classy Yankee Glide lass.
Corntastic is again upon us and will be leading the promotion
parade with shucking, lugging and eating among the contested issues.
Post time all weekend is 7:15 p.m.
