East Rutherford, N.J. – Fresh off their
Breeders Crown triumphs last week, Walner ($2.10) and Someomensomewhere ($2.80)
came back to capture their Kindergarten Classic series finals with flair on
Saturday (November 5) evening at The Meadowlands.
In the $200,600 Kindergarten final for
2-year-old trotting colts and geldings (race 2), the impressive Walner used the
first seven-sixteenths of the mile to work clear, striding clear of Limerence
(Åke Svanstedt) just before completing a :55.4 half mile. The son of Chapter
Seven and Random Destiny would go on to parry a first-over challenge from his
stablemate Eastern Promise (John Campbell) on the far turn before accelerating
away from the field at Tim Tetrick’s first asking. Walner amassed seven lengths
of clearance over Simply Volo (Corey Callahan), who rallied off third-over
cover to take second. Fly On (Andy Miller) hooked wide from around a wall of
horses to save third.
Walner’s 1:53.2 mile earned him a
seventh career win in eight starts for owner Kenneth Jacobs and trainer Linda
Toscano.
Someomensomewhere narrowly prevailed in
the $149,100 Kindergarten final for 2-year-old pacing fillies (race 8), just
reaching up to collar Caviart Ally at the end of a 1:51.2 mile. Marcus Miller
settled the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere and Omen Hanover just off the top
trio on the first turn before angling out to stalk the live cover of Caviart
Ally (Andy McCarthy) through the far turn. As Cavairt Ally wore down pacesetter
Gurl Band K (Joe Bongiorno), Someomensomewhere mounted her late bid after
losing cover, chasing down the filly she stalked through the far turn for the
narrow win. No Chaser (Andy Miller) checked in third, some 5-3/4 lengths
detached.
Erv Miller trains 4-time winner
Someomensomewhere for the Nick Surick Stable and Howard Schneidler’s KDM
Stables.
The $147,200 Kindergarten final for
2-year-old pacing colts and geldings (race 4) wasn’t lacking for the dramatic,
as not only did a scant head separate the top four finishers, but the favored
pair of Air Strike and Chip Walther finished in a dead heat for the win in
1:52.1. Air Strike (David Miller), the Joe Holloway-trained Indiana star, used
a middle move to take charge from Erv Miller trainee Chip Walther (Marcus
Miller) through a :55.4 half mile before working to withstand first-over
pressure from Mac’s Jackpot (Tim Tetrick) through the late stages of the race.
But while Air Strike was able to keep Mac’s Jackpot at bay, Chip Walther found
room to hook three-wide at the eighth pole and surge late for a share of the
win. Deo de Janiero (Scott Zero) mounted late gains up the pegs for third,
missing the joint winners by a mere nose.
Val D’Or Farms and Ted Gewertz own Air
Strike, while the partnership of the Erv Miller Stable, Paymaq Racing, the Nick
Surick Stable, and Louis Willinger share ownership of Chip Walther.
While favorites lived up to their
billing in three of the Kindergarten events, Overdraft Volo ($34.80) sprung a
major upset in the $190,200 2-year-old filly trot. As favorites Feed Your Head
(Yannick Gingras) and Hillarmbro (Trond Smedshammer) dueled on approach to the
far turn, David Miller angled the daughter of Yankee Glide and Bank of Newport
fourth-over. Overdraft Volo circled three-wide off the far turn and took aim on
the top pair, chasing them down and striking the front a sixteenth from home
before accelerating away to a 1:55 victory by 1-1/4 lengths. Hillarmbro and
Feed Your Head finished second and third respectively.
Julie Miller trains Overdraft Volo for
the Pinske Stables and the Kentuckiana Racing Stable.
In a non-wagering Racing Under Saddle
event, presented by Back on Track and Knutsson trotting, Richard Gutnick’s
Modest Prince and Helene Gregory held a clear lead over five others en route to
a decisive 1:56.3 victory. Linda Toscano trains the 6-year-old RC Royalty
gelding.
Total handle for the 13-race card was
$2,425,766.
Live racing returns to The Meadowlands
on Friday (November 11) evening; post time is slated for 7:15 p.m. EST.
