By
Dave Little, for the Meadowlands
EAST
RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Fourth Dimension stamped himself as the early favorite for
next year’s Hambletonian with an easy 1¼-length win in the Valley Victory for
2-year-old colt and gelding trotters on Fall Final 4/TVG Finals night at the
Meadowlands Saturday.
“He’s
very athletic,” said winning driver Brian Sears. “A very good-gaited colt. He’s
a little eager at times but he definitely has the talent. (Over the winter) he
has to keep maturing physically and mentally and learning there are times when
we have to relax and not be too aggressive during the race and know what we are
trying to accomplish out there. And it doesn’t mean we have to be on the front
end every week.”
Sears
had Fourth Dimension on the move down the backstretch and the pair made the
lead at the three-eighths. The son of Chapter Seven had no trouble from there,
winning for the eighth time in 11 starts for trainer Marcus Melander and owners
Courant Inc. of Delray Beach, Fla. Wolfgang was second with Samo Different Day
third. As the 3-5 public choice, Fourth Dimension paid $3.20 to win and
completed the mile in 1:53.3.
In
the Three Diamonds for 2-year-old filly pacers, Breeders Crown champion
Youaremycandygirl, the 6-5 second choice, and 4-5 favorite Kissin In The Sand
hooked up in a cutthroat speed duel through a sizzling opening half of :53.2
before Kissin In The Sand faltered at the five-eighths.
Youaremycandygirl then
went on to a 1½-length victory over Reign On Me and Rainbow Room in 1:51.
Yannick
Gingras guided the daughter of American Ideal to victory lane for trainer Ron
Burke. The winner paid $4.40.
“I
think she’s proven herself to be one of the best 2-year-old fillies ever,” said
Burke in the winner’s circle of his filly who’s won nine of 11 starts.
Plunge
Blue Chip ($3.20 as the 3-5 choice) was a decisive 3½-length winner in the
Goldsmith Maid for 2-year-old filly trotters. The Ake Svanstedt driven and
trained daughter of Muscle Mass lowered her lifetime mark by one-and-four-fifth
seconds, trotting the mile in 1:53.1. Dab Hanover was second with Lily Stride
third.
“She’s
a super filly,” said Svanstedt.
The
most exciting finish of the night came in the Governor’s Cup for 2-year-old
colt and gelding pacers as Lost In Time finished a nose in front of Stay Hungry
in 1:50.1. American History was third.
The
duo turned for home on even terms, and during their stretch tussle, Stay Hungry
actually poked a head in front in mid-stretch, but Lost In Time and driver
Scott Zeron battled back to record the slim victory in determined fashion. Lost
In Time ($5.40), trained by Jimmy Takter, won for the fifth time in nine
starts.
“I’ve
only had him for a few weeks,” said Takter. “I could see right away he’s a very
nice horse. We were unable to train him much for last week (when sixth in his
elimination) because we scoped him and he had some mucus. He was not really prepped
for that race. We let the hobbles out a little bit tonight and lengthened the
overcheck a little bit and that made a big difference.”
