Southwind
Cocoa leaves from post six in a field of 12 in the $36,000 New Jersey Sire
Stakes for three-year-old trotting fillies, carded as the sixth race.
Corky drew the rail in the $34,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes for three-year-old
trotting colts and gelding, scheduled as race two.
“Cocoa,”
a daughter of Chocolatier and Missymae Bluestone, was a modest $6,000 Lexington
Selected Yearling Sale purchase who banked $98,585 at two with three wins and a
third in 10 starts. With a third-place finish in her 2013 debut in the
Simpson at the Meadowlands, she went over the $100,000 mark in career earnings
for the partnership of Richard Gutnick of Blue Bell, PA and William J.
Augustine of Hammonton, NJ.
The
Linda Toscano-trainee has Tim Tetrick listed to drive and is rated 4-1 in the
morning line.
In
addition to Southwind Cocoa, Queen of More and Shared Past are daughters of
Chocolatier. All the other entrants are by Muscles Yankee: Vintage Oaks,
Miss Steele, Peaceful EZ Feelin, Doc Boyce, Lady Dynamite, Vida De Vie, Time to
Kill, Silver Credit and World Tour.
Corky,
a son of Muscles Yankee – Clarice Marie, was runner-up by a neck in the 2012
Peter Haughton Memorial two starts before he drew off to a three-length victory
in last year’s $150,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Final.
A
$100,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase, Corky was second in his
season’s debut in a Simpson division. He now has a career record of three
wins and five seconds from eight tries and earnings of $233,988 for owners
Christina Takter of East Windsor, NJ and Toronto-based brothers John and Jim
Fielding.
Corky
and Simpson division winner Muscles Mountain, coupled in the wagering, are the
4-5 morning line favorites.
Corky,
Smilin Eli, Amalfi Coast, Super Classic, King Muscles, Timo Deo and The Franchise
are all eligible to the Hambletonian. King Muscles is not. All
eight entrants are sons of Muscles Yankee.
The
New Jersey Sire Stakes Finals for three-year-olds, all with $150,000 estimated
purses, will take place on June 1 at the Meadowlands.
--Submitted
by Carol Hodes for SBOANJ
