East Rutherford, NJ – The Saturday, April 28 qualifying races at
The Meadowlands got underway at 10am under overcast skies to begin with the sun
threatening to peek through, temperature in the low 60’s and no wind of
consequence.
Being the top dog at anything has its privileges, as driver
Yannick Gingras can attest. His talents have enabled him to be first call for
two of the very best trainers in the game, Ron Burke and Jimmy Takter,
resulting in him being the driver of many top stakes performers. Those include
trotting mares Hannelore Hanover and Ariana G who were, respectively, the top
two vote getters in the 2017 Horse of the Year balloting.
There is, however, a downside to that lofty perch and that occurs
when those types are from the same division and must face each other. They both
raced in qualifiers this morning, though not against one and other. At some
point, Yannick will have to make a difficult choice.
Ariana G was up first in race six and making her first appearance
of the new season and she looked fantastic. Yannick put her on the lead and she
strolled along comfortable right through the end of the 1:53.3 mile five in
front with an effortless 27.1 final quarter. Celebrity Ruth (Trond
Smedshammer), certainly no slouch on her own, was a willing second. Jimmy
Takter trains Ariana G for Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld.
Hannelore Hanover came up next in her second go of the season and
she made a very strong case to keep her driver. Yannick moved the champion mare
to the front after Yes Mickey (Svanstedt) took the field by the quarter in
28.1, cut comfortable middle fractions then let her trot home in 27.1 ending
the mile in 1:52.2 on her own, looking fabulous. Broadway Donna (Dave Miller)
actually closed ground into that fast final stanza to get up for second, though
no threat to the winner. Lagerfeld (Jim Marohn, Jr) rallied for third while Yes
Mickey gave way to fourth.
The day began with Ken Jacobs’ talented sophomore Chapter Seven
filly Seven Karats (Scott Zeron) winning again, this time leading all the way
through even fractions for the 1:54.3 / 29.1 win off by a few on her own. Linda
Toscano is the trainer. I’mwhygodmadegirls (Yannick Gingras) was a solid
second.
Zeron employed similar tactics in race 2 with another good Chapter
Seven filly, his dad Rick’s Atlanta. Scott got them in line behind him through
even numbers then drew off through a 27.1 end to the 1:54 mile in verrrrrrry
impressive fashion. Rick Zeron trains for his own interest along with partners
Holland Racing, HA Taylor and Brad Grant. Vivacious Allie (Ake Svanstedt) and
Sevenbuyeleven (Tim Tetrick) held their respective spots in second and third in
a race where there was no passing.
Six Pack took a measured 1:54 win, closing out with a 26 and
change final quarter for Svanstedt. He tracked Seven Iron (Tetrick) all the way
then forged by with something in reserve. Seven Iron held grudgingly and
Fashionwoodchopper (Dave Miller) flew home into the fast last quarter with no
urging and no trotting hopples. Svanstedt trains and owns the winner, a son of
Muscle Mass, with Little E, LLC, Stall Kalmar and Lars Berg.
Top WEG driver Doug McNair was in to drive the morning and he
nudged Missile Hill past Brothers In Arms (Jimmy Takter) right on the wire to
get a 1:54.3 / 28.2 win. Dawson Springs was an even third in his first go of
the year for Dave Miller and Sonofamillionaire (Svandstedt) finished fourth
after cutting the mile. Brad Grant owns and Tony Alagna trains the winner.
Race 5 winner Helpisontheway (Tetrick) was originally programmed
as #1 in race 4 but moved and left from post 9 in the next race. He landed in
third as Godspell Hall (Gingras) led through unhurried fractions then was
moving and drew clear when that rival went off stride at the ¾ pole.
Helpisontheway was well in hand to Tetrick through a 27 flat end to a 1:54.2
mile. Zephyr Kronos (Takter) the enigmatic son of European star Ready Cash
looked comfortable and closed considerable ground into the fast last quarter to
get up for second. Linda Toscano trains the winner, another by her Horse of the
Year sire Chapter Seven and owns the colt as Camelot Stable in partnership with
The Bays Stable.
Race 8 saw the start of the pacing races and O’Brien award winning
freshman of last season Stay Hungry made his 2018 debut from the rail with Doug
McNair driving for Tony Alagna. McNair sat a pocket as Pedro Hanover (D.
Miller) set an honest pace, emerged as they turned into the stretch and rolled
right by the leader to win in 1:50.4 / 27.1 under no urging. Babes Dig Me
(Brett Miller) rallied well late and Pedro hung in there for minor spoils. Brad
Grant and Irwin Samelman own the winner, a son of Somebeachsomewhere.
There were a bunch of top sophs in the ninth and Hayden Hanover
(Andy Miller) came away the winner in 1:52.2 / 26.1. Andy put the SBSW colt on
the lead early in 29 – 58 when American History (Gingras) came calling, not
content with those dawdling numbers. That one led into the stretch and gave way
grudgingly as Hayden rallied by. Sporting Chance (McNair) was a solid third
while the Dan Patch award winning top freshman pacer of 2017, Lost In Time
(Zeron), was fourth after a conservative trip. Julie Miller trains the winner
for Pinske Stables and Jim Simpson.
Another of trainer Tony Alagna’s seemingly endless group of
sophomore pacing colts, Captain Deo, is emerging as a top talent. He won back
this morning in 1:51.2 closing into a 26.2 final quarter for Brett Miller,
fighting past a stubborn No Easy Day (Gingras) and Twin B Tuffenuff for the
score. He’s a SBSW from the great race mare Worldly Beauty racing for Alagna
Racing, Joe Sbrocco, In The Gym Partners and Captain Deo Partners.
Python Blue Chip (Gingras) was a winner in the 11th,
converting a perfect trip into a 1:53.3 / 26.3 score. Hurrikane Shorty (Jim
Marohn, Jr) cut the mile and held second over closers inside and out. Ron Burke
trains the winner, the owners listed are Ake Svanstedt, Blue Chip Bloodstock
and Stable 45.
Kissin In The Sand took the exciting 12th race, sitting
a pocket to Rainbow Room (D. Miller) then finding a seam up the inside to edge
by the leader and hold off the closing Youaremycandygirl (Gingras) in a 26.3
end to the 1:52.1 mile. This match-up of the three top freshman pacing fillies
of last season resulted in them finishing right across the track.
Filibuster Hanover was absolutely vicious in the last, following
stablemate Rock N Tony through swift fractions then ripping from the pocket and
driving off into the sunset with a 25.3 end to a 1:49.3 mile. It was his second
go of the season and looks like trouble for potential foes in next week’s
Graduate Series opener. Rock N Tony held up for second while the great mare
Pure Country (Mark MacDonald) was a solid third in her seasonal debut.
Live racing tonight at 7:15 pm.
