East Rutherford, NJ – Qualifiers began early at 9:00 this Kentucky
Derby morning under cloudy skies with temperatures in the low 60’s and a
significant wind gusting in their faces in the homestretch.
The card opened with a strong field of returning 4-year-old
trotters. It resulted in a very close driving finish with Ariana G (Yannick
Gingras) prevailing in a photo after an extended stretch battle over Sortie
(with new trainer Trond Smedshammer driving) who set the honest fractions and
Lindy The Great (Tim Tetrick) who shot the rail with good late trot. The
fractions were 28.1, 55.3, 1:24.2 the mile in 1:53.2 with the stretch headwind
taking a toll on them finishing. International Moni (Scott Zeron) was fourth in
a race where all went well and were under some urging to the wire. The
enigmatic Sortie showed dramatic improvement for Smedshammer, looking solid
throughout. Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld own Ariana G and Jimmy Takter is her
trainer.
Sophomore pacing colts were next and Nutcracker Sweet (Tetrick)
was strong cutting the mile to win in 1:52 / 28 on his own. Paprike Blue Chip
(Corey Callahan) rode the pocket to be second and American History (Gingras)
went another good trip, leaving from post nine to fall in fifth then rallied
late into the wind to be third. H. Taylor, Order By Stable and R. Lombardo own
the winner, also trained in the Takter barn.
Last season’s Dan Patch award winning Lost In Time and O’Brien
award winning Stay Hungry, the top two colts listed on the Road to the
Meadowlands Pace squared off in race 3 and the Lost In Time (Zeron) cut the
mile to win in 1:51 with a strong 26.3 finish into the wind pretty much under
his own power, the third straight winner for Takter. Stay Hungry (Doug McNair)
sat a pocket and lacked late clearance, finishing 4th with pace. The
6-year-old Ross Croghan import named Heaven Rocks A (Dave Miller) was
ultra-impressive grinding up first over and still gaining into the fast final
quarter to be second. Pro Beach (Gingras) also went well this morning to be
third. Diamond Creek Racing, J&T Silva, W. Rufenacht and Team S racing own
Lost In Time.
Eurobound won the fourth race for 3-year-old trotters easily in
1:55.2 / 28 with trainer Domenico Cecere doing the driving today. Unforgettable
(D. Miller) cut the mile and Eurobound moved uncovered, eventually wearing that
one down for the win. Lindy Farms and Bob Rudolph own the winner, a Love You
colt.
Marcus Melander put Evaluate on the front and held sway over the
late bid from Brothers In Arms (Gingras) for 1:55.1 / 28.1 win in the
fifth. Classicchap (Smedshammer) closed well late to be third. Stall TZ owns
the winner.
Dawson Springs (D. Miller) closed many lengths in late stretch to
pick up Hill Street (Takter) in the last few strides for a 1:55.1 / 29.1 win
for trainer Tony Alagna who owns him with Brittany Farms and Robert LeBlanc.
Bautista (Gingras) was third.
Kissin In The Sand (Zeron) just edged Youaremycandygirl (Gingras)
on the wire with multiple Dan Patch award winning mare Pure Country (Mark
MacDonald) sandwiched between them in a snappy 1:51.2, home in 27.3. To battle
with a mare as accomplished as Pure Country certainly reflects well on the pair
of fillies just getting their 3-year-old season underway. Nancy Johansson
conditions Kissin In The Sand for Marvin Katz and Hatfield Stables.
Yannick Gingras closed out the morning with a 1:53 / 27.3 win
aboard Strong Opinion for Ron Burke. Hurrikane Shorty (Jim Marohn, Jr) gained
well late to be second and Dance Blue (MacDonald) third.
It’s a big day with Derby doings all afternoon and the return of
Grand Circuit racing to The Meadowlands tonight with the Cutler Memorial and
Graduate series highlighting the card. Post time is 7:15 pm.
