By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – The Meadowlands
played host to four New Jersey Sire Stakes Finals for 3-year-olds Friday night,
and driver Tim Tetrick was on his game, grabbing two victories and a second on
a night that saw him win four of the 13 races on the card.
Tetrick’s twosome began with Odds On
Sarasota, who won the $160,000 Filly Pace in a lifetime-best 1:52.2 for trainer
Ross Croghan. She returned $3.80 to win in scoring for the fifth time in seven
lifetime starts, good for earnings of $131,200.
The daughter of Rock N Roll
Heaven-Odds On Charmaine, who also won the first two NJSS legs to complete a
three-race sweep, followed live cover to get to the top at the half in :56.
When even-money second choice Kelly’s Champ went on a wild break scattering the
field at the five-eighths, it was a walk in the park for the 4-5 public choice.
At the wire, it was 4¾ lengths back to Thundra. Wynona Strided finished third.
“She’s been steppy off and on at
times,” said Tetrick. “But tonight, she was really good and got the job done
pretty impressively. [After making the lead] I was pretty sure they would be
happy to follow me. I worked my way to the lead, and after that, she kind of
coasted and drew away from them. Last week, she got a real easy trip [winning
in 1:55] and I didn’t have to use her. So I thought tonight she could wear them
out.”
The completion of Tetrick’s NJSS
double came in the $160,000 Filly Trot, as the 38-year-old pilot guided
Ab’sattitudexpress to a 1¾-length score over 7-5 favorite Dubai Princess in a
lifetime-best 1:52.2. Common Sense S was third.
Tetrick, driving the Lucas Wallin
trainee for the first time, had the 4-1 third choice in the wagering right
where he wanted him: Tracking the public choice.
“Last week, my horse looked really
impressive [winning in 1:52.4],” said Tetrick. “But it was going to be tough
beating Dubai Princess. We got a great trip and my horse trotted well to the
finish line.”
Tetrick’s formula for success was to
sit a pocket trip and strike late. “Lucas said I could do whatever I wanted,”
said Tetrick. “That gave me a lot of options, so I got out of there and
followed the favorite. That mare [Dubai Princess] came up a little off nearing
the wire and run out a little bit, so I had to go up the inside. She shot right
through there and we got our picture taken.”
Ab’sattitudexpress, a daughter of
Trixton-Abbie’sgotattitude, paid $10.60 to win and now has four wins from six
lifetime outings and earnings of $111,000.
Tetrick’s bid for a Sire Stakes triple
was foiled by Rockin The Aces, who gunned down Tetrick and even-money public
choice Rock Me Hard by a half-length in a lifetime-best 1:49.4 in the $160,000
Colts and Geldings Pace. Rockin The Gates was third.
Rockin The Aces, driven by Brian
Sears and trained by Robert Cleary, went a perfect second-over trip around the
far turn, getting a perfect tow from the first-over favorite, before ducking
inside late to record the score. The gelded son of Rock N Roll Heaven-Mattaroni
won for the fourth time in nine lifetime outings. His earnings stand at
$176,278.
Chalk players were no doubt nervous
in the early going but Play Trix On Me lived up to his 1-9 post-time odds
promise in taking the $128,000 Colts and Geldings Trot.
“That’s not what I expected,” said winning
trainer Toscano of her prized pupil’s trip. “Last year, he was much the best in
this division, so he was winning on the front end. It’s important for him to go
both ways. He is learning well.”
Play Trix On Me, who is now a
two-time NJSS champion, was pushed extremely wide into the first turn and had
to take back to fifth at the quarter before driver Scott Zeron moved the son of
Trixton-Lima Playmate to the outside at the three-eighths to start his march
toward the leaders.
‘Trix’ was still 2½ lengths behind
leader Toccoa Falls at three-quarters, but once straightened away in the
stretch, it was no match, as Play Trix On Me stormed home to record a
three-quarter-length win in 1:53.3. Jula Trix Treasure rallied for second with
AP Hall Of Trix grabbing the show dough.
Play Trix On Me paid $2.20 to win
while winning for the seventh time in nine lifetime starts. His bankroll now
stands at $204,850.
A LITTLE MORE: The Meadowlands welcomed back fans
into the track for the first time since the coronavirus shutdown, with the
grandstand available to 25 percent capacity. Many others watched and wagered on
the races outdoors. … Volatile weather, which saw lightning strikes close by,
caused a lengthy delay before the third race, which made it necessary to move
quickly from post parade to race for the rest of the night, causing handle
numbers to suffer. The total wager of $2,451,141 ended the Big M’s streak of 15
straight racing programs with at least $2.5 million in action. … The night got
off to a big start as a season’s-best $98,037 was poured into the 20-cent
Pick-5 pool. … Racing resumes Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
