By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – On a night that
saw four $25,000 divisions of New Jersey Sire Stakes action for 3-year-olds on
the trot, an Ake Svanstedt trainee was the most impressive winner for a second
consecutive week on Friday at The Meadowlands.
Just seven days after his
Lindysmusclemania scored in 1:51.4 to mark himself as a Hambletonian player,
Svanstedt’s Mon Amour made himself a part of the Hambo conversation by taking
down 3-5 favorite Cuatro De Julio in powerhouse fashion in 1:52 in one of two
splits for colts and geldings.
“I got lucky,” said winning driver
Yannick Gingras of how he got behind the son of Muscle Hill-Mind Meld. “Ake had
another horse in the race [Red Redemption]. What a nice horse Mon Amour is.”
Red Redemption led at the quarter but
Mon Amour took over soon thereafter as Cuatro De Julio – so impressive a week
ago winning on the front end – raced in fifth. Mon Amour reached the half in
:56.2 as ‘Cuatro’ made his way toward the leader from first-over.
Cuatro De Julio got within a length
of the eventual winner at three-quarters (1:24.3) before taking a bad step in
mid-stretch to lose any chance of winning. Mon Amour then drew clear to win by
2¾ lengths. Cuatro De Julio righted the ship late to get second and had to
survive a brief inquiry from the judges. Kildare King was third.
“I was able to control the race,”
said Gingras, “and late in the mile I stepped on the gas and there was plenty
left. I didn’t really go all-in on him and he [still] had some more.”
As the 8-5 second choice, Mon Amour
returned $5.20 to win.
Gingras’ sweep of the colt and
gelding events started earlier on the card when the 41-year-old pilot guided
7-5 favorite Locatelli (Muscle Hill-Girlie Tough) to victory lane in 1:52.4 for
trainer Nancy Takter.
Tim Tetrick gave Material Girl a
superb steer to pull off an upset at 12-1 for trainer Lucas Wallin in the first
of two divisions for fillies in 1:53.1.
The Muscle Hill-Lilu Hanover product
was kept close to the action by Tetrick from the start and gunned down 2-1
second choice Hot As Hill nearing the wire to win by a neck.
“I just wanted to try and get her up
close,” said Tetrick. “She put in a great effort. I had plenty of trot. The two
favorites got worked up and I got a dream trip.”
Even-money public choice Eazy Pass
did not have an easy time of it, wilting after working hard to make the top at
the half to finish seventh.
The other division for fillies was
taken by 5-2 second choice Beltassima (Trixton-Beltane Hanover) in 1:53.2 for
trainer Tony Alagna and driver Andrew McCarthy by a head over 2-1 favorite
Awesome Trix.
NON-BETTORS: The second leg of the New Jersey Sire
Stakes for 3-year-old pacers were conducted as non-betting events during the
evening with a pair of two-horse races that went for $20,000.
In the dash for fillies that took
place before the betting card, the Eric Foster-trained Neverendingproject
(Great Vintage-Project Terror) made a move to the lead on the far turn and kept
Anna Jeans at bay by a half-length in 2:02 for driver Russell Foster.
In a race conducted after the fourth
wagering event, Fika Time won the colts and geldings split in 1:54.2 for
trainer Chase Vandervort and Tetrick. The son of Sunfire Blue Chip-Raiders
Favorite made a big move to grab the top turning for home and hit the wire 5½
lengths in front of Neyreit.
A LITTLE MORE: Driver Doug McNair must have been
feeling good after hearing his home track, Woodbine Mohawk Park, will be back
racing soon, as he registered three winners on the card. … Gingras matched
McNair by also scoring a driving triple. … All-source wagering totaled
$3,073,035, the 15th consecutive program to surpass the $3-million
mark. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.
