Derby Day qualifiers at The Meadowlands were early, post time 9:00 a.m. with Pocono racing at 11:00 and the Dexter Cup at Freehold today.
The track was a second or two off after overnight rains, there was no wind and the temperature around fifty degrees.
Hambletonian winter book favourite Southwind Frank (Yannick Gingras) made his 2016 debut in the first where he was matched against 2013 Hambo champ Market Share (Tim Tetrick), also making his first appearance of the season. Both were reserved off slow fractions and finished together into a :28.3 final quarter of a mile in 1:56.1, won by Jewels In Hock.
John Campbell drove the winner, last year’s NYSS star who was powerful today in her second qualifier for trainer Linda Toscano and owner KJ Stables.
Campbell spun right back to win the second with Ontario-sired Celebrity Eventsy in 1:56.3. She was a factor among Grand Circuit type fillies last season and has won both qualifiers convincingly for trainer Staffan Lind and owner Celebrity Farms. Goosebump Hanover was second and Non Stick a charging third.
Bar Hopping was the winner of the third race where several of the sophomore colts made good impressions. Bar Hopping took over for Campbell as they passed the :59.2 half, moved away into the stretch and was well in hand at the end of the 1:56.1 mile. Sigmund held for second after leading early and Taco Tuesday made considerable late gains to be third. Jimmy Takter trains the winner for Christina Takter, Bud Hatfield and Marvin Katz.
After the break a short field of older trotters came out, among them a pair from the Ake Svanstedt barn. Ake chose to drive Honor And Serve over Centurion ATM and was on the winner, holding his stable-mate at bay through the stretch in a :28.1 end to a 1:57 mile where both had plenty in reserve. Howard and Judith Taylor own Honor And Serve with Order By Stable.
Three races were composed of sophomore pacing colts were next and Highlandbeachycove looked sharp in his second seasonal outing today, taking over before the :59.1 half, moving away from the field in the middle then coasting in with a :27 flat last quarter to finish the 1:54.2 mile for Scott Zeron. Racing Hill closed well to be second. Both colts are trained by Tony Alagna and he owns the winner in partnership with Eagles Soar Partners Joe Sbrocco and Alan Alber.
All The Cookies (Brett Miller) went to the wire in tandem with American Passport (Zeron), edging that rival in 1:54.4 with a :27.2 final panel. Takter trains that one as well for Christina Takter, Brixton Medical, Sbrocco and Camara.
A really good group of pacing colts teed it up for the ninth, among them last year’s division leader Boston Red Rocks (Tetrick) who prevailed in 1:53.1 (an excellent mile over today’s track) from just off the pace closing into the :27.3 final quarter. It was a proverbial cavalry charge to the wire with Talk Show and Missile J finishing well and the entire field within four lengths. Steve Elliott trains Boston Red Rocks for Peter Blood and Rick Berks.
Pacing filly Soft Idea cut the mile and won in 1:54.4 for Tetrick, holding off the late rallies of Killing Em Softly, Thatsoveryverynice and Show Time Hill. Linda Toscano trains her for South Mountain Stables, Bay’s Stable, Radio Racing and Little E, LLC.
McWicked made another exceptional appearance this morning, setting the fractions then sprinting home in 27 seconds to complete the mile in 1:52 for Scott Zeron. In The Arsenal was held in the pocket and finished willingly for second to close the card. Steve Elliott trains McWicked for SSG Stables.
Live racing tonight at 7:15 and of course the Mother’s Day matinee card on Sunday at 12:40 featuring the Mack Lobell Elitlopp Playoff.
(Meadowlands)