If anyone questioned whether Well Said, the colt atop Trot Magazine's 2009 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book, was ready to hit the stakes trail
, all they had to do was check out the results of this morning's qualifying session from the Meadowlands Racetrack.
Five of the six horses that contested Race 1 this morning are NA Cup eligible, and it's safe to say that Well Said, a son of Western Hanover, put his early dominance on display.
Charted second at the 28-second opening quarter and fourth by the :55.4 opening half-mile, Well Said went first over in the third panel and was third at the 1:23.1 three quarters pole. With pilot Ron Pierce calling the shots, Well Said was three-quarters of a length the best at the head of the lane, and went on to post a five and three-quarter-length victory in a sharp 1:50.3. The colt's final quarter was clocked in :26.3.
Trained by Steve Elliott, Well Said is the 6-1 favourite in Trot Magazine's 2009 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book.
After cutting the middle fractions in Race 1, Bunkmeister (34-1 in spring book) finished second, pacing in 1:51.4. Lightning Elvis (70-1 in spring book) finished third, also pacing in 1:51.4. Precious Medal (60-1 in spring book) finished fourth, covering his mile in 1:52.4. Major Indiscretion (120-1 in spring book) finished six, pacing in 1:54.2.
More 'Cup' eligibles took to the track for Race 3, and the snappy miles continued. Schoolkids (25-1 in spring book) followed suit in the dash and put in a victorious first-up effort. The son of I Am A Fool came from third after the half and went on to post a one and a half-length victory in 1:51.4. George Brennan was driving for trainer Joe Anderson. Schoolkids came home with a :27.3 final quarter.
Mysticism (42-1 in spring book) finished second in Race 3, covering his mile in 1:52. Panmunjom (28-1 in spring book) cut the fractions and finished up fourth, while Mclaren finished sixth, pacing in 1:54.4.
Race 10 was the scene of the 2009 charted debut of last season's Aged Trotting Mare of the year in Canada, Brigham Dream. Trainer Trond Smedshammer was in the bike for the mile. The five-year-old daughter of Kaisy Dream was on the run before and after the quarter pole, but rebounded to finish third, as she trotted her mile in 1:56.4.
Tom Cango, winner of the 2008 William Wellwood Memorial, put in his second qualifying mile of the year for driver David Miller and trainer Jim Campbell in Race 12. The win was of the wire-to-wire variety, and Tom Cango stopped the clock in 1:55. Matron Stakes winner Explosive Matter also took part in Race 12, making his '09 charted debut for driver Ron Pierce and trainer Noel Daley. The Cantab Hall colt finished third, trotting his mile in 1:56.3. Bluegrass Stakes winner Even Better Odds put in his second charted mile of the year in the dash, trotting in 1:57.1 after putting in a break behind the gate.
The last dash of the morning, Race 15, saw three-year-old trotting star Muscle Hill put in his second qualifier of the season for driver Brian Sears and trainer Greg Peck. The son of Muscles Yankee took control of the tilt in the second quarter and stepped to a seven-length victory in a sharp 1:54.3. The colt cruised home with a :29.1 final quarter
Nice Qualifier looking like
Nice Qualifier looking like a favourite now for the NA Cup.
It should be interesting with him and Art Colony starting to stand out a little.
Hopefully he stays sound and has a big year!
Would it not be a good idea
Would it not be a good idea to race for some money , if you can go in 1:50.3!!!!!!!!