Qualifiers began early at The Meadowlands on Kentucky Derby morning under cloudy skies with temperatures in the low-60s (or high-teens) and a significant homestretch wind gusting in the faces of some of harness racing's most anticipated performers.

The card opened with a strong field of returning four-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 and 1:24.2 the mile in 1:53.2 with the stretch headwind taking a toll on the field 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, on his own through a :28 final panel. 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. Howard Taylor, Order By Stable and Richard 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 as well as the Trot Magazine Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book, squared off in race 3. 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 fourth with pace. The six-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, William Rufenacht and Team S Racing own Lost In Time.

Eurobound won the fourth race for three-year-old trotters easily in 1:55.2 with trainer Domenico Cecere doing the driving. 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 win in the fifth. Classichap (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 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 three-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 win aboard pacing filly 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 Kentucky 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. First race post time is 7:15 p.m.

To view the results from the qualifying session, click the following link: Saturday Qualifiers - Meadowlands Racetrack.

(with files from The Meadowlands)