While just a qualifying mile, a much-anticipated debut for downunder star Lazarus turned into a match race of sorts with top sophomore Lather Up. The mile did not disappoint.

The race unfolded with Lather Up (Montrell Teague) crossed over around the first turn on the way to a :28.2 opener with Lazarus and Yannick Gingras pinned to his back past the :55.3 half. As they circled the last bend Lazarus was tugging on Yannick, anxious to pace, so the pair tipped from the pocket midway through it and was around Lather Up before the 1:23 three quarters.

It was a sprint from there as Lather Up rallied back at Lazarus to get within a length through the blazing :25.3 finish to the 1:48.3 mile. Both horses were asked for pace only minimally by their respective drivers and went to the wire strong.

“I couldn’t be any happier with him,” said Yannick as he dashed off to catch a flight to The Meadows for today’s Adios stake. “He’s very easy on himself and had tons of pace.”

The time of the mile was a sizzling 1:48.3, a few ticks of a second off the fastest qualifier in harness racing history -- that belongs to another Jimmy Takter trainee, Pure Country, who qualified at The Meadowlands in 1:48 in 2017.

Takter trains Lazarus for owner Taylor Made Stallions of Nicholasville, Ky. The richest downunder bred stallion in Australasian harness racing with $3,8 million in earnings (behind geldings Blacks A Fake and Imthemightyquinn), Lazarus trained at The Meadowlands in 1:51 last Saturday and Takter had said earlier this week that he would use the qualifier "as a training mile and not fully stretch him out." Takter confirmed after the qualifier that Gingras "did not stretch him out" during the qualifier.

The two-year-olds started off the morning with the Father Patrick filly Sisters Promise coming from mid-pack to win in 1:58.1 for Tim Tetrick. Biding their time as Amazato (Trond Smedshammer) led the field by the half in 1:00.2 and 1:30.2 three panels, when Tetrick fanned Sisters Promise wide in the stretch she sailed by under her own power to win by 3-1/2 lengths over that rival, her last quarter timed in :27.2. Linda Toscano trains the winner for Brittany Farms who paid $120,000 for her at Harrisburg and Fred Hertrich, III is the breeder.

Aldebaranwalkabout (Andy Miller) survived the furious close of White Tiger (Anthony MacDonald) to win the third in 1:56.2. Left with a long lead after a few broke behind him, the winner passed the three quarters alone in 1:28 while White Tiger was maneuvered around traffic, trotting an individual :27.1 home to just miss. Aldebaran Park bred and owns the winning son of Muscle Hill.

The enigmatic Greenshoe made another strong impression this morning with an absolutely effortless 1:55.1 jaunt for Brian Sears, trotting home alone in 27 flat with the driver motionless. With Peter Haughton Memorial eliminations unnecessary, this served as a prep for the $422,350 stake on Hambletonian Day. The Father Patrick colt, a $330,000 Lexington Select buy for Anders Strom as Courant, Inc. was bred by Al Libfeld and Marvin Katz.

Donald DuPont won with Roy Dobbins homebred Muscle Hill filly Misscheckmatehill in 2:00.3, holding Bride (DR Ackerman) at bay through the stretch.

Another impressive homebred kicked off the pacing races as the 3 Brothers Stable’s JK Mardi Says zipped around the oval all by herself in 1:55.2 for Scott Zeron. Left to a long lead throughout the 1:00.1 half and 1:28.1 three panels, the Somebeachsomewhere filly sprinted home in :27.1 on her own. Nancy Johansson trains her.

In the season finale for Breakfast With The Babies, the Sweet Lou half-brother to Vintage Master and Great Vintage Division Bell (Josert Fonseca) took a 1:53.4 record for owner/breeders Christina Takter and John Fielding. Jimmy Takter is, of course, the trainer.

The day closed with Pure Country, the “Grande Dame” of Adam Bowden’s Diamond Creek Farms zooming around the course in 1:51.3 for Brian Sears as she prepares for the Lady Liberty and the second half of the 2018 campaign. It was just a year ago that trainer Jimmy Takter qualified her in an amazing 1:48 which launched the now five-year-old champion into another Dan Patch Award-winning season, making her the only female in Standardbred history to win that prestigious award at ages two, three and 4four. It looks like she’s raced herself back into contention for one more shot at the title.

Live racing returns tonight when the Hambletonian Oaks eliminations highlight the 12 race card. It’s also Seafood Fest with a variety of purveyors offering their culinary delights for you dining pleasure.

Post time is 7:15 p.m.

(with files from The Meadowlands)