With the Fall Final Four approaching, two-year-olds of each sex and gait competed in one of the Grand Circuit's late-season staples: the Kindergarten Classic Finals at the Meadowlands Racetrack on Saturday, Nov. 2.

A recall did not hamper the groove of EL Ideal as the late-blooming Ake Svanstedt trainee cruised to a 1:53.1 victory in the $251,460 Kindergarten Classic Colt and Gelding Trot Final—sponsored by Diamond Creek Farm.

Beyond Kronos, sent at odds of 69-1, blasted from post 8 to the front while Sky Castles also showed speed but began to gallop rounding the first turn. Even-money favourite EL Ideal, away second, soon circled to the front passing a :27.1 opening quarter and continued unchallenged to a :56.2 half before a Melander flow crept forward.

Back Of The Neck, trained by Marcus Melander, marched first over to pressure EL Ideal with stablemate Maesteraemon in tow. EL Ideal maintained control through three-quarters in 1:24.4 and edged away from his competition in progress to a 1:53.1 victory. Beyond Kronos clung to second as Chestnut Hill rolled from the backfield for third and Maesteraemon circumvented his tiring stablemate for fourth.

“He’s very good and does a great job with the horses he’s got and it’s always fun to drive for him,” driver Andy Miller said of driving for Svanstedt after the race.

When asked about what changed in EL Ideal late in the season, Miller said the colt has “Just a lot of maturity. Ake’s done a great job bringing him along slow and getting him ready at the right time. He was a little more keyed up after [the recall] but then once he got to the front he was settled down and was really good.”

EL Ideal, a two-year-old colt by Muscle Hill owned by Emp Invest Oy, won his third race from nine starts and has earned $276,437. He paid $4.00 to win.

Trainer Linda Toscano claimed the top two spots in the $251,020 Kindergarten Classic Filly Trot Final—sponsored by Svanstedt Stable—with 1-2 favourite Senorita Rita winning in a career-best mile of 1:53.2 over stablemate Dip Me Hanover.

Driver Scott Zeron sent Senorita Rita for the lead as Hall Of Am S protected position from the pylon post and Dip Me Hanover secured a spot from post 10 in third circling the first turn. Trotting the first quarter in :27.4, Senorita Rita held an uncontested lead to a :56.3 half and past three-quarters in 1:25.1.

Creature Of Habit mounted a mild first-over bid around the final turn but lost ground through the stretch, leaving room for Hall Of Am S to vacate pocket and challenge the leader late. However Senorita Rita kept her lead intact while Hall Of Am S lost stride nearing the finish, giving Dip Me Hanover second while Creature Of Habit took third via placing. Hall Of Am S, with a lapped-on break finishing third, was disqualified to fourth.

“Tonight I let her see what we can do and down the lane asked her and she maintained her speed right to the wire,” Zeron said after the race. “She’s really a sensational horse. Linda’s been patient with her all year. I’ve been on the front end but that’s just because she’s so easy to drive and I just want to stay out of trouble, but she’s versatile. I’m excited for next year and maybe she’ll have a little bit more left this year.

With five victories from seven starts, Senorita Rita has banked $190,710 for owner Kenneth Jacobs. Though she started her career late, Toscano left open the possibility of sending her two-year-old Chapter Seven filly deeper into the Grand Circuit with the Goldsmith Maid coming up at the Meadowlands.

“I think they either have or they don’t, and she has it,” Toscano said after the race. “I believe she’s a quality filly—I’ve believed all along she’s a quality filly. If she comes out of this race well, that’s where she’ll be going.

Senorita Rita paid $3.00 to win.

Marloe Hanover returned from a show finish in the Breeders Crown freshman-filly pace final to score a 1:50.3 win the $192,500 Kindergarten Classic Filly Pace Final, sponsored by Daniel Baer and South Mountain Stables.

From the moment the gate swung open, Marloe Hanover, driven by David Miller, aimed to be on top, leaving brightly with Hen Party and the 4-5 favoured Rocknificent. Hen Party soon took the top spot and the other two public choices followed as the first quarter went in :27.1.

Marloe Hanover tipped off the pylons and brushed to the lead from Hen Party, cutting the half in :55.4. Rocknificent came out from third to challenge the leader as Marloe Hanover easily paced through three-quarters in 1:23.3.

Rocknificent was unable to make a solid challenge on the outside as Marloe Hanover maintained the lead while Hen Party gained ground on the inside, coming strongly at the leader. Marloe Hanover held off Hen Party by a head as that one took the place spot from Rocknificent, who finished third. The time for the mile was 1:50.3.

Marloe Hanover, a daughter of Captaintreacherous, is trained by Richard “Nifty” Norman for owners Pinske Stables, David Hoese and Bridgette S. Jabionsky.

Trainer Norman was happy about his filly’s recent form. He said, “We’ve had a good little roll this last month. She’s won not only this race but has been stakes placed on the Grand Circuit. She’s tock solid, she just puts in a good effort every time.”

Norman said Marloe Hanover was unlucky in the Breeders Crown because “she had a lot of pace but had to split horses and only got beat a head.” He indicated he would talk to some of the filly’s partners about racing again this year, adding, “I’m not the boss.”

Carter Pinske, an assistant trainer for Norman, said the filly was “always good. She showed in Florida that she had the ability to do it,” he said. “It was just one of them things where she had to put everything together, but she always been one of those ones that goes out and does it—she’s a grinder, as she showed tonight.”

Marloe Hanover, who won her third race of the season, paid $7.40.

Force N Fury, with Victor Kirby in the bike, came off a sizzling pace to draw away and win the $172,000 Kindergarten Classic Colt Pace Final, sponsored in memory of Harold and Marcia Snyder.

Trained by Tony Alagna, the son of Captaintreacherous rolled well behind the early leader, favourite Major Betts, who swept to the first quarter in :26.4. Major Betts dismissed a challenge from Chief Mate, keeping the lead and cutting a :53.4 half. Keystone Dash followed on the inside while Captain Barbossa went first over to gain ground as three-quarters sparked in 1:21.3.

In the stretch, Major Betts struggled with Captain Barbossa to his right as Kirby took Force N Fury three wide to charge from behind and soar past those two and win easily over a fast-closing Sea Of Life and Major Betts faltering to third. The time for the mile was 1:50.2.

Driver Victor Kirby said, “I just figured I could get live cover, which happened, and a fast pace. In the first turn they were going at it pretty hard and that’s all I needed. I had to tip a little earlier than I wanted at the head of the lane, but when I called on him he punched home strong.”

Kirby was driving Force N Fury for the second time and said both times “He felt real strong off a helmet and impressed me both weeks.”

Force N Fury paid $13.80 to win.

KEEPING PACE: The 50-cent Pick-5 pool proved popular with players, as a carryover of $19,326 led to a total pool of $127,120. Given the fact that favourites won each of the first four legs and a 5-2 won the payoff leg, the return of $256.60 was more than respectable.

The 50-cent Pick-4 saw a meet-best pool of $93,922.

All source wagering on the 13-race program was also a meet high as $2,730,886 was pushed through the windows.

Racing resumes Friday, Nov. 8 at 7:15 p.m.

(Meadowlands Racetrack)