Talent shows, such as 'American Idol' and 'The Voice,' are popular on television at this time of year. The winter series races at Meadowlands Racetrack are, in a way, not unlike those hits

. They provide owners and trainers the chance to judge whether their stables’ performers should get opportunities to try for bigger careers.

Enter three-year-old gelding pacer Social Network. Last week, he won his seasonal debut by 5-3/4 lengths in 1:53.4 in the first round of the Junior Trendsetter Series at the Big M. Last season, the Joe Holloway-trainee won one of seven starts and earned $26,322 for owner Val D’Or Farms.

“He showed flashes, but he didn’t show enough consistency,” Holloway said. “We need to race him at this time of year to see about staking him. We gelded him at the end of last year and want to see if that helps with his attitude. I’m still not a hundred percent sure, and that’s why he’s racing at this time of year.

“Even then, you never know. I’m just trying to get some idea.”

Social Network’s win last year came by 10-1/4 lengths in 1:52.4 in a race for maidens at Harrah’s Chester. He was third in a division of the Bluegrass and fifth in a division of the International Stallion Stakes, both at Lexington’s Red Mile. Both races were won by Governor’s Cup champion A Rocknroll Dance. In the International Stallion, Social Network was timed in 1:50.3, with a :26.3 final quarter-mile.

“He raced OK in Lexington,” Holloway said. “It wasn’t tremendous, but it was good. He has enough ability, it’s just whether he wants to step it up a notch. I don’t have that answer. We’ll find out for sure down the road.”

Social Network, a son of Tell All out of the mare Newsletter, was bred by Brittany Farms and Val D’Or Farms. Newsletter is a full-sister to stakes winners Ideal News, who was trained by Holloway, and Good News Lady. Ideal News is also the mother of another top Holloway performer, Escape The News.

“The maternal side is very, very good,” Holloway said. “The family has been good to me. I had (Newsletter’s) horse from the year before, Collage, and she was OK. She had a lot of trouble breathing, but she had a lot of talent.”

Last week, Social Network’s win time equaled Eastwood Blue Chip’s for the fastest of three Junior Trendsetter divisions. Holloway expected the race to go faster, nearer to 1:52.

“I was kind of surprised that he won so easily in that time,” Holloway said. “I didn’t expect him to win easy in (1):53.4. He raced well, but it’s still not easy to gauge. Was he that good or did a couple of the other horses have off nights? You can’t knock what he did, but when you’re trying to judge, you never know. We’ll have to wait another week and see.”

When the series resumes Thursday night, Social Network will start from post two in the first of three Junior Trendsetter splits. David Miller, who won with the horse last week and is 2-for-2 lifetime with him, is listed to drive. If all goes well in the series, Holloway will stake the horse to bigger events in the summer.

“If you stake him to everything, then we’ll take a little bit of time and get him ready,” Holloway said. “You don’t want to use up the number of your starts. But you have to test them a little bit at this time of year.”

This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.