The final edition of Breakfast With The Babies for 2023 took place on Friday (July 28) at The Meadowlands under perfect conditions — fast track, 78 degrees Fahrenheit and no wind at post time.

Nancy Takter and Brett Pelling should go home happy after today’s races, as both trainer sent out sharp-looking colts.

Nancy’s were both trotters. Karl, a Tactical Landing colt making his very first start, turned heads this morning by converting a pocket ride navigated by Yannick Gingras into a 1:54.4 win. Trotting his final quarter in :27.3 to get by the stubborn leader Coach Calhoun (Dexter Dunn) as they neared the wire, Karl did it with something left.  A $135,000 Lexington yearling, Karl was bred by Crawford Farms, who retains an interest in the colt as partners with Christina & Nancy Takter, Black Horse Racing and Bender Sweden.

Takter and Gingras came right back with another first-timer, this time it was Amstel Hanover. The Bar Hopping colt used a 28-second final quarter to comfortably edge by Intl Blockade (Domenico Cecere) near the end of the 1:58.1 mile. Amstel Hanover, a $65,000 Harrisburg buy, races for the trainer in partnership with Christina Takter, Black Horse Racing and Goran Falk.

Brett Pelling unveiled a couple of talented Captaintreacherous pacing colts this morning, just like the old days when he’d get them fit for upcoming stakes through the balance of the season in Meadowlands qualifiers.

The first was Principle Interest, who set a rated pace for Scott Zeron before a :27.2 sprint to end the 1:54.2 mile off by himself over Twin B Ludacris (Dunn), who flashed good late pace. Bred by Let It Ride and Bottom Line Racing, Principle Interest brought $205,000 at the Lexington sale last fall. Dave McDuffee, Paul Bordogna, Mel Hartman and Steven Arnold are partners on the winner.

Dunn drove another really nice colt to his first win for Pelling when Titanic Hanover wore down stablemate JK Parcells (Zeron) through a :27.2 final quarter to get a 1:55 win in his third try. McDuffee, Bordogna and Hartman gave $230,000 for the Hanover-bred at Harrisburg last fall.

In the opener, Chaparmbro won her fourth qualifier for trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer this morning, leading all the way and finishing the 1:57.2 mile with a :28.3 final quarter to win by a pole over R Bama (Dave Miller). Purple Haze and M3 Stables gave $260,000 for the winner at Harrisburg. Fair Winds Farm is the breeder.

Bronx Barista showed up unannounced and promptly peeled off a 1:52.1 win for Mark MacDonald. Following a rapid pace set by Sweet Flowers (Andy McCarthy) through the 1:25.1 three panels, Bronx Barista charged by that rival in the stretch and drew away. Ted Gewertz bred and owns the Huntsville filly in partnership with trainer Ray Schnittker and Kitefield Stable.

In older pacing action, two of harness racing's more accomplished stars threw down sub-26 speed in a sprint to the wire to tune up for possible Hambletonian Day appearances. Test Of Faith (David Miller) cut the mile and held off pocket-popper Bythemissal (Gingras) by a nose in a 1:49.1 scorcher.

The “Championship Season” is coming to a close with Hambletonian eliminations on Saturday (July 29) and the “Greatest Day In Harness Racing,” Hambletonian Day, is next Saturday with all the frills and more than $3 million in purses.

In closing, The Meadowlands would like to thank Jules Siegel for his unwavering support in sponsoring this endeavour for the past few seasons under his Fashion Farms banner.

(with files from the Meadowlands)