There is only a certain amount of stock to be placed on qualifiers. However, in a mile on Saturday, May 17 featuring the 2024 Dan Patch Award winning Three-Year-Old Pacer of the Year and Older Pacer of the Year, the horse that crossed the wire first was neither of those two standouts.

By no means a slouch, Sabonis showed serious sophomore talent with a 12-race win streak in 2024 that included Grand Circuit scores in the Milstein at Northfield Park and the Jennas Beach Boy at his home track of Hoosier Park. Now four and under the tutelage of Brett Pelling, Sabonis will surely step up to more Grand Circuit challenges in 2025. An impressive 1:53.1 qualifying winner on the engine at Harrah's Philadelphia on May 6, the son of Tellitlikeitis - Gypsy Bellevue kicked it up a notch on Saturday, May 17 at The Meadowlands.

Sitting the pocket with Scott Zeron at the lines, Sabonis watched Abuckabett Hanover (Dexter Dunn) chop out sensible yet fair splits of :28.1, :56.1 and 1:24.1 before popping the pocket in the stretch. Abuckabett Hanover paced home in :25.3 but Sabonis went a tick better, closing in :25.2 to hit the wire a half length better than the defending divisional champion in a spicy 1:49.4. Oakwood Ardan IR (Andy McCarthy) completed the top trio ahead of the U.S. male sophomore pacer of the year, Captain Albano in his four-year-old debut.

Pat Miller of Slaughters, Ky. owns Sabonis, who sports a 17-1-1 summary from his 20 lifetime appearances with $679,309 in earnings.

Also making his second appearance of the season in qualifying action, 2024 Governor's Cup winner and track record holder Captain Optimistic tuned up for his sophomore pari-mutuel debut with a wire-to-wire 1:50.3 score. The Pepsi North America Cup-eligible son of Captaintreacherous - Cinamony sprinted home in driver Dexter Dunn and hit the wire three lengths better than Fusion (Todd McCarthy).

Trained by Nancy Takter for 3 Brothers Stables of New York, N.Y., Marvin Katz of Toronto, Ont. and Caviart Farms of Vienna, Va. Captain Optimistic sports a summary of 7-2-1 from his 11 two-year-old appearances with $628,529 in earnings.

My Girl EJ added to the Saturday star power, as the 2024 Dan Patch Award winner continues to prep for her venture into the older pacing ranks. Debuting on May 2 while chasing U.S. Horse of the Year Twin B Joe Fresh, My Girl EJ chased the clock on Saturday morning. Todd McCarthy gunned the Andrew Harris trainee to the front and she did all the heavy lifting for an impressive 1:50.2 score.

My Girl EJ (Sweet Lou - Lucys Pearl) sports a mark of 1:48.1 among her 14 career victories with a bankroll in excess of $1.8 million. She's owned by Harris, William Pollock and Bruce Areman of New Jersey.

On the trotting side, 2024 Kentucky Filly Futurity champion R Melina tuned up for her four-year-old season with an impressive 1:52.4 score in her second seasonal qualifier. She bested a pair of Ake Svanstedt-trained millionaires — Warrawee Michelle (Svanstedt) and 2024 O'Brien Award winner Call Me Goo (Sarah Svanstedt).

John Butenschoen trains R Melina (Chapter Seven - Goodtogo Hanover) for M And L Of Delaware LLC and Armitage Farm LLC. She'll look to add to her $1.49 million bankroll, acrrued through 30 career starts with 24 top-three finishes.

Other notable qualifying winners included Monserrate (1:54 for trainer Harris and driver David Miller), R Dutchess (1:55.4; Tim Tetrick up for trainer John Butenschoen) and Amazing Catch (1:53.4 with trainer Ake Svanstedt driving). Full qualifying results are available here.

(Standardbred Canada; photo of Sabonis from a previous win)