The definition of diabolical is “of, relating to, or characteristic of the devil.”

On Friday, July 25 at The Meadowlands, the Annie Stoebe-trained Diabolic Hill gave his foes a devil of a time, shrugging off post 10 in just his third lifetime start -- all victories -- to win easily in 1:54 on a program that featured five $34,247 leg three dashes of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for two-year-olds of each sex and gait.

The four $240,000 USD (est.) finals will take place on Aug. 1 and Aug. 2 during Hambletonian Weekend.

In the lone colt and gelding trot, Diabolic Hill got roughed up a bit from the outside post and ranged up to take on leader Mega Shark (Todd McCarthy), who led at the quarter in :29. Soon thereafter, Diabolic Hill took over for driver Andy McCarthy.

Turn out the lights, the party’s over.

Leading by 1-3/4 lengths at the half in :57.2 and three lengths at three-quarters in 1:26.2, Stoebe’s superstar finished things off with a :27.3 kicker to win by 2-3/4 lengths in a lifetime best. Ardonne (Scott Zeron) was second with Im Kronos S (Dexter Dunn) third.

“I purposely have been training him on the front the last few weeks,” said Stoebe. “He handled it fantastic tonight.

“I think [driver] Andy [McCarthy] is just happy with how much he’s matured. The talent has been there all along. It’s channeling that naughtiness that he has.”

Going off at the longest odds yet in his career, Diabolic Hill paid $4.60 as the 6-5 public choice.

Stoebe is going to go easy on her student.

“He’s pretty much staked to everything but we will be conservative with him because it’s a long year for a two-year-old,” said Stoebe, who co-owns the Muscle Hill-Crysti Dream colt with the Florida-based Mazza Racing Stables. “We’ll race next week [in the NJSS final] and go from there.”

The first of two filly trots was taken by the Nancy Takter-trained Leading Lady (Walner-Muscle Dolly), who impressed in her first lifetime outing.

Driver Yannick Gingras popped Leading Lady out of the three-hole on the far turn, following Sugar Packet (David Miller) and had little trouble getting past that foe to record a 1-3/4-length win in 1:55.1. Sugar Packet finished second with Emmas Mystery CCL (Andy McCarthy) third.

“I’m really happy with the way she started her racing career tonight,” said Takter. “She’s been one of my favourite fillies all along and I think she could be very special going forward.”

As the even-money favourite, Leading Lady returned $4.20 to win.

She is owned by Black Horse Racing of Warren, New Jersey, Marvin Katz of Toronto, Ont., and Herb Liverman of Miami Beach, Florida.

The other filly trot went to Southwind Chaska, who left the gate hard, tripped out in the pocket behind 1-2 favourite Waldon Fashion (Todd McCarthy), then closed along the inside to blow past the post-time choice by 2-3/4 lengths in a lifetime-best 1:55.1 with Tim Tetrick in the sulky. Sparks (Ake Svanstedt) was third.

After winning her lifetime debut two weeks ago, the daughter of Tactical Landing-Southwind Chai upped her record to two wins in as many tries for trainer and owner Jim Oscarsson.

“[Last week], I just drove her like it was her first lifetime start, which it was,” said Tetrick. “She really surprised me. She showed me a lot of versatility. Went down the lane, went right after them and got the win.

“She went left [to the inside in deep stretch] like she had done it a hundred times. She was perfect. I was super happy with her. She shot right through there.”

As the 5-2 second choice, Southwind Chaska returned $7.80 to her backers.

A pair of NJSS dashes were contested as non-wagering races before the start of the betting card.

Perfect Thought (Perfect Sting-Think Pink) recorded her first lifetime win in two starts, taking the filly pace in 1:54.1 for driver Scott Zeron, trainer Megan Scran and owner Thestable Perfect Thought of Brunswick, Ohio.

The colt and gelding pacing division went to Bookie J in 1:54, winning for the first time in four outings. Dexter Dunn drove the Perfect Sting-Skyy gelding for trainer Chris Ryder and owner Kenneth Jacobs of Baldwinsville, New York.

Starting the night with five wins in his first five drives, it’s not shocking that Yannick Gingras finished the program with six victories on the night, becoming just the second driver this year (Jason Bartlett was the other) to win a half-dozen dashes on a single Meadowlands card.

Victoria D’Alessandro and Mike Russo led the trainer colony with two winners apiece.

Despite no horse in the sequence going off at odds greater than 3-1, the 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 paid $5,058.38 and it only took six correct selections to cash in.

All-source handle on the 14-race card totalled $2,459,290 USD.

Racing resumes on Saturday at 6:20 p.m., featuring three eliminations for both the $1 million USD Hambletonian and $500,000 USD Hambletonian Oaks.

(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)