The fourth leg of the Kindergarten Series was in the spotlight on Friday, Sept. 12 at The Meadowlands with seven $34,722 divisions for two-year-olds of each sex and gait.

In the first of two filly paces, On Heir challenged leader Amira Hanover (Brett Beckwith) at the three-quarters and continued a steady gain around the far turn and to the wire to score by 1-1/4 lengths in a lifetime-best 1:51.2. JK Fierce Lady (Tim Tetrick) was second with Amira Hanover holding third in the six-horse field.  

Andy McCarthy thinks highly of the daughter of Captaintreacherous-Delightful Dragon, as he’s given up some big-time, out-of-town drives to keep guiding the Noel Daley-trained filly.

“Short term, I am always trying to think of the big picture,” said McCarthy. “I just kind of wanted to stay with her, I guess that was the call. She’s got a big engine and she keeps getting better and better.”

Owned by the Patricia Stable, Douglas Sipple, Lenny Zelin and the Gandolfo Stable, On Heir clicked for the second time in five lifetime tries. As the 2-5 public choice, she paid $2.80 to win.

The other filly pace went to Prtynproud Hanover with Jason Bartlett guiding the Downbytheseaside-Pretty N Fast miss in a lifetime-best 1:52.3 as she improved to five-for-seven in her career. Caviart Madrid (Tim Tetrick) finished 1-1/2 lengths behind in second while Heartofthesunrise (Todd McCarthy) rounded out the top three. Joe Bongiorno trains the winner for owner Ken Jacobs. She paid $3.40 as the 3-5 favourite.

In addition to winning with pacing filly On Heir, Daley swept the male divisions with pacers Signal Caller (Captaintreacherous-Square Dancer) and Toast Of The Town (Sweet Lou-New Year) and trotter Highball Hanover (Bar Hopping-Hall Of A Dream). Daley became just the second trainer during 2025 at The Big M to train four winners on a single card.

Signal Caller, driven by Andy McCarthy, won his division by a length in a lifetime-best 1:51 as the even-money favourite, returning $4 to win. Rocknacious (Jason Bartlett) and Louaville (Todd McCarthy) finished second and third, respectively. Signal Caller is now three-for-seven in his career for owners Patricia Stable, Kovach Stables Sjoblom Racing and L A Express Stable.

Todd McCarthy drove Toast Of The Town to a lifetime-best 1:51.1 victory by 2-3/4 lengths over Talbot Andretti (Brett Beckwith) and Bookie J (Jason Bartlett). He paid $2.60 to win as the 1-5 favourite. Making his seventh start, Toast Of The Town recorded his first win since a successful career debut. He is owned by Let It Ride Stables, Odds On Racing, Magnificent Seven Stable and Morrison Racing Stables.

The lone colt and gelding trotting division went to Highball Hanover and Andy McCarthy prevailing in lifetime-best 1:53.4 by half a length over Practical Man (Todd McCarthy), with Cambridge Hanover (Jason Bartlett) third best. He returned $22 for the upset win as the 10-1 fourth choice on the toteboard. The colt, now two-for-seven, races for the ownership group of Sjoblom Racing And M Dolan, Joe Sbrocco And Jaf Racing, Caviart Farms and P C Wellwood Enterprises.

The Jim Oscarsson trainee Southwind Chaska used an authoritative brush to grab the lead at the half and sailed home from there as much the best in the first of two filly trots, 1-1/2 lengths in front of a fast-closing Daley-trained Duicinea Hanover (Mark Herschberger). Kickan (Jason Bartlett) finished third.

“She’s just a true professional,” said winning driver Tim Tetrick. “She’s like driving a six or seven-year-old horse. [Jim] is a really good trainer and things worked out.”

A daughter of Tactical Landing-Southwind Chai, Southwind Chaska recorded her fourth win in six starts after completing the mile in a lifetime-best 1:54.4. The third-place finisher in the New Jersey Sire Stakes final and second-place finisher in the New Jersey Classic final, she returned $2.80 as the 2-5 favourite in the field of eight while lifting her lifetime bankroll to $187,573 for the Oscarsson Racing Stable and John Cummins.

The other filly trot was won by Dreamlover Ab's homebred Frattina Diablo S (Captain Corey-Lindy Strong) and driver Mark Herschberger in 1:55.2. The Tony Alagna trainee edged out Ake Svanstedt stablemates All Time Trot S (Johnathan Ahle) and Flying Copper (Jason Bartlett) for her first lifetime win in her fourth attempt. She paid $3.40 to win as the 3-5 public's choice.

Littles 'Duel' To A Draw 

It had been 30 years since the husband and wife team of Dave and Debbie Little had appeared together on The Big M’s live simulcast show, when they went head-to-head on a segment called “The Dueling Littles.”

They, apparently, are even better now than they were then.

Both Dave and Debbie picked six winners on the card and both hit the Late Pick-4 as Dave cashed in for $229 and Debbie $114. They each tabbed a 9-2 winner and Debbie added a 7-2 shot as well.

In addition, Debbie cashed for $90 filling in for her husband on “Little’s Late Double,” and Dave gave out the winning Hi-5 ticket, treating his following to a $166 hit for the 10-cent base bet, the payoff helped by an $18,290 carryover that led to a total pool of just under $84,000.

All-source handle on the 14-race program totalled $2,128,540 USD.

Live racing resumes on Saturday at 6:20 p.m., the last night of harness racing at The Meadowlands until Oct. 18.

(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack; photo of On Heir winning on Sept. 12)