Darlins Angel resumed her winning ways in one of seven $35,211 divisions of the fifth and final leg of the Kindergarten Series for two-year-olds of each sex and gait on Friday night, Oct. 24 at The Meadowlands.

The four $125,000 USD Kindergarten finals take place on Saturday, Nov. 1.

A daughter of Captaintreacherous out of triple millionaire Darlins Delight, Darlins Angel got a late start in 2025, appearing for the first time in a Kindergarten preliminary, finishing fifth in a sparkling effort after leaving from the second tier on Aug. 23.

“She had the 11-hole in her debut but she hit the line strong,” said Lauren Tritton, who has driven the Juan Cano trainee in each of her five career starts. “Since then, she’s just continued to improve.”

Following that fifth-place finish, Darlins Angel has given her foes a devil of a time, winning twice at Pocono Downs and twice at The Big M. She went wire-to-wire on Friday night in the eighth race in the second of two filly paces in a never-an-anxious-moment stroll, and hit the wire 2-1/4 lengths in front of second-place finisher JK Fierce Lady (Brett Beckwith). Heartofthesunrise (Corey Callahan) was third. Her final time of 1:51 was a lifetime best.

“She’s really smart,” Tritton said of the Hot Lead Farm homebred filly. “She does nothing wrong. She tells me what she wants to do and I’m just along for the ride.”

Because horses with three series starts are given preference, Darlins Angel may not go in the Kindergarten final (she has just two starts), but Tritton explained there’s another big fish to fry.

“I think she’ll be a major player in the [$400,000 USD] Three Diamonds [on Nov. 15].”

As the 1-5 favourite, Darlins Angel returned $2.60 to her backers. 

Wave Dancer pulled off a 50-1 surprise in the first of two filly paces (race four) for driver Braxten Boyd and trainer Linda Toscano, winning for the first time in nine outings in 1:52 from well off the pace to nail even-money favourite Fabulous Hanover (Brett Beckwith) by a nose. Car Keys (Steve Smith) was third.

“I didn’t know much about her. Linda said they have had problems that they have been working out,” said Boyd, who teamed up with the filly for the first time. “I took my time through the first turn and it worked out perfect. [I did not like my chances in deep stretch] but in the moment, she was pacing so hard. I thought we had a shot. She raced great.”

A homebred daughter of Perfect Sting-Making Waves, Wave Dancer scored for owner Brittany Farms. 

She paid $103.40 as the longest shot on the board in the field of six.

Trainer Ake Svanstedt had a stakes triple, sweeping the filly trots and a division for the trotting colts. 

Busy Miss Lissy S (Calgary Games-Hills Angel S) and All Time Trot S (Googoo Gaagaa-Gorgeous Am) each lowered their lifetime marks to 1:55. Panamera Racing's Busy Miss Lissy S upped her record to five wins (including three Kindergarten legs) in seven career starts, while paying $2.40 as the 1-5 favourite while Midnight Sun Partners's All Time Trot S won for the second time in five tries, returning $7 as the 5-2 second choice.

Magic Punk (Wishing Stone-I D Entity No) stopped the clock in 1:54.3 to win for the fourth time in seven starts for owner Magic Punk Inc. The runner-up in the William Wellwood and Peter Haughton Memorials who won an earlier Kindergarten leg paid $4 as the even-money public choice.

Johnathan Ahle drove all three of Svanstedt's successful stakes starters and they teamed up for one more win on the 14-race program to lead the driver and trainer colonies, respectively, on Friday night.

The other division for male trotters went to Ultimate Betrayal (Calgary Games-Muscle Babe), winning in a time of 1:54 to record his first victory from four lifetime starts. He paid $25.80 as the 11-1 fourth choice in the wagering. Driver Niko Karna and trainer Noel Daley share ownership with Sjoblom Racing Inc. and Michael Dolan.

The lone colt and gelding pacing division was won by New Jersey Classic champion Bookie J with Brett Beckwith driving for Chris Ryder and owner Kenneth Jacobs. The Perfect Sting-Skyy gelding stopped the clock in a lifetime-best equalling 1:51.1, winning for the third time in 10 outings. Bookie J paid $7.60 as the 5-2 second choice.

Guest co-host Meadow Twaddle excelled in her first appearance on the live simulcast presentation, selecting six winners on top. Her best score came in the 11th race when she correctly tabbed Create Escape ($11.60 to win) as well as the cold exacta, which returned $37.40.

All-source wagering on the 14-race card totalled $1,798,728 USD.

Racing resumes on Saturday at 6:20 p.m.

(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)