The Ron Burke-trained Antognoni S had a fabulous 2025, yet, he didn’t make headlines like his stablemate Lexus Kody, who ended the season as the Dan Patch Trotter of the Year after earning an industry-best $1.8 million.

Last year, Antognoni S won 16 of 24 starts and banked $744,892. His two biggest wins were at Yonkers Raceway – in the MGM Grand Prix and John Brennan Trotting Series – but he didn’t race during the course of the season in the bigger events against Lexus Kody or his stablemate's arch-rival, Periculum.

This year, things could be much different.

Antognoni S will be at The Big M on Friday, April 10 in the first leg of the JL Cruze Series, a series that pays tribute to the first horse to ever break the 1:50 barrier on the trot at The Meadowlands. Antognoni S is the 5-2 morning line favourite from post three with co-owner Yannick Gingras in the sulky.

“He's ready to go, I think, right now,” said Burke of Antognoni S, who qualified at The Big M on April 4 in spectacular fashion. “Last year, it was never a question of racing at The Meadowlands, it was just, we didn't have him in the big stakes. We didn’t make payments because we didn't really know last year how good he was.”

Antognoni S’s versatility could go a long way toward a big 2026. It’s already obvious that he can do things at a high level going four turns.

“It doesn't matter [what sized track], honestly, that's a good horse,” said Burke. “By the end of [2025], I told [co-owner] Mark [Weaver] and them guys, he's better than [Lexus] Kody. We would train them together and he would beat 'Kody.'

“I think this year he'll be maybe the best aged trotter we have.”

It won’t be easy pickin’s for Antognoni S on Friday. He still has to contend with Asteroid and Resolve To Win, who finished second and third, respectively, a week ago in The Big M’s overnight trotting feature. Take All Comers led for most of that dash, and he, too, is part of the 10-horse field.

The JL Cruze Series will have its second leg on April 24 before the final on May 2.

Then, the stakes season for older trotters at The Meadowlands kicks off on May 16 when four-year-olds and older go at it in the $175,000 USD Arthur J. Cutler Memorial. It was last year in the Cutler that Antognoni S made his last appearance at The Big M, when the six-year-old gelded son of Father Patrick-Bouncing Bax finished third as the 6-5 favourite behind Periculum and Lexus Kody.

Maybe both of Burke’s trainees will face off again in the Cutler, as Lexus Kody gets his season underway this Saturday.

“Lexus Kody qualifies Saturday at The Meadowlands,” said Burke. “I think 'Kody' has a bigger [2026] schedule, you know, because we do keep Antognoni more for [the smaller tracks], because, obviously, 'Kody' can't do Yonkers like Antognoni can. 'Kody' will do it once in a while but he's not going to do it all the time like this horse will. So more small tracks with this horse, more big tracks with 'Kody.'”

What’s the schedule for Antognoni S?

“I'll have to talk to his genius co-owner and driver,” said Burke with tongue firmly in cheek. “I'm sure after the first start, we’ll see what he thinks.”

“He does fit him well,” said Burke of Gingras when speaking seriously. “He does such a nice job with him because he keeps him quiet. The horse can get hot. He does a great job. He picked his spots when he pushed him leaving and made him sit in. I thought that's what I loved the other day about the qualifier. He sat in perfectly and then exploded [home in :25.4 to win in 1:54.1].

“We didn't know he was that good [last year], so he'll get more [opportunities] this year. He'll get more of a chance to prove he belongs. And there's no doubt in my mind that he belongs.”

Live harness racing at The Meadowlands will be conducted on a Friday and Saturday with a first-race post time of 6:35 p.m. Free programs are available at playmeadowlands.com.

(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack; photo of Antognoni S winning in 2025 at Yonkers Raceway)