Oakwood Ardan Ir was in the right spot to provide a dominant performance on Saturday, April 18 in the featured $30,822 high-end conditioned pace at The Meadowlands, and the 2025 William R. Haughton Memorial winner delivered in a big way in his second start of the year.

“He’s not really a front-ender, but the fractions were really fair and he sprinted home hard,” said winning driver Tim Tetrick. “He's a real nice horse to drive.”

Sent to the gate as the 1-5 favourite, Oakwood Ardan Ir, fifth in his seasonal debut a week ago, used some early energy to protect rail position as Wish You Well (Braxten Boyd) and Dont Drop The Ball (Dexter Dunn) left the gate with intentions of making the lead. Wish You Well hit the quarter on top in :27.4 as Dont Drop The Ball opted for the pocket. 

Tetrick didn’t wait long with the chalk, moving Oakwood Ardan Ir from the three-hole quickly to the top at the three-eighths before reaching the half in :56.2, which left plenty in the tank for the Robert Cleary trainee. Renaissance Deo (Andrew McCarthy) was now moving fast on the rim and was within a length of the leader at three-quarters in 1:25.1, but it became clear through the stretch that Oakwood Ardan Ir was toying with the field as he sprinted home in :25.3 to record a 1-3/4-length win in 1:50.4. Wish You Well was second, with Dont Drop The Ball third.

“I’ve watched him and competed against him a lot and everybody that’s sat behind him has always talked well about him,” said Tetrick, who teamed up for the first time with the lifetime earner of $528,764. “He held up to the hype.”

Is this a horse who can go with the killers of the older male pacing division?

“He’s always been quick enough,” said Tetrick. “He’s not really a quick speed horse up close. He closes well and everybody sees these days in racing, if you are not up close, you don’t do very well. He’s great and deserves a chance to be in with the top colts. He’s a privilege to drive. Hopefully, we can have some fun together (on the Grand Circuit).”

Oakwood Ardan Ir, a seven-year-old gelded son of Sweet Lou-Trend Setter, registered his 23rd victory in 63 lifetime starts. He is owned by Royal Wire Products Inc. The win payout was $2.60.

Trainer Diana Kramer recorded her first career win as Lyleground came out of the pocket to win the 11th race on the card. Tetrick summoned the 4-5 choice from the two-hole coming around the final turn, and the six-year-old son of Artspeak-St Lads Moxie held off a pair of pursuers to prevail by a length in 1:54. Another Kramer trainee, Scott Onthe Rocks, finished third. Lyleground ($3.80) was making his first start for Kramer since being transferred to the second-year conditioner from Ed Urbanski by owner Chuck Mazzarella. 

Kramer had 14 starts in her debut season last year, making her debut in April with Kid Did It, whom she owns, at The Meadowlands. The Mantua, N.J. resident now has a record of 27-1-2-3 after sending out five starters on Saturday with a second and two thirds in addition to the victory.

Earlier on the card, Bookie J, the 2025 Kindergarten Series champion, started his 2026 campaign with an impressive 1:51.2 score for trainer Chris Ryder and driver Dexter Dunn. The three-year-old gelded son of Perfect Sting-Skyy returned $3.40 as the 3-5 public choice.

Jason Bartlett, the 2025 Dan Patch Driver of the Year, led the driver colony with four winners on the 14-race card. Ron Burke led the trainers with a pair of jaunts down victory lane. 

A carryover of $56,244 coaxed punters to pour $9,428 of new money into the $1 PK 8 pool. After a sequence of winners' odds of 9-5, 4-5, 5-2, 8-5, 6-5, 9-5, 3-5 and 1-5, three winning tickets were exchanged for $21,417.50.

All-source betting on the program totalled $2,830,757. Racing resumes Friday at 6:35 p.m.

(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)