Taking advantage of a rated first half, American Power and driver Mattias Melander pulled off an upset on Friday, June 5 at The Meadowlands, defeating two big-time, headline-grabbing Hambletonian contenders in the second leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes (NJSS) for three-year-old colt and gelding Platinum-level trotters. 

In that $34,722 Platinum division, Mega Shark (Tim Tetrick) had the lead at the quarter in :28.1 before American Power surged past that one to take the field of 11 past the half in an underwhelming :57. Just before the half, Diabolic Hill (Todd McCarthy), the even-money second choice who is No. 4 in Ken Warkentin’s "Road to the Hambletonian" top 10 rankings, vacated the five-hole to go after the leader uncovered. Apex (Dexter Dunn), the 4-5 favourite who is top-ranked, picked up that cover as American Power went by three-quarters in 1:25.4.

But a first-over trip wasn’t going to cut it for Diabolic Hill, and Apex, who gapped his cover around the far turn, saw his rally nearing the wire fall short. Apex finished second with Diabolic Hill a tired third as they both made their seasonal debuts.

It was no sweat for trainer Marcus Melander. His horses finished 1-2, and while Dexter Dunn handled Apex, American Power did just fine with Mattias Melander, Marcus’ brother.

“The New Jersey Sire Stakes final is next for this horse,” said Mattias Melander of the Hambo eligible. “And then we’ll take it from there.”

A superbly bred colt by Walner-Ariana G, American Power completed the mile in a lifetime-best 1:52 to win by a safe neck. He has won all three of his starts this season and returned $30.80 to win as the 14-1 third choice in the wagering. American Power is owned by M Biasuzzi Stable of Pompano Beach, Florida.

There was also a pair of Platinum-level New Jersey Sire Stakes dashes for three-year-old trotting filles on the card. Naked And Famous (Six Pack-Sleep Tight My Luv) won the first division of the second leg in ultra-impressive fashion. The Noel Daley trainee surged past leader Days Away (Jason Bartlett) at the half before trotting her back half in :55.1 to stop the clock in a lifetime-best 1:51.1. Driven by Todd McCarthy, she broke in last when in tight heading to the half as the favourite in the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks, one week after establishing a track record of 1:51.2 in her elim. As the 3-5 favourite, she returned $3.40 to win. The filly is owned by Ctc Stable of Chestnut Ridge, New York.

The second division went to the Jason McGinnis-trained, Anthony MacDonald-driven Jailbird Jog (Tactical Landing-Miss Don Fanucci S), who made the lead at the half in :56 before a trotting a back-half in :55.4 to complete a 1:51.4 lifetime best. The Oak Grove Trotting Oaks winner scored for the third time this year in four tries and paid $5.40 as the 8-5 second choice. She is owned by Thestable Jailbird Jog of Brunswick, Ohio, P23 Bloodstock of Etobicoke, Ont., and Hutchison Harness Llc of North Ridgeville, Ohio.

The $13,889 Silver colt divisions were won by King Of The Wind in 1:52 for trainer/driver Joe Bongiorno and David Seaman S in 1:52.2 for trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt. The filly splits went to Rani Hanover and Scott Zeron in 1:54 for the Tony Alagna stable and Wishuponastar Deo in 1:54.2 with Jason Bartlett driving for conditioner Per Engblom. 

Bartlett led the driver colony with three winners on the night.

U.S. Communicators Hall of Famer Debbie Little, who was filling in for her husband, Dave, on set made her presence felt in a big way. Little, who was a handicapper and writer for the New York Post for 27 years before getting her gig as Associate Editor at Harness Racing Update, showed no rust as a track tout, giving out seven winners on the card. In addition, she absolutely crushed it late, as she used a 1-2 favourite (best bet Wishuponastar Deo) in the 14th race as a single to go along with a 50-1 bomb in the finale (Ms Frances Assisi, one of two horses she included) to make a gigantic score. Her “Little’s Late Double” called for an investment of $40, and those who played along cashed in for a segment-record $868, a profit of $828, after cashing their $20 base bets on the $86.80 payout.

.All-source handle on the 15-race card totalled $2,579,871 USD.

Racing resumes on Saturday at 6:35 p.m.

(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)