Western Vintage, who swept last year’s New Jersey Sire Stakes for two-year-old colt pacers, is among the 22 eligibles for the $250,000 (estimated) Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic, while 29 fillies were nominated to the $125,000 estimated Thomas D’Altrui Miss New Jersey.

Both stakes, which will be contested on August 2, Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands Racetrack, are restricted to New Jersey-sired three-year-old pacers and are sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey.

Perry Soderberg of Hightstown, NJ, who owns Western Vintage in partnership with Marvin Katz of Toronto, is pointing the son of Western Ideal toward a return to the races in the New Jersey Sire Stakes, which begin on May 17 at the Meadowlands.

“Western Vintage qualified last Saturday (April 26) and was awesome,” said Soderberg, a bloodstock agent. “Yannick (Gingras) just sat with him and then let him roll a bit down the stretch. He won in 1:52.4 with a :26.1 at the end, into a pretty strong headwind. His heart rate was low afterwards and Yannick was very happy with him.

“The plan is to skip a week, then qualify again, then do the New Jersey Sire Stakes (May 17, 24 and 31) at the Meadowlands,” Soderberg explained. “After that, we take it as it comes and let the horse tell us the schedule. He has been strong, happy and loves to race, so we are aiming for the big ones. The New Jersey Classic is on his stakes schedule, but we make more plans after the New Jersey Sire Stakes and see what suits us the best.”

Swedish-born Soderberg, who has been evaluating horses since 1986, usually picks out yearlings for others, primarily trainer Jimmy Takter and his owners. But when no one wanted Western Vintage, he purchased the colt for himself for $7,000. Katz bought an interest last October.

Western Vintage completed his two-year-old campaign with five wins and one second (in the Metro) from eight starts for earnings of $316,838.

“The horse jogged 1:49.4 at two (winning a stakes event at Lexington’s Red Mile) and feels a lot stronger this year, so we are optimistic,” Soderberg noted. “We, as all others, need some racing luck and the three-year-old pacers this year are good and many of them could show up. So we have to wait and see how it plays out.”

This year’s New Jersey Classic eligibles represent 15 sons of Rocknroll Hanover, three by Cams Card Shark and two each by Tell All and Western Ideal. The Miss New Jersey includes 19 by Rocknroll Hanover, seven by Western Ideal, two by Tell All and one by Cams Card Shark.

2014 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic Eligibles

Account Rollover
Beat The Drum
Bushwacker
Card Shock
Dancin Hill
Doo Wop Hanover
Earthshaker
Gold Rocks
In The Clear
Papa Fra
Rediscovery
Rock Fame
Rock Out
Rockeyed Optimist
Rocknroll Reality
Rockstar Stride
Say Uncle
Spanishtown
Sweet Rock
This Is Bill Byrne
Western Vintage
Whisky N Pie

2014 Thomas D'Altrui Miss New Jersey Eligibles

Act Now
Atsallrite Hanover
Beautiful Lady
Blixtra
Color Palette K
Cut A Deal
Fiyonce
Gettingreadytoroll
Highland Rockstar
I Need Hotstuff
Ideal Helen
Kate Cant Wait
Magnifique
Mako Wish
Mona Mona
My Lady Day
My Sweet Clara
Nikites
Poppies Pride
Rock N Roll Meg
Rockin Smile
Rockingcam Park
Rocknroll Queen
Rosie De Vie
Shes Dangerous
Surfside Sexy
Val Di Noto
Wishfor Rocknroll
Zip Zip Boom

(SBOANJ)