A quartet of $100,000 finals will bring the sophomore division of the New Jersey Sires Stakes to a conclusion on Saturday night (May 30) at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

The trotting fillies will clash first in Race 4 and the defending champion, Mission Brief, will start from the far outside in Post 10. Mission Brief – a Breeders Crown champ who is also the fastest freshman in trotting history by virtue of her 1:50.3 tour of the Red Mile last fall – won the first leg in a measured 1:53.4, then stayed home last week while Rules Of The Road took the second leg.

Yannick Gingras will take his regular position behind Mission Brief for trainer Ron Burke, who owns her in partnership with Our Horse Cents Stable, J&T Silva and Weaver Bruscemi.

Race 6 is the glamour boy division, the pacing colts. Artspeak was the winner of last season’s NJSS Final for this group on his way to year-end honours. His main rival will be Hurrikane Ali, who last season had an abbreviated five-start campaign in which he was winless.

What a difference a year can make. Hurrikane Ali has won all three of his 2015 starts, including two NJSS legs in 1:50 and 1:50.1 with relative ease for young trainer John McDermott Jr. Gingras has the drive as well for the ownership group of Kuhen Racing, Jonathan Klee Racing, Dr Ken Rucker and Robert Pucila.

Artspeak spoke toward his potential for a big season via his effortless 1:49 romp in leg one. Trainer Tony Alagna then held him out of last week’s with an eye toward the long campaign, setting up this interesting match-up on Saturday. Artspeak won eight of his 10 starts last season, among those the Metro Pace and Governor’s Cup trophies. Scott Zeron has been his constant companion in all races for the owners, Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Joe Sbrocco and In The Gym Partners (John Fodera and Steve Wienick).

The pacing fillies (Race 8) shapes up to be the most contentious of the four finals.

Lindys Old Lady (to be driven by Tim Tetrick) didn’t race last season, but is quickly gaining notice by virtue of a pair of wins in as many starts. She was a leg-one NJSS winner in 1:51, then stayed home at Lindy Farm last week as trainer Frank Antonacci carefully manages the frequency of his trips to the well with the talented filly.

Happiness also skipped leg two after a comfortable 1:50.4 win in leg one for Gingras and Burke. She has a Grand Circuit win on her résumé via the Simpson Memorial stakes in 1:50.3 earlier this season for Burke Racing & Weaver Bruscemi.

Wicked Little Minx took the lone division of leg two, holding off the furious late charge of Stacia Hanover in 1:51.1. Nancy Johansson conditions Wicked Little Minx for Courant AB and Brett Miller is back in the driver’s seat for the final.

Stacia Hanover won this division last year and has the as the look of a filly on the verge of a big mile for her trainer driver combo of Steve Elliott and Zeron and owners David Van Dusen and Michael Cimaglio of Ohio.

Bringing the NJSS curtain down on the 2015 season in the eleventh race will be the sophomore trotting colts – and a powerful group they are.

Guess Whos Back (winner of the division's final in 2014) has won both preliminary legs including a hard-fought 1:52.4 decision over Canepa Hanover last week. Driver Brian Sears used the entire stretch to eke out the half-length tally with Canepa Hanover never giving in. Nik Drennan trains Guess Whos Back for owners Joe Davino, Brad Shackman, TLP Stable and J&T Silva.

The potent duo of Canepa Hanover and French Laundry represent the Jimmy Takter barn and both are top colts.

Canepa has been third and second in the two legs and last week’s effort was a gritty one after being used hard to get to the front then facing a strong wind in the homestretch. With Takter off to Sweden for the Elitlopp, Yannick Gingras will drive for the interests of Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Sam Goldband, Al Libfeld, Brixton Medical and Christina Takter.

French Laundry was a winner in the first leg, his only 2015 start to this point. He has been rock solid throughout his career for owners Christina Takter, John and Jim Fielding, Katz and Libfeld. Brett Miller is his regular driver and will be aboard on Saturday night.

Both Hi-5 Jackpots remain intact going into Friday night's live card with the totals now at $131,037 (Race 5) and $105,195 (Race 12). Saturday night promotions include the chance to win a first class trip to the June 6 Belmont Stakes and JerseyFest which features the NJ vs Philly Food Truck Mash-Up. The 13-race program will start at 7:15 p.m.

(Meadowlands Racetrack)