The White Ruffles Series got underway on Thursday evening at The Meadowlands, with four $12,500 divisions on tap for four-year-old pacing mares.
Cheyenne Ava swept from off the pace to take her $12,500 split in a career-best clocking of 1:55.3 for Hall of Fame reinsman Cat Manzi. The four-year-old daughter of Camluck, who was marooned out in Post 10 in the 11-horse affair, drafted behind cover in the back half of the mile en route to the winning effort over Tammibest and Lightning Treasure.
Robbie Siegelman conditions the five-time winner, who was sent off at odds of 15-1, for The Cheyenne Gang of Port Washington, NY. The mare has stashed away $28,133 to date.
Orphan Annie turned aside a first over challenge from race favourite E Q Three en route to posting a 7-1 upset in the second division of the White Ruffles Series. Yannick Gingras engineered the winning trip with the Ronnie Burke trainee.
Apache Frost rolled the field to the quarter pole in :27.3 before being looped by Orphan Annie, who laid down middle splits of :57.4 and 1:26.1 en route to the 1:53.3 decision. It was a lifetime best effort for the daughter of Sportsmaster, who defeated Milly Me N and A Patchy Frost.
Frank Baldachino of Clarksburg, NJ holds the papers on the six-time winner, who upped her bankroll to $29,510 with the win.
Thong Song came through on her pari-mutuel promise thanks to her 1:53.3 score in the third division. Andy Miller worked out a third-over trip for the Art Major miss, who drew off to win in convincing fashion as the 6-5 choice over Lady Jane B and Im Betting On You.
Erv Miller conditions the mare, who is now 5-for-7 in her career. She is owned by Riverview Farms, Michael Sofer, John Fodera and R A W Equine Inc.
LC Tiffany took full advantage of a second-over trip en route to posting a decisive victory in a time of 1:54 for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ronnie Burke.
The four-year-old Life Sign miss tracked the leaders to the head of the lane before vaulting off her cover and driving away from the competition. Red Star Ashley was second and third prize went to Driving In Style.
It was the fifth lifetime win for LC Tiffany, who is owned in partnership by Sylvia Burke, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and William Lanyi.
The second leg of the White Ruffles is scheduled for next Thursday evening, and the $50,000 (est.) final is slated for Thursday, January 22.
To view Thursday’s results, click here.