The Meadowlands' Thursday qualifying session was rammed with talent this morning, as older stars returned and nine Pepsi North America Cup eligibles
put in miles.
After taking a pocket ride in Race 1, the Duane Marfisi-trained Vertigo Hanover came home with a :26.4 final quarter to record a well-measured 1:53.2 win for driver John Campbell. A bay son of The Panderosa, Vertigo Hanover has been gauged at 38-1 in Trot Magazine's 2009 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book. Vintage Master (75-1 in Spring Book) paced in 1:54.2, while Mr Terry Fra (90-1 in Spring Book) covered his mile in 1:56.
In rein to driver Tim Tetrick in Race 4, Art Major colt Good Chi (90-1 in Spring Book) went wire to wire and paced away from the field in a 1:54.3 mile for trainer Ed Hart. Western Hanover colt Get It Now finished fourth, pacing in 1:55.2, while Artsplace colt Special Art (150-1 in Spring Book) paced in 1:55.3.
Cams Card Shark colt Allamerican Chief (95-1 in Spring Book) got the job done in Race 6, tripped the clock in 1:58.1 for driver Ron Pierce and trainer Ed Hart after a pocket trip. Blazing Son (150-1 in Spring Book) and Sheer Desire (12-1 in Spring Book) finished seventh and eighth, respectively.
With trainer Jimmy Takter in the race bike, four-year-old Viking Kronos mare Lantern Kronos put in her first charted line of the year in Race 5. The bay converted a pocket trip and stopped the clock in 1:59.1.
Also excelling off a pocket ride, four-year-old Dream Vacation gelding Spam Spade blasted away to an open-length score in 1:54.4 for driver Andy Miller and trainer Julie Miller. In Focus, who was putting in his first charted line since the Breeders Crown last November, cut the fractions for trainer Jimmy Takter and finished second, trotting in 1:56.3.
In Race 10, three-year-old Cantab Hall colt Citation Lindy trotted a 1:56 mile, finishing third to the Brian Sears-driven Hitchcock.
A notable trio rounded out the top three in Race 11, the final dash of the card.
Five-year-old Western Hanover gelding Won The West, putting in its first charted line of the year, pulled away after a pocket ride and stopped the clock in 1:53.4 for pilot Greg Grismore and trainer Ron Burke.
A And Gs Confusion was also putting in her first charted line in Race 11 since capturing the Breeders Crown last November. With David Miller calling the shots, the Casie Coleman pupil closed from mid-pack and finished two lengths in arrears, pacing in 1:54.1. Good News Lady, driven by John Campbell for Jimmy Takter, rounded out the top three. The Western Ideal mare was also making her first charted start since the 'Crown.' Good News Lady paced in 1:54.3.