Trainer Nik Drennan knew he had a pair of aces heading into Saturday’s (April 16) $22,500 Hello Spring Series Final for pacers at The Meadowlands, and his prolific pair paid off, as his Alta Engen A and Alluneedisfaith N finished one-two under the wire over a track rated ‘good’ on a rainy Northern New Jersey evening.
His prized pupils came into the race with big credentials, as Australian-bred Alta Engen A won his first race in North America a week ago in 1:50.4, while New Zealand-bred Alluneedisfaith N won last week in 1:50.3 after gunning down 3-5 favourite Ill Drink To That, a Chris Ryder trainee who completed the race’s group of top contenders.
Drennan’s go-to driver, George Brennan, opted to drive Alluneedisfaith N. “I didn’t tell him anything. He picked that one,” said Drennan. “He knows the owner a long time, but both horses were pretty equal, so Andy [McCarthy] drove the other horse, and whenever I can’t have George, I usually use Andy, and we’ve done pretty good.”
After 5-2 third choice I’ll Drink To That left hard from post nine in the 10-horse field to lead at the quarter in :27.3, McCarthy then moved 9-5 second choice Alta Engen A to the top at the half in a swift :54.4, but Drennan wasn’t worried about the torrid pace.
“Alta Engen A gets relaxed when he’s up front,” said Drennan. “He goes along at his own speed and usually doesn’t get tired.”
The leader kept sailing along at three-quarters in 1:22.3, but in mid-stretch, his stablemate, who was the 3-2 public choice, emerged from behind the pocket-sitting Ill Drink To That to take his shot. And he almost got there.
“It’s possible Alluneedisfaith N could have caught him had he vacated the rail a little earlier,” said Drennan. “It would have been interesting because he is a tough old horse.”
Alta Engen A prevailed by a neck in 1:49.4 to up his stats in the States to two wins in three tries. I’ll Drink To That was third.
The winner is a six-year-old gelded son of Alta Christiano-Its Karma who is owned by Phillip Scott McKenzie. He’s now won 14-of-30 starts.
So, what happens moving forward?
“They are both very nice horses,” said Drennan. “Alluneedisfaith N is good on a half-mile track, so he’ll head to Yonkers, while Alta Engen A will stay on the big track. No stakes. Just overnights. But first, they both are getting the week off.”
MATURATION PROCESS: Before the betting card, there were a pair of New Jersey Breeders Maturity events conducted for four-year-olds on the trot.
Trixstar (Trixton-Always Quick Star) took the $12,500 dash for mares for driver Dave Miller and trainer Mark Gray, leading at every call to register a three-quarter-length win in 1:59 over her only opponent, Ledges. Trixstar now has four wins.
In the $15,000 event for horses and geldings, the Marcus Melander-trained Sonofamistery led at every call for driver Brian Sears, winning by one-length over Swingforthefences in the five-horse field in a snappy 1:54.4. The son of Muscle Hill-Mystery Woman now has a half-dozen victories from 22 lifetime outings and earnings of just over $200,000.
A LITTLE MORE: It was a case of the usual suspects as Dexter Dunn, Brennan, Yannick Gingras, Dave Miller and McCarthy all recorded driving doubles. Ron Burke trained three to victory lane while Bruce Saunders and Jeff Cullipher had two apiece.
A pair of sharp players had winning tickets in the 20-Survivor Pick-7 and collected $5,867 for six correct selections.
All-source handle totaled $2,784,627.
Racing resumes Friday (April 21) at 6:20 p.m. (EDT).
(The Meadowlands)