Gem Quality began his four-year-old season a week ago with a dead heat win in the top pacing class offered at The Meadowlands. On Saturday, April 26, the Chris Ryder trainee shared his winner’s circle photo with no one else at the conclusion of a $31,250 marquee high-end conditioned pace.
The way he’s handled his first two assignments of the season, the Breeders Crown-winning son of Captain Crunch-Twinkle is undoubtedly going to try his hand at bigger things for the rest of 2025.
Captain Crusader A (Todd McCarthy) was explosive early from post 10 in the 10-horse field and led the way out of the first turn. Its Saturday Night (David Miller), who won this race a week ago along with Gem Quality, was also on the move as Dexter Dunn put even-money favourite Gem Quality right in behind the top two as Captain Crusader A hit the quarter in :27.1.
After briefly grabbing the top away from Captain Crusader A, Its Saturday Night yielded the point to Gem Quality, who took over with a swift brush before reaching the half in :54.4. Captain Crusader A came back for more, emerging from the three-hole to apply token pressure to the leader at three-quarters, which went in 1:22.4.
But Gem Quality had plenty left in the tank, drawing clear through the stretch to record an easy 1-1/2-length score in 1:50.3. Maxim Hanover (Andrew McCarthy) flipped off cover and closed well for second with his Robert Cleary stablemate Soaring Now (Brett Beckwith) rallying for third.
“We had a good enough draw to use and got out of there pretty good and then we quarter-moved to the front,” said Dunn. “He felt terrific tonight.
“He’s a really happy horse this year. Obviously, he’s got a lot of class but he seems really well this year. He’s getting more fit and was definitely sharp tonight.”
Now perfect in two starts this year, Gem Quality has amassed nine victories from just 26 career outings, good for earnings of $757,992 for owners Let It Ride Stables, Odds On Racing, Brad Grant and Enviro Stables. He paid $4.20 to win.
Ryder said after the race, Gem Quality is being pointed toward the Graduate Series, which begins at Woodbine Mohawk Park on May 31.
There were three divisions of the Home Grown series contested on the card. The Home Grown is sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey for horses by a New Jersey sire or from a resident mare or foaled in the Garden State.
Asphalt (Papi Rob Hanover-Road Bet) took the first of two three-year-old filly paces in 1:51.1 for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Brett Pelling. She returned $6.20 to win as the 2-1 second choice in the $41,667 dash.
The other three-year-old filly pace went for $44,444 and was taken by 1-5 favourite Rodeo Drive Deo (Captaintreacherous-Miss L A) in 1:51.2 for Dave Miller and Pelling. She paid $2.40 to win.
The lone three-year-old male pace had a purse of $69,444 and was taken by Smooth Dream (Cattlewash-Dreamlands Latte) in 1:51 for Todd McCarthy and Noel Daley. The 1-5 public choice returned $2.40 to win.
Big M TV host Dave Little and track announcer Ken Warkentin hit the mark on the program, as each correctly selected seven winners on top. Little kept his followers cashing throughout the night, giving out the Early Pick-4, the Late Pick-4 and “Little’s Late Double” cold, which paid $25.80. Those who followed Little’s TV tickets wagered $108 for the night, and cashed in for $323.10, a profit of $215.10.
Miller, McCarthy, Jason Bartlett and Scott Zeron all recorded driving doubles on the card.
A carryover of $5,634 coaxed players to wager just under $39,000 of “new money” into the 20-cent Pick-6 pool. Many shared in the total pool of $44,410, as after a sequence that had winners' odds of 1-5, 1-1, 1-5, 9-1, 2-1 and 6-5, winning tickets were exchanged for $230.08.
All-source handle on the 14-race program totaled $2,116,765 USD.
Racing resumes on Friday at 6:20 p.m.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)