Trainer Tony Alagna will send out three horses in each the Escort and Rainbow Blue series Saturday (May 12) at the Meadowlands Racetrack while also on the card two-time Dan Patch Award-winner Broadway Donna and stakes winners Bills Man and Lagerfeld all will make their seasonal debuts in the Preferred Handicap Trot.
The opening leg of the conditioned Escort Series, for three-year-old male pacers, attracted 14 horses, with the group divided into two $12,500 seven-horse divisions. The conditioned Rainbow Blue Series, for three-year-old female pacers, also was split into two $12,500 divisions after a total of 13 horses entered the first round.
Also on Saturday’s card is the first round of the conditioned Hot Lead Series, for pacers of all ages. Second-round action in all three events will be May 19. The finals are May 26.
Alagna’s entries in the first Escort division are Odds On Lauderdale and Legal Power. Both horses are making their seasonal debuts.
Odds On Lauderdale (Western Ideal-Worldly Deo) was winless in 11 races last year, but hit the board in two divisions of the Kindergarten Series and an elimination of the Metro Pace. He also earned paycheques in divisions of the Nassagaweya, Champlain, and International Stallion stakes as well as an elimination of the Breeders Crown.
The colt, who is fully staked, is owned by Odds On Racing. His family includes stakes-winners World Of Rocknroll and Rock N Roll World, and that duo’s dam, multiple Dan Patch Award winner Worldly Beauty.
Legal Power (Somebeachsomewhere-Authorize) was winless in five starts last year. He is owned by breeder Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, and Legal Power Racing. His family includes his stakes-winning dam as well as Dan Patch Award-winner Artiscape.
“Odds On Lauderdale was a very nice colt last year,” Alagna said. “He didn’t have the best of luck last year. But he’s a real nice horse. He’s got a huge turn of speed. If you don’t use him hard early, he can really kick home hard. I think the big track really suits him.
“Legal Power showed ability last year but just never really fulfilled what we thought he should do. We (gelded) him over the winter and it seemed to really help.”
Alagna’s Babes Dig Me (Somebeachsomewhere-Western Babe) is the 8-5 morning-line favourite in the second Escort division. The colt won a conditioned race last year in eight starts and hit the board in divisions of the International Stallion and Champlain. He is owned by Brad Grant, Joe Sbrocco, Robert Leblanc, and In The Gym Partners.
Babes Dig Me, whose family includes 2006 Pacer of the Year Total Truth, made his debut last week with a second-place finish to This Is The Plan in a division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at The Meadows.
“He ended up stuck on the front, which isn’t his forté, but he still was a good second,” Alagna said. “He’s eligible to the (upcoming Art Rooney Pace) so I wanted to get a start in him here in case the Rooney doesn’t have eliminations. That way he can have a start beforehand. He’s heavily-staked. He’s a nice colt.”
In the Rainbow Blue, Alagna sends out first-time starter Odds On Ashley in the first division followed by first-time starter Studio Girl and lightly-raced Someangelsomewhere in the second.
Odds On Ashley (Rock N Roll Heaven-Docdor Cameo) is owned by Odds On Racing. Studio Girl (American Ideal-The Art Museum) is owned by breeders Brittany Farms and Mel Hartman. Someangelsomewhere (Somebeachsomewhere-Angel Scent) was winless in three races last year and is making her 2018 debut. She is owned by breeders Spring Haven Farm and Doug Millard as well as Brad Grant and Joe Sbrocco.
“Odds On Ashley trained down good last year, but was just very immature,” Alagna said. “It took her a little time to get going. She’s come back good. Studio Girl is a sister to (Dan Patch Award winner) Artspeak. Someangelsomewhere had a lot of sickness issues last year, so we turned her out. She’s come back much better. I’ll be glad to get a start in them and see where we’re at. I think they’ve come back well so far.”
In the Preferred Handicap Trot, Broadway Donna is the 5-2 morning-line favourite. Bills Man is 5-1 and Lagerfeld is 8-1.
(USTA)