Conditions were perfect at The Meadowlands on Saturday morning for the weekly qualifiers with clear skies, no wind, temperatures in the 60’s at go time and a wealth of talented sophomores prepping for stakes season.
Last year’s top freshman trotting colt Southwind Frank made his second appearance of the spring and was an easy 1:54 winner for driver Yannick Gingras. Settled third through the :29 opening quarter, Southwind Frank was moved to the front and set the balance of the fractions while finishing well within himself a few lengths in advance of Jack Vernon and Brooklyn Hill.
Friday’s New Jersey Sire Stakes (NJSS) are a logical starting point for Southwind Frank, who became the fastest two-year-old colt trotter ever with his 1:52.2 win at The Red Mile last fall and is the heavy winterbook favourite for the 2016 Hambletonian. He is trained by Ron Burke on behalf of his Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Our Horse Cents Stable and J&T Silva Stable.
Two of the top trotting fillies of last season met in the opener and they went to the wire together. Dan Patch Award winner Broadway Donna (Dave Miller) just got up to nail Breeders Crown winner All The Time (Gingras) by an inch in 1:55.2. The pair sat third and fourth until the top of the stretch when All The Time rose up to challenge mile-cutter Seaside Illusion, with Broadway Donna following her cover then fanning off as they trotted home as a team in sub-:27 last quarters. Both are homebreds, All The Time races from the Jimmy Takter barn for owner-breeders Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld, while Broadway Donna is trained by Jim Campbell on behalf of Jules Siegel’s Fashion Farms.
It’s shaping up to be a fun season for the sophomore pacing colts as a few division leaders impressed the small but faithful legion of spectators this morning.
Boston Red Rocks looks like he’s ready to defend his Dan Patch title with a 1:51 airing out for Tim Tetrick. He set the pace through a comfortable :57 half then took off, widening his margin as Tetrick pleased and closing in :26.1. Boston Red Rocks is an imposing presence on the track, tall and regal-looking...and fast! Steve Elliott trains the NJSS eligible for Peter Blood and Rick Berks.
American Passport served notice that he’ll have to be dealt with this season, blasting home in :25.4 of a 1:51.3 mile with a statuesque Scott Zeron in the sulky. He sat a pocket to Katies Rocker, ripped out as they straightened up and was eager through the stretch. To Katies Rocker’s credit, he held well for second in his first local seasonal appearance. Brittany Farms, Riverview Racing, Jodi Siamis and trainer Tony Alagna own the winner.
Talk Show looked really good today as well. He showed flashes last season, battling the best colts but was often difficult to manage and frequently wound up in the wrong spot. After some tutelage at the Steve Elliott winter camp for the unruly and a critical change or two, Talk Show was a gentleman this morning for Zeron. He patiently sat a pocket to Racing Hill and when a seam developed between that one and the first-over Ideal Rocky, Talk Show zipped by in hand. He races for the Pegasis Investment Group, Team S Racing and W. Garofalo.
Crazshana sharpened up for the Graduate Series with an easy 1:53 / 27.2 win from the pocket for Dave Miller looking strong through the stretch. 2012 Hambletonian winner Market Share was out this morning for his second qualifier after a good long rest and acquitted himself well, setting solid fractions on the lead until Crazshana slipped past late. The winner is trained in the Jeff Bamond, Jr stable for Bamond Racing, LLC.
Live racing tonight resumes tonight at 7:15 p.m. To view the charts from Saturday's qualifiers, click the following link: Saturday Qualifiers - Meadowlands Racetrack.
(with files from The Meadowlands)