Trainer Noel Daley unveiled the first bullet in his powerful three-year-old arsenal when Ideal Matters stormed home in an eye-catching :25.4 to win his career debut February 21 at Meadowlands Racetrack
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The North America Cup and Meadowlands Pace eligible looks to rebound from a fourth-place finish as the heavy favourite last week in the second leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes Saturday night. Ideal Matters will start from Post 5 as the even-money favourite in the $25,500 second race, the first of the three divisions restricted to NJ-sired colt pacers. He is one of three colts eligible to the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup (June 26) at Mohawk Racetrack and $1 million Meadowlands Pace (July 17) that Daley will send out that evening.
A $60,000 buy at the Lexington-Selected yearling sale, the son of Western Ideal-Art Matters is owned by Brittany Farms of Versailles, KY; Adam Victor and Son Stable of New York, NY; Melvin Hartman of Ottawa, Ontario; and Island View Partners of Versailles, KY. Unraced at two, the colt has won four of six starts since his winter introduction. On April 24, he romped to a stakes record of 1:50.2 in the $67,000 Matt’s Scooter Final with Tim Tetrick in the sulky. He showcased his wicked speed last week with a final quarter of :25.2.
“He had a little issue with an injury in the paddock last year, so it got to where we were behind with him,” Daley said. “We got him down to about 2:08, the season was two thirds over, and we were lucky enough the group that owned him decided to put him away. We had to start him a little early this year to see how good he was, but he had shown talent from day one. Now it’s been a matter of managing him right, gapping out his races and keeping him fresh. He’s a very talented horse, but we’ll have to see how he goes when he has to really step it up with the good ones. In the Matt’s Scooter Series, Tim Tetrick was very happy with him. He said he relaxed once he got the front, and as soon as a horse came he swelled up on his own. He’s definitely got the speed and talent.”
Breeders Crown champion All Speed Hanover makes his sophomore debut from Post 2 in the $26,100 third race NJSS division with Ron Pierce at the lines. He is coupled in the wagering with Foreign Officer. All Speed Hanover was a $60,000 yearling purchase at the Harrisburg Sale. Adam Victor and Son Stable and John Fielding of Toronto, Ontario own the son of Cams Card Shark-Allamerican Cool.
All Speed Hanover capped his freshman campaign upsetting divisional champion Sportswriter in the Breeders Crown at Woodbine. He rallied from off the pace to gun down the O'Brien Award and Dan Patch Award winner in 1:52. All Speed Hanover won five of seven starts in 2009 and came to prominence winning both Grand Circuit stakes at the Red Mile, where he scored twice in 1:50.3. He took his second qualifier on May 13 in 1:52.
“Last year, he was a little erratic steering wise,” Daley said of All Speed Hanover. “We had a fair bit of gear on him early on, but he always showed he had power. So, he took a little time to rig right and we decided to start him up in Lexington with Luke McCarthy driving. It worked out perfectly. He’s come back super this season and we’re very happy with him. He’s a very athletic horse, and I don’t think he’ll need a lot to really get going. He’s eligible to most major stakes, but it’s a long year and you can’t be in everything.”
In the $25,500 third division, carded as Race 5, Daley sends out Woodstock from the rail with Brian Sears. The son of Rocknroll Hanover was a $100,000 purchase at the Lexington-Selected Yearling Sale and is also owned by Brittany Farms, Hartman, Adam Victor and Son Stable and Woodstock Partners of Versailles, KY. Woodstock won his second qualifier on May 13 in 1:53.1 with a :25.4 final quarter.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if he went on to be a very good horse as a four and five-year-old,” Daley noted. “He’s grown up and he’s taller, but he’s going to get bigger as he gets a little older. He’s probably not as tough at this stage as All Speed Hanover. He’s staked to everything and he’ll be in all of the big ones. With the right trip he can out sprint a lot of them. I hope he doesn’t get a lot of tough trips. I don’t know if he can handle that yet. Hopefully, we won’t over race him and have a nice older horse.”
To view Saturday's entries, click here.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)