Saturday morning’s short program of seven qualifiers got underway at 9:30 a.m. on a fast track under overcast skies with the temperature in the low 60s and no wind.
Last season’s Dan Patch Freshman Filly Trotter of the Year, Broadway Donna was back for her second go around which resulted in a 1:55.2 romp for Dave Miller. She set fractions of :28:2, :58.2 & 1:27.4, edging away through the stretch on her own. Haughty, Thankful Reward and Side Bet Hanover followed her in. Jim Campbell trains the winner for Fashion Farms, LLC.
The royally-bred Pampered Winner (Credit Winner - Pampered Princess) knifed through rivals with plenty of trot in deep stretch for Brett Miller to a 1:57.1 win. She’s prepping for the New York Sire Stakes and $250,000 Empire Breeders Classic next month for Jimmy Takter and Brixton Medical, Inc.
Goin To The Limit found his best foot this morning for the Tony Alagna barn. Lightly raced at two, the Donato Hanover colt cut the mile to win in 1:53.2 for Tim Tetrick. Tony owns him with John Fodera and Tangie Massey.
Hambletonian hopeful Make Or Miss returned to the mile track and looked happy to be back after making a break over in a PA All Star race at Pocono on Derby Day. Joe Bongiorno moved him to the lead at the three-eighths and he went on to win comfortably while drifting out some in the stretch over Soderberg in 1:55.1. Burke Racing, Our Horse Cents, Weaver Bruscemi and J&T Silva own the colt.
Shake It Cerry made her return following an uncharacteristic poor performance in the Mack Lobell Elitlopp Playoff this morning and she looked fantastic. Dave Miller eased her over to the half in :58.1 then let her trot, resulting in a :54 flat final and :26 last quarter to end the 1:52.1 mile. She’s back on track for Takter and the Solveig Racing Partners.
The gritty old campaigner Clear Vision is back to the racing wars for the Burke barn. He sat third along the rail in for charioteer Yannick Gingras until mid-stretch, then sprinted into the :27 flat last quarter to collect the 1:55.1. Now ten years of age, Clear Vision is less than $8,000 from $2.5 million in his distinguished career for Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Panhellenic Stable and James Koran.
Top pacing filly Pure Country got some work in this morning, closing a 1:54.1 mile with a :26.3 final panel for Brett Miller while holding the late rallying Petticoat winner Capela at bay. Takter trains her for Diamond Creek Racing.
Live racing resumes tonight at 7:15 p.m.
(with files from The Meadowlands)