Trainer DeWayne Minor doubled his pleasure on Friday night (May 25) at the Meadowlands, as two of his students hit the winner’s circle in second leg action of the New Jersey Sire Stakes.
Minor was in the sulky as his trainee Samis Rolin Stone took control at the three-eighths before storming home an easy two and one-quarter length winner over Take A Wish in 1:55, which lowered her previous lifetime best by one and four-fifth seconds. Diamondstone Us finished third, but was disqualified for interference and placed fourth. The official third-place finisher was Ocarina Hanover.
The winner, a three-year-old trotting filly by Wishing Stone, paid $3 as the post-time choice. The Daniel Lengacher homebred remained perfect in two starts this year.
Minor completed his double in the $15,000 three-year-old colts and geldings trot as George Brennan guided Shoshie Deo to a perfect pocket trip, tipped in mid-stretch and had little trouble gunning down 1-5 favourite U Need Stones by a half-length, defeating that foe for a second straight week. Brutal Storm was third.
Shoshie Deo, a son of Wishing Stone owned by Annemette Minor, paid $5.60 to win, remained unbeaten in two starts this year and completed the mile in 1:53.4, which was two and three-fifths seconds faster than his prior lifetime best.
Hypnotic Tale took the three-year-old filly pace as the 1-5 favourite in 1:54.1 for trainer Linda Toscano and driver David Miller, who was also in the bike behind the Kevin McDermott-trained Melanies Fran, the 1:56 winner of the three-year-old colts and geldings pace before the betting card.
A LITTLE MORE: Once again the Meadowlands was plagued by an entry box that was sparsely filled. The total wager of $1,633,824 represented a 27 per cent decrease over the corresponding Friday from last year. A total of 71 horses participated on Friday’s card (7.1 per race), which was a 17 per cent decrease as compared to the year before. … A single player betting into the Oregon Express hub walked away with the entire 20-cent Survivor Pick-10 pot. The payout was $12,982. … The late 20-cent Jackpot Super High-Five failed to result in a single-ticket winner, upping the carryover to $236,160. … Racing resumes at the Big M Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)