Several big players on the New Jersey Sire Stakes scene will get behind the gate Saturday night, May 9 in a pair of Platinum-level $25,000 USD second leg events for three-year-old pacers at The Meadowlands.
In the split for fillies, all eyes will be on Be Perfect BG, the daughter of Perfect Sting-JK Mardi Says who ran her lifetime record to six wins in six tries after winning her seasonal debut in last week's opening leg in a lifetime-best 1:50 for trainer Tony Beaton and owner Ecurie Csl of Sorel, Tracy, Que. She’ll depart from post one as the 6-5 morning line favourite with Dexter Dunn back aboard.
North America Cup eligible Azrael Blue Chip is the one to beat in the division for colts and geldings. The Besim Odza-trained colt by Perfect Sting out of Bathsheba displayed explosive late pace a week ago, only to come up a nose short to Bookie J (who is not in this week) in a 1:50 mile with Andy McCarthy in the driver's seat. He has drawn post four and will start at 5-2 on the morning line. The colt is owned by Ohio's Ct Stables.
This weekend marks the return of Meadow Twaddle to the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set. Twaddle, the newly minted marketing director of the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association, will serve as co-host alongside Big M TV host Dave Little for both race cards.
“It feels great to be back at The Meadowlands,” said Twaddle. “There’s just an energy here that’s hard to match anywhere else in harness racing and I’m excited to be part of it again. I’ve spent a lot of time over the last few months working hard on my skills and growing professionally, so I’m eager to put that to use again in this environment.
“As for the new job, it’s been going really well so far. I’ve loved getting the chance to connect with people, promote the sport and bring some fresh ideas to the table. There’s a lot of momentum right now, and I’m excited about what we’re building and where things are headed.”
The Meadowlands pre-game show begins at 6 p.m. nightly.
On both Friday and Saturday, Ken Warkentin will be in his usual spot calling the races while Gary DiLeo will handle back-paddock interviews. DiLeo will provide commentary and selections for the FanDuel Television (FDTV) feed on Friday. Melissa Keith, a columnist for Harness Racing Update who served as the track announcer at Rideau Carleton Raceway until the track’s recent closing, will be back in The Meadowlands fold this Saturday night, when she serves as the commentator for the mile oval on the FDTV feed. Keith was the race caller for the entire Meadowlands program on Saturday, March 7, when the track celebrated International Women’s Day with an all-female talent team.
To view Saturday's complete New Jersey Sire Stakes entries, click here.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack; photo of Be Perfect BG winning her NJSS opening leg division on May 2)