The second session of Breakfast With The Babies at The Meadowlands, sponsored by Fashion Farms, took place on Saturday (June 12). Temperatures were in the low 70’s, skies overcast and flags limp when the races began 10:00 a.m.
It was “Captaintreacherous Day” as that top sire and his trainer Tony Alagna swept all five pacing races with the colt Atlas Hanover the last and perhaps most impressive on the day.
Atlas Hanover won in 1:56.3 on the lead last week and today displayed versatility by sitting well off the pace for Andy McCarthy before unleashing a furious finish to get up in 1:55 with his final quarter in :26.2 with no asking.
Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, Atlas Hanover brought a bid of $170,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale from the ownership group of Robert LeBlance, David Anderson, Ken Jacobs and In The Gym Partners.
Also of note, late on the day “Road To The Hambletonian” leader Venerate qualified for the second time with an ultra-impressive 1:52.3 home in :26.3 mile, trotting strongly on his own to draw away from an accomplished older horse in The Veteran. Andy Miller was in his familiar spot behind the Love You colt for trainer Julie Miller. The Millers own Venerate with Pinske Stable.
Southwind Tyrion, who went the fastest mile ever by a two-year-old trotter of 1:51.1 last fall at The Red Mile finished third in his first appearance this year, trotting in 1:53.4, home in 27.2 for Ake Svanstedt.
Trotting fillies opened the program and Baptism (Ake Svanstedt) trotted home impressively in :29.2 to finish the 1:58.4 mile. Ake sat her in third throughout then fanned off the cover of Vivians Crown (Dexter Dunn) as the pair of fillies trotted in tandem past early leader Quick Bet (Brian Sears) who held third. Baptism is a Diamond Creek homebred, by Southwind Frank out of Fall From Grace, trained in the Svanstedt barn.
Diamond Creek had another homebred winner in race two when Breach (Dunn) took control at the three-eighths mark and held sway from there, widening under her own power in the stretch for the win in 2:00, last half in :57. Raised By Lindy (Domenico Cecere) was wide around the first turn, took over at the quarter then released the winner and followed her in to be second. Behind Blue Eyes (A. Svanstedt) was third. Breach is a Muscle Hill filly out of Katniss is trained by Nancy Takter.
Ake Svanstedt won the third with Jiggy Jog S moving first over powerfully, wearing down leader Chambers Cove (Mattias Melander) and going under the wire with something in reserve in 2:01.2. Dixiechick Hanover (Lucas Wallin) had good late trot to nab second while Magic Can Happen (Sarah Svanstedt) rallied to be third. The winner is a Walner filly from Hot Mess Hanover owned by Jorgen Sparrendal, Inc. and was bred in Sweden by Vestmarks, AB.
Another Swedish bred filly, Joviality S (Mattias Melander), the Chapter Seven lass from the very accomplished race mare Pasithea Face S, closed alertly off cover through a sub- 28 final panel for the 2:01.3 win. Selfie Queen (Jimmy Takter) weaved her way through traffic late for second and Tiltheloverunsout (A. Svanstedt) held for third after cutting the mile. Anders Strom’s Courant Inc. owns the winner and bred her via his AM Bloodstock, Inc.
After a training break, the trotting colts came up in the fifth race. The Muscle Hill colt Southwind Drover (Sears) was a 2:00 winner for trainer Melander, getting through on the inside with a :28 closer to pass early leader Chelios (Tim Tetrick) and then hold off the determined close of Justice (A. Svanstedt). Bred by Southwind Farm, the winner raced in the farm’s name today. He was a $55,000 Lexington Selected Sale purchase.
Looks Like Moni (Takter) outlasted Tachyon (Sarah Svanstedt) then held of the late charging Distance Learning (Sears) by just a nose to post a 1:59.2 win with a :27.3 final quarter. Takter moved Looks Like Moni first over on Tachyon just past the 1:00.2 half and they traded blows the length of the stretch. Tachton stayed on for third, beaten only a neck. The winner is a Brittany, Katz & Libfeld homebred son of Muscle Hill from Thats All Moni. Nancy Takter is the trainer.
Majestic J (Dave Miller) was dialed in this morning and led all the way to post a 1:59 win with great ease. The Walner colt went off-stride early last week before exhibiting unusual speed to catch the field, but today he was flawless. Takato (Dunn) rallied up to be second after fussing about in the stretch while Talismano (Tetrick) was an even third. Ken Jacobs paid Coyote Wynd Farms $115,000 for the son of Walner from Upfrontluckycarol and has entrusted Tony Alagna to train him.
Pacers started in the eighth race where the Captaintreacherous filly Dont Fence Me In (Dunn) impressed with a :27.2 end to a 1:56.4 win. Dexter put her right on top, loped along on an easy lead throughout then said 'go' and got a willing response from the Riverview Farms homebred, now owned with Steve Head, Jerry Glantz and trainer Tony Alagna. Aida DeVie was second and Tallys Treasure (Chase Vandervort) third.
Alagna came right back with another homebred daughter of Captaintreacherous, this one named Captains Princess (Andy McCarthy), winning in 1:56.3. Put on the point by McCarthy, the filly set sensible fractions before the stretch sprint with the driver remaining motionless in the sulky. Tony shares ownership on this one with Brad Grant and Mel Segal. Twenty Grand (Mark MacDonald) followed along for a good second while Ideal Huntress (D. Miller) was third.
The theme continued in Race 10 as another Alagna-trained Captaintreacherous — this time the colt I Did It Myway (Todd McCarthy) — turned heads with an effortless 1:54.4 mile, ripping home easily in :26.2. It was the second appearance for I Did It Myway and the Joe Sbrocco homebred looks like he’s ready for anything. Country Club Acres, Alagna & Fodera along with D. Latore share ownership on the colt with Sbrocco. Nautical Hanover (Dunn) was second while JK Victory (Tetrick) flashed late speed to get up for third.
Alagna stepped it up in the eleventh by sending out three “Captain” colts and they swept the first three placings with Danger Zone (Todd McCarthy) a winner in 1:56 out of the pocket, home in :26.4 on his own. Rule Of Law (A. McCarthy) held second after setting the pace and Captaingiddyupngo (Dunn) had late pace to be third. Tony bred and owns the winner out of his Ontario champ of a few years ago, Thatsoververynice, with partner Ron Ruggles after going through at Lexington for $35,000.
Live harness racing resumes tonight with 13 races featuring the third leg of the Miss Versatility series for trotting mares beginning at 6:20 p.m.
To view the results of the Saturday session, click the following link: Saturday Results - Meadowlands (Baby Races).
(Meadowlands)