Breakfast With The Babies sponsored by Jules Siegel's Fashion Farms took place at the Meadowlands Racetrack on a grand Saturday morning with clear skies, little breeze and temps in the mid-70s.
It turned out to be Father Patrick day as that first crop sire had five winners in the seven trotting races. an impressive showing indeed.
Trotting fillies opened the card with Whispering Oaks a 1:57.3 win, the second in a many appearances for the imposing Father Patrick filly, a $100,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase. Yannick Gingras sat chilly with Whispering Oaks tight on the back of Frauline Blucher (Marcus Johansson) as that rival set moderate fractions, then tipped his charge as they turned home and she exploded by with a 28-second final quarter. Jimmy Takter trains the winner for Brixton Medical, Herb Liverman and RAW Equine. Al Libfeld, Marvin Katz and Sam Goldband are the breeders.
Father Patrick got another credit when Devilish Delight won the second race in 1:58 for Andy McCarthy. She did it all on her own, setting comfortable fractions then sprinted home to easily hold Caviart Jenny (Johansson) and the rest of the field at bay. Tom Dillion paid $80,000 for Devilish Delight in Lexington last fall, buying from breeder Kentuckiana Farms. Jonas Czernyson trains.
Special Honor -- by, guess who, Father Patrick -- took the third for Andy Miller in 1:58.1. She converted a perfect trip, tracking Given (Gingras) until headstretch then forged past that stubborn rival as they neared the wire. Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld bred and own Special Honor.
The fourth race this morning saw two talented, well-bred filly trotters square-off and it went as if scripted. The Muscle Hill x Sina lass Beautiful Sin (Gingras) wore down French Café (Andy Miller), another Father Patrick this one from Creamy Mimi, through a stretch-long battle to win in 1:56.4. While Isolde (Dave Miller) was rank on the lead early through fast fractions, French Café followed in the pocket before gliding by that rival around the final bend with Beautiful Sin in close pursuit. In the stretch both fillies dug in gamely and it did take a photo to determine Beautiful Sin as the winner.
Lennart Agrin paid $480,000 for Beautiful Sin at the Lexington sale last fall and she races under his SRF Stable banner for trainer Jimmy Takter. Jeff Gural and the Moon Goddesses bred and raised the winner.
Colt trotters came around in the fifth and Kredit Karma (David Miller) led all the way to win in 1:58.2 over Amico Mio B (Jordan Stratton). The winner, a $110,000 Lexington yearling sired by Credit Winner, was bred by Steve Jones and Fair Winds Farm and now owned by Our Horse Cents Stable. Marcus Melander is the trainer.
Hudson River became yet another credit for Father Patrick when he won in 1:58.2 with trainer Jimmy Takter at the lines. Hudson River took the field by the 1:00.3 half, yielded to stablemate and eventual second-place finisher Gerris Trix (Gingras) then trotted by that one in deep stretch for the score. Hudson River is a homebred racing for Christina Takter and Goran Falk.
Saving perhaps the best for last and making five winners on the day for Father Patrick was the highly-regarded colt Greenshoe. He turned heads when he won in 1:55 with the greatest of ease two weeks ago and returned with another impressive win this morning, albeit a bit slower in 1:56.1 with Brian Sears driving for trainer Marcus Melander.
Greenshoe was pretty fresh scoring and anxious behind the gate but Sears was able to soothe him away with the good colt Dont Letem (Gingras) landing on his back. Moderate fractions ensued with no real trotting done until midway through the stretch when Gingras moved Dont Letem out to challenge and made a bit ground but couldn't threaten the winner. Anders Strom, using his nom de course of Courant Inc., bought the Greenshoe in Lexington last fall for $330,000 from breeders Libfeld and Katz.
JK American Beauty took the first pacing race in 1:56.1 for Tim Tetrick. She was just up over Wicked N Wonderful (Gingras) with Mollydooker going off stride when pacing fast at the wire. Nancy Johansson trains the American Ideal filly for owner/breeder 3 Brothers Stable.
Hurrikane Norakane (Dan Dube) was a 1:56.3 winner for trainer John Mc Dermott, Jr. Trapped until very late when a seam appeared, the Art Major filly shot through to nip Odds On Clearwater (Scott Zeron). Jonathan Klee Racing, Kuhen Racing, Pegasis Investments and George Vierno own the $24,000 Harrisburg purchase who was bred by Twinbrook Ltd.
Blood Money (Gingras), representing the first crop by Sweet Lou, took the 10th in 1:54.2 just holding off the furious late rally of Hurrikane Emperor (Dube). The homebred is now two-for-two for Takter and Adam Bowden's Diamond Creek Racing.
The exact same connections came right back to win the last of the two-year-old races with Blacklight in 1:56. Yannick held the Somebeachsomewhere colt from champion mare I Luv The Nitelife well back early then unleashed him in deep stretch to nail Waterway (Brett Miller) in the last step. Blacklight looks to be another good Diamond Creek homebred prospect in the Takter barn.
Hey Blondie took a handy qualifier in 1:53.2 for Andy McCarthy in a race where Tactical Landing set brisk fractions before rolling off stride as they turned home.
Live harness racing continues tonight at The Meadowlands, highlighted by the annual appearance by the Camel and Ostriches.
For results from the Saturday morning baby races, click the following link: Saturday Baby Races - Meadowlands Racetrack.
(with files from The Meadowlands)