Colts trained by Hall of Famer Jimmy Takter won two of the four New Jersey Sire Stakes for three-year-olds contested on Saturday night, June 2 at the Meadowlands
Racetrack. Takter winners were the trotter Little Brown Fox and the pacer Time To Roll.
Personal Style, a daughter of Yankee Glide, caught 8-5 favourite Riverfest (by Windsongs Legacy) in the stretch and drew off for a two and a quarter length tally in the $150,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Final for trotting fillies. Personal Style, with David Miller driving, overcame post 10 and trotted a personal best of 1:53.4. Riverfest ($3.20, $3.20) was second, and it was three lengths back to Sassy Syrinx (by Yankee Glide) in third, who returned $5.80.
“She got away last; there were a whole bunch of them leaving,” Miller said in the winner’s circle. “She has a good finish. The flow got moving, and she did the rest.”
Trained by Nifty Norman, Personal Style ($7.00, $3.60, $2.60) posted her second win in four starts this year and improved her career record to four wins, two seconds and one third from 12 starts. The victory lifted her lifetime earnings to $155,965. She was purchased as a yearling for $92,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale by the partnership of Brittany Farms of Versailles, Kentucky and Melvin Hartman of Ottawa, Ont.
Little Brown Fox, by Muscles Yankee, was a length and a half winner, putting away the 3-2 favourite, Market Share (by Revenue), to claim the $150,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes for trotting colts in 1:53.3. Little Brown Fox ($10.20, $6.40, $3.60), driven by Ron Pierce, trotted a final panel in :27.3 to move past Market Share ($2.60), who finished two and three-quarter lengths back in third. Guccio ($5.20, $3.60), a son of Yankee Glide, closed to pick up second money. The top two finishers were both trained by Takter.
A $35,000 Harrisburg yearling sale purchase, Little Brown Fox boosted his career earnings to $190,465. He now has three wins, one second and two thirds in 12 starts -- two wins in three starts in 2012. The bay colt races in the name of Christina Takter of East Windsor, New Jersey, brothers John and Jim Fielding of Toronto, Ont., and Brittany Farms, which bought a share last July. “He’s a very serious colt,” said Myron Bell, representing Brittany Farms.
“He was a little rambunctious behind the gate. We are happy to be in the mix. We bought into him after he baby raced [last year].”
Sarandon Blue Chip, unraced at two, is now a perfect two-for-two with her three length victory in the $150,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes for pacing fillies. Sarandon Blue Chip ($6.00, $2.80, $2.40), a daughter of Western Ideal, paced the mile in 1:50 flat, rebuffing 3-5 favourite Pirouette Hanover ($2.20, $2.10), also a daughter of Western Ideal. It was three and a half lengths to Rockaround Sue ($4.40), by Rocknroll Hanover, in third.
“She surprised me last week, and she proved herself again tonight,” said winning driver David Miller. “It’s really amazing that she’s done what she’s done.”
A $92,000 Harrisburg yearling purchase, Sarandon Blue Chip races for her trainer, Casie Coleman Stables of Cambridge, Ont., and Tom Hill of Lancashire, Great Britain. The filly has now banked $86,250.
It took a photo finish to award a nose victory in the $150,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes for pacing colts to Time To Roll ($9.60, $3.80, $3.20) over 3-5 A Rocknroll Dance ($2.40, $2.20). It was a neck back to Simply Business ($3.80) in third. All three are sons of Rocknroll Hanover.
Time To Roll posted his second straight victory in two starts this year and improved his career record to three wins and one third in five tries. His earnings of $115,970 benefit owner-breeder Lothlorien of Cheltenham, Ont.
“He’s a big, powerful horse and he felt super tonight,” said Andy Miller, the winning driver. “He still had a lot of pace. He dug right in to the wire.”
“He was injured last year,” said Takter, who trained the first and third-place finishers. “He was a growth colt who showed ability. There was no point in rushing him last year. This one is sleek and fast, and we expect a great season.” -
Time To Roll is eligible to the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup and has been assessed at odds of 44-1 in Trot Magazine's Spring Book. Eliminations are scheduled for next weekend at Mohawk Racetrack.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Meadowlands Racetrack.
(With files from SBOANJ)