Trainer Ake Svanstedt sent the winners in both divisions of the Reynolds for three-year-old trotting colts on Saturday (July 11) at The Meadowlands.
Back Of The Neck provided the most eye-catching win when rallying from last with a :26.4 final quarter to land a half length in front of Play Trix On Me at the finish of a 1:52 mile.
Driver Scott Zeron sat at the rear of the field with the son of Ready Cash past a :27.3 first quarter but tipped off the pegs moving to a :56 half. Meanwhile Synergy continued to set the tempo, facing a challenge into the final turn as Hollywood Story flushed first over heading to three-quarters in 1:24.
At the top of the stretch Back Of The Neck was positioned fourth over. Zeron angled the 6-5 favourite to the centre of the track and then stormed past his competition under minimal urging to take the $44,650 division. Maesteraemon closed for third.
Owned by Howard Taylor, Order By Stable and Judith Taylor, Back Of The Neck won his fourth race from 11 starts, earning $136,250. He paid $4.40 to win.
Jula Trix Treasure capitalized off a stalking trip behind a speed duel to win the $44,150 Reynolds split in 1:51.2.
Even-money favourite EL Ideal swept to the front past a :27.1 first quarter but promptly faced pressure from Beads into the backside. EL Ideal refused to yield command to Beads, leaving his challenger parked past a :55.3 half. Beads ground to put a head in front moving to the far turn, but lost ground racing wide of EL Ideal heading to three-quarters in 1:23.1.
Through the battle, driver Yannick Gingras had Jula Trix Treasure placed third over. He kicked the son of Trixton off cover into the stretch and gradually progressed towards the lead, hitting his best stride in the final eighth to put a half length in front of Beads at the finish. EL Ideal settled for third.
Winning his fourth race from nine starts, Jula Trix Treasure has earned $85,260 for owner Jula Racing Inc. He paid $18.20 to win.
Sophomore trotting fillies competed in a single Reynolds dash going for a purse of $61,000. Nancy Takter trainee Sorella struck the front past the quarter and strolled to a 1:50.2 victory over stablemate Panem.
Away second past a :27.4 first quarter, driver Yannick Gingras circled Sorella by early leader Fortune Starlet to front the field into the backside. Past the half in :56, the daughter of Muscle Hill gradually opened her lead, holding a two-length advantage past three-quarters in 1:23.4 and widening the margin to three with a :26.3 final quarter. Panem closed first over for second while Ramona Hill—making her seasonal debut—rallied for third.
A homebred for Elmer Fannin co-owned by Crawford Farms Racing, Sorella won her third race from three starts this season and her fifth from 12 overall, earning $187,313. She paid $3.20 to win.