Its A Love Thing and Caviart Belle prevailed in the two $136,986 divisions of the Jerry Silverman Memorial, for three-year-old filly pacers, on Saturday, July 13 at The Meadowlands.
Yannick Gingras drove Caviart Belle to a career-best 1:49 mile in the first division of the stakes event, formerly known as the Mistletoe Shalee.
The first three-quarters were combative with a :26 first panel set by Asweetbeachhere (James MacDonald) from the outside. Sarasota Hanover (Scott Zeron) took over, and a speed battle ensued when favourite Pass Line (Dexter Dunn) stormed to the top for a :53.3 half.
Pass Line led through the 1:22 three-quarters, Lyons Legend (Tim Tetrick) charged up the inside and Sarasota Hanover chanced a rally. Early speedsters struggled as Caviart Belle's third-over position in the final turn opened a winning path six-wide to win by 2-1/2 lengths. Sarasota Hanover finished second with a late-closing Canigetalouploup (David Miller) getting third.
Caviart Belle, by Captaintreacherous from the Well Said dam Eloquent Grace, has now won $691,601 through her second season of racing.
Nancy Takter trains Caviart Belle for owners Caviart Farms. She paid $5.40 to win.
Gingras said he found the early cover he wanted:
"She can pace as fast as any filly," he said.
Richard Silverman, son of the late Jerry, said the event "is an honour to my father and to all the great fillies he raced [at the Meadowlands]."
In the second $136,986 division, Its A Love Thing faced off against her top foe My Girl EJ and eight others and won her Big M debut in 1:49.1 with James MacDonald in the bike.
Miraculous Deo's early lead lasted long enough for driver Todd McCarthy to mark a :27.1 first quarter with Flawless (Yannick Gingras) in line second and My Girl EJ (Dunn) on the move outside third and Its A Love Thing next.
My Girl EJ took over the lead from the other two and was gliding well into a :55.2 half as Its A Love Thing pulled out to chase her and drew alongside to make the final challenge into the stretch after a 1:23.1 three-quarters.
The stretch was a duel in which My Girl EJ worked hard to keep the lead but Its A Love Thing had the momentum at the wire to win by a neck in 1:49.1. Geocentric (Tetrick) soared late to capture third.
Trained by David Menary for Eric Good, Thomas Biederman, Josh Green and Rich Lombardo Racing, Its A Love Thing, a daughter of Bettors Delight-Love For Sail, paid $4.40 to win four the fourth time this season and raise her earnings to $994,659.
"It was a dog fight down the lane," MacDonald said. "But I know my filly; she's hard nosed and hard-trying."
MacDonald, who earned his fourth win of the night aboard Its A Love Thing, said he felt great because "I never thought my career would get me here."
(Meadowlands)