A sibling to a pair of pacers that each banked more than $1.5 million and the first foal of one of harness racing's most feared trotting fillies were impressive in victory during Friday's baby race session at The Meadowlands.
At just a half-dozen dashes, the session was less Breakfast With The Babies and more a Six-Pack With The Schoolers but what the group lacked in quantity they more than made up with in quality.
After making a break in her first appearance two Fridays ago, the regally-bred Adirondack trotted away from her rivals with an effortless wire-to-wire 1:59.2 score, closing in :27.
David Miller handled Adirondack, the Father Patrick-sired first foal of the great Mission Brief, for trainer Per Engblom and owner Diamond Creek Racing of Wellsville, Pa. She was a $400,000 Lexington Selected yearling.
The fastest mile of the day came from pacing filly Making Waves, who looks to be living up to her name thus far with three straight qualifying wins.
Driver Scott Zeron settled Making Waves into fifth early before asking his filly to challenge just after the half-mile marker. Making Waves was on even footing with Jane Diamond (D. Miller) around the far turn and took the lead turning for home. With virtually no encouragement and Zeron motionless, Making Waves sprinted home in :26 to trip the timer in 1:53.1. Caviart Audrey (Yannick Gingras) was a very solid second, just three parts of a length off the leader.
A daughter of Captaintreacherous - Trim Hanover, and thus a half-sister to the accomplished Breeders Crown winners American Jewel and Luck Be Withyou, Making Waves is trained by Linda Toscano for Brittany Farms LLC. She had previously qualified twice in June at Magical Acres, winning in 1:58 and 1:56.2.
To view the results from the Friday morning qualifying session, click one of the following links: