Four-year-old trotting mares did battle at Meadowlands Racetrack on Thursday evening, as the New Jersey oval featured a set of $20,000 divisions of the Ima Lula Series.
Tui and driver Anthony Napolitano drew first blood by knocking off heavy favourite Cedar Dove in 1:53.3 in the opening division.
Napolitano got away third with Tui while Cedar Dove lined up the field through an opening quarter trotted in :28.1. Tui brushed to the lead in the second quarter and had the field stalking her through middle fractions of :56.3 and 1:25.1. Cedar Dove popped back out of the pocket, but she came up a half-length short to Tui who stopped the teletimer in 1:53.3. Cedar Dove was second best, with Pantholops finishing third.
O’Brien Award winner China Pearls and driver John Campbell showed no mercy to the foes they faced in the second division, winning in going away fashion in a solid clocking of 1:53.3.
Campbell hustled the Carman Hie-trained daughter of Kadabra-Pure Sable off the gate, but he gave way briefly to Jezzy as the battled by the quarter pole in :28.2. Jezzy was released to the lead by Campbell, who quickly came back around that foe to regain command. China Pearls then led through middle splits of :57.4 and 1:26.1 before using a :27.2 closing panel to seal the deal by 4-1/4 lengths over Lady Andover. Beatgoeson Hanover was third.
Carman Hie Stable Inc. shares ownership on the 11-time winner with Blake Anthony, Peter Kloepfer and Ted Murrell, and collectively the owners have watched the talented performer stash away more than $625,000 to date. She’s put together a 3-1-2 record in her first seven starts of the 2012 season after going 8-1-6 from 19 starts last year.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Meadowlands Racetrack.