Hambletonian eligible One In A Million took a new lifetime mark of 1:53 flat with a 20-1/2 length triumph in Saturday morning's qualifying session at Meadowlands Racetrack prior a set of 11 baby races.
Regular reinsman Brian Sears fired the Donato Hanover-Moms Millionaire colt, who had broke stride in his Stanley Dancer Memorial division last Saturday at the Meadowlands, to command from post four and flawlessly reeled off fractions of :26.4, :54.2 and 1:23.1 while opening up daylight on the field en route to the 1:53 victory.
One In A Million is trained by four-time Hambletonian winner Chuck Sylvester for owners SGS Partners, Melvin Hartman, Perretti Racing Stb LLC., and K R Breeding LLC.
Undefeated in six sophomore starts, Hambletonian Oaks eligible For A Dancer converted a pocket trip into a 1:55.1 three and a half length qualifying victory with a :28.1 final frame. Jeff Gregory drove the Conway Hall-Fluttering Wings filly for trainer Joe Holloway and owner Bluestone Farms LLC.
Following a two month layoff, last year's Haughton champion Alexie Mattosie returned to the track and front-stepped his way to a 1:53 win during the morning session, holding off pocket-sitter Risk Management by a head. David Miller drove the Nikolas Drennan trainee, a six-year-old gelding by No Pan Intended out of Dame Crombie, for owners Donald Lindsey, Paul Kleinpaste, William Alempijevic, and Dennis Mavrin.
During Saturday's baby races, world champion American Jewel's full-brother Source Of Pride (American Ideal-Trim Hanover) turned in a 1:54.1 mile following his Reynolds Stakes triumph on July 6 at Meadowlands Racetrack. The $280,000 yearling purchase is trained by Jimmy Takter and owned by breeder Brittany Farms, Mkatz Alibfeld Sgoldband, and Louie Camara.
The other pacing colt qualifier went to Rocks N Bonds (Rocknroll Hanover-Economic Clout), a half-brother to Twist N Clout ($564,484), in 1:55.1 for Ryan Maxwell.
The pacing filly splits went to PASS starter Wherethegirlsare (Somebeachsomewhere-Cabrini Hanover) in 1:54.3 for Takter; and NYSS starter Cult Status (Art Major-Shake That Junk) in 1:55.4 for Richie Silverman.
Two-year-old trotting filly winners were Doc Boyce (Muscles Yankee-Verify) in 2:01.4 for trainer Julie Miller; $140,000 yearling purchase Blue Diamonds (Deweycheatumnhowe-Constance Hall) in 2:01 for Bob Stewart; and undefeated Simpson and Reynolds Stakes winner To Dream On (Credit Winner-Satin Pillows), a $200,000 yearling, in 1:57.4 for Takter.
The freshman trotting colt winners were Fleetwood Hall (Deweycheatumnhowe-Flamingo Bingo) in 2:00 for Larry Remmen; Spider Blue Chip (Andover Hall-Southwind Catlin) in 1:57.1 for Sylvester; My Man Can (Cantab Hall-Woman Of Strength) in 1:57.4 for Miller; and Nifty Norman trainee Winbak Sullivan (Angus Hall-Marie E Hanover) in 2:02.
To view Saturday's qualifying results at Meadowlands Racetrack, click on the following links:
Qualifiers -- Baby Races