Darling Mearas S joined an extremely exclusive club after taking the overnight feature high-class conditioned trot at the Meadowlands on Friday night (July 5), as she joined J L Cruze (2015) and Plunge Blue Chip (2018) as the only 1:49.4 performers in the history of the Big M.
Although she had lifetime earnings of just over $750,000, Darling Mearas S, who is Swedish owned and bred, had no North American mark on her card except for a 1:56.1 qualifier on May 11, but the six-year-old daughter of Cantab Hall-Khao Manee made quick work of that in her second lifetime North American start.
Darling Mearas S floated away from post five in the event for non-winners of $17,500 in their last five starts, opting to race first-over past the quarter. She followed Very Very Fast, who towed her into contention before yielding the top to the eventual winner just after the half, which was timed in :54.4.
Driver/trainer Ake Svanstedt had no intention of letting 7-5 favourite Joey Bats go by as he moved into contention first-over, and parked that foe around the far turn after a three-quarter time of 1:22. Darling Mearas S, who went off stride in her North American debut at Woodbine Mohawk Park four weeks ago, had plenty left in the tank from there, trotting her final quarter in :27.4 to become the game’s fastest trotter of 2019. It was 2-1/2 lengths back to Buen Camino, who went an inside trip and outlasted a tired Joey Bats for second.
Darling Mearas S, who is owned by Snogarps Gard, now has 13 wins in 31 lifetime starts.
Jk First Lady, the Western Ideal filly out of 2014 Horse of the Year JK Shesalady, debuted a winner in the first leg of the Kindergarten Classic for trainer Nancy Johansson. With Yannick Gingras aboard, she sprinted home from the pocket in :25.4 to stop the clock in 1:52.2.
The fillies unleashed ferocious closing kicks with Rocknificent clocking a :25.3 final frame at the end of her 1:52.3 maiden-breaking mile for trainer Linda Toscano. Tim Tetrick drove the daughter of Captaintreacherous out of the double millionairess Rocklamation in another $10,000 division.
Lady Lou (Sweet Lou-Bolt Of Thunder) was the fastest filly winner in 1:52.1, holding on to win her Kindergarten division with :26.1 closing speed for driver Andrew McCarthy, trainer Tony Alagna and owner Brad Grant of Milton, Ont.
The same connections also watched Kindergarten colt Chief Mate (Captaintreacherous-Heaven Forbid) score in 1:52.1 with a :25.4 final frame. Marvin Katz, Captain Kirk Racing and breeder Brittany Farms also share ownership.
Trained by Mark Harder and driven by Dexter Dunn, Major Betts (Art Major-Southwind Johanne) closed out the 1:51.3 fastest split for colts with a :26 final quarter, upsetting :25.1 sprinter Captain Nemo, a $400,000 yearling sale purchase by Captaintreacherous out of the O'Brien Award winning mare Hana Hanover.
New Jersey Sire Stakes two-year-old divisions were won by trotting fillies Fortune Starlet (1:55.4) and Spoiled Princess (1:56.2); trotting colt Play Trix On Me (1:54.3); pacing colt Rockin The Aces (1:53.3); and pacing filly Odds On Sarasota (1:55).
A LITTLE MORE: Yannick Gingras led the driver's colony with three winners on the program, while Dexter Dunn, Andy McCarthy and Tim Tetrick had two apiece. … After a one-week hiatus, the Can-Am Pick-4 returned and took in $47,931 in action. Hopefully, racing fans followed Big M TV’s Gabe Prewitt and played his ticket, which came in and returned $357 for the bet with the 20-Cent base wager. … The fifth race 20-cent Jackpot Super High-Five did not result in a single-ticket winner, upping the carryover to $120,242. … All-source wagering on the 14-race card totaled $2,559,124. … Racing resumes Saturday at a special early post time of 6:35 p.m. The Big M will salute its faithful on “Fan Appreciation Night” with concession-stand specials, a pair of Graduate Finals (each worth $250,000) and eliminations for the Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace. When the card ends (sometime before 11 p.m.), the track will then light up the sky with a spectacular fireworks show.
(With files from Meadowlands)
I would appreciate
I would appreciate feedback,from another handicapper,race official,perhaps someone involved in training.I remember back when Sebastian K was setting world records,and I would hear after the fact --- that "he was very good,he had raced barefoot that day". I believe an equipment change such as that should be noted on the program --- perhaps it is,and if so I apologize in advance and knowing where the info is would be a great help. I admire Ake, currently holder of 8 world records with those trotters, and I'm sure he'd share such info if asked,frankly, I shouldn't have to speculate.