The Meadowlands Racetrack will present a glimpse into the future this Friday night (June 29), as it will host the first leg of the 2018 New Jersey Sire Stakes for two-year-old trotters and pacers.
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A field of three pacing colts will contest a $15,000 non-wagering dash prior to the pari-mutuel program (the non-wagering race will be contested at 6:15 p.m.).
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A six-horse field of pacing fillies will contest their $15,000 division, which has been carded as Race 2 on the pari-mutuel card.
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Fourteen trotting colts have been split evenly into a pair of seven-horse fields (Race 4 and 6), each of which will be contested for a purse of $20,000.
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The filly trotting division drew two equal fields of nine, and they have been carded as Race 9 and Race 11, both of which will carry a $20,000 purse.
Greenshoe is the 2-1 morning line choice in Race 4 off of a pair of dazzling morning trials. The $330,000 Lexington yearling purchase by Anders Strom as Courant, Inc. sports a purple pedigree. The colt is by Father Patrick, who is enjoying a remarkable start to his career as a sire, and is the first foal from world champion mare Designed To Be. Greenshoe wowed the crowd in his first start on June 2 with a ridiculously easy 1:55 win for trainer Marcus Melander; then returned two weeks later to win in a measured 1:56.1 for Brian Sears, who will steer the colt from Post 6 on Friday.
Trixton is well represented by his blazingly fast son Battenberg in Race 6. Three qualifiers, including a 1:55.4 win, have Battenberg sharp and ready to race for trainer Joe Holloway and driver David Miller. The colt has displayed an affinity for the lead and the stamina to make it last thus far. He will begin from Post 6 for owners Crawford Farms and Val D’Or Farms, who spent $210,000 for the first foal of the dam Coffeecake Hanover at Harrisburg last fall.
Special Honor (Race 9) has a pair of baby race wins under her belt for Andy and Julie Miller. She converted perfect pocket steers by Andy each time for 1:58 wins with strong final quarters. Special Honor is a Father Patrick homebred, retained by Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld.
Whispering Oaks has been tabbed as the 5-2 ML favorite in the very contentious Race 11. An impressive winner in two morning trials, Whispering Oaks then disappointed the pari-mutuel crowd in her first try at night, as she went off-stride as the 2-5 favourite. Her connections, driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Jimmy Takter, are well versed in the merits of her sire, Father Patrick, as they campaigned that champion throughout his career. Brixton Medical, Herb Liverman and R A W Equine bought her from the Lexington Yearling Sale at a price of $100,000.
But, that’s not all folks. World champion trotting mare Hannelore Hanover, currently at the top of the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown weekly poll, will face six accomplished rivals in the seventh race, a $20,000 Preferred Trot.
Those who stick around until Race 12 will be rewarded by seeing three legitimate Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace contenders in Captain Deo, American History and Hayden Hanover, as they look for a fine edge heading into next week’s eliminations.
And, if that’s not enough, the standard menu of guaranteed horizontal wagers and Jackpot Super Hi-5 (with its carryover now at $265,472) will await handicappers. For program pages, check out http://playmeadowlands.com/content.aspx?id=3357.
(With files from the Meadowlands Racetrack)