Stakes action was aplenty during the pre-Hambletonian card on Friday night at Meadowlands Racetrack with divisions of the Niatross and Countess Adios for two-year-old pacers and the Townsend Ackerman and Duenna
for three-year-old trotters.
In the first of two $58,625 Niatross divisions for freshmen pacing colts, the Andy Miller-driven Mybrothergeorge ($5.60) front-stepped his way to a 1:51.1 decision, holding off the popular pocket-sitter Major Bombay by a head. Bruce Saunders trains the Rocknroll Hanover-Armbro Ophelia colt, a half-sibling to millionaire Armbro Animate and $644,623-earner Artisitc Vision and a full-brother to New Jersey Sires Stakes runner-up Rockn Highland, for New York's Frank Bellino. The win was his second in five starts.
George Teague Jr. trainee Allstar Legend ($17) converted from the pocket for a maiden-breaking score in the second division with Brian Sears in tow over pacesetter Mattacardle. The son of Four Starzzz-Lifetime Gal stopped the clock in 1:52.1 while making his fourth start. Breeder Brittany Farms of Kentucky and Illinois' John Cherveny share ownership of the colt, who was a runner-up in the Reynolds Stakes.
American Jewel ($3.20) went wire-to-wire in the first of two $58,750 Countess Adios splits, prevailing in 1:51 with a :26.4 final frame. Blackjack Princess and Podges Lady finished two and a half lengths behind in a dead-heat for second. Tim Tetrick drove the homebred American Ideal-Trim Hanover miss, who is now undefeated in three lifetime starts, for trainer Jimmy Takter and Brittany Farms.
Economy Terror ($22.80) caught the leading lady Pirouette Hanover at the wire for a 1:51.4 triumph in the following division. Chris Oakes trains the daughter Western Terror-Mattatonic filly, a full-sister to millionaire mare Yellow Diamond, for Chuck Pompey and Howard Taylor of Philadelphia, and Edwin Gold of Pennsylvania. She also remains undefeated after her second start.
Vindicate ($64.60) rallied home from the backfield in :28.4 to score a 34-1 upset by a neck over favourite Zooming in the $50,000 Townsend Ackerman for three-year-old trotters. The Windsongs Legacy-Jordanna Paige colt lowered his lifetime mark to 1:54.3 in rein to Marcus Johansson. Bjorn Noren trains the winner of two races in 13 career starts for Gianluca Lami of Italy.
Beatgoeson Hanover ($4) and driver David Miller delivered a 1:54.4 triumph in the $30,000 Duenna for sophomore trotting fillies for trainer Richard 'Nifty' Norman and owner Neven Botica of Australia. The daughter of Andover Hall-Beat The Wheel won her Reynolds split and finished second in the Casual Breeze and Elegantimage Stakes earlier this year.
Menhammar Stuteri's Pantholops ($6.40) won the other division by a neck over Firstclassprincess in 1:54.3. The Andover Hall-Klipspringer filly notched her first lifetime win from nine starts for driver Andy Miller and trainer Jonas Czernyson.