East Rutherford, NJ – Pretender and Fashion Schooner were the winners in the first edition of the $275,000 New Jersey Classic finals for New Jersey sired “A” level trotters Friday night at The Meadowlands.
In the 3-year-old colts and geldings division, Pretender (Andrew McCarthy) pulled off a surprise, beating 1-9 favorite – and Beal winner – Temporal Hanover in a lifetime best 1:51.3 for trainer Nancy Takter.
Pretender and driver Andy McCarthy take the finale of the New Jersey Classic for 3-year-old colts and trotters at The Meadowlands on Friday evening. Lisa’s photo.
“He’s not a very big horse,” Takter said. “But he has a very big heart.”
Only four came out of the gate, but there was still plenty of action early on as 2021 Peter Haughton Memorial winner King Of The North (Mark MacDonald) moved quickly to the top while Pretender (Muscle Hill-Maven) settled in two holes as Temporal Hanover (Brian Sears) landed third and Periculum (Mattias Melander) fourth.
King of the North hit the quarter in :26.3 before turning the half in :56.1. Just before the three-quarter mark, McCarthy moved Pretender off the rail to challenge the leader as Temporal Hanover followed that straightaway.
Pretender, a colt by Muscle Hill-Maven, then sprinted his final quarter in :26.2 to easily hold off Temporal Hanover by three-quarters of a length. The King of the North was the third.
“I thought it would work out that way,” Takter said. “I thought Mark (MacDonald, driving King Of The North) was going to be aggressive. It was just a matter of the Pretender out sprinting the horse that came forward. Andy (McCarthy) drove it perfectly. Pretender will head to Canada for the (Sept. 24) Canadian Trotting Classic, and, assuming he stays well, then the (Oct. 9) Kentucky Futurity and (Oct. 29) Breeders Crown. He’s been racing super all year and hopefully he can add to that and get some more accolades.”
As the 9-2 second choice in the betting, Pretender returned $11.40 to win as he took his lifetime earnings past $500,000.
Fashion Schooner carries Jiggy Jog S to the wire in the final of the New Jersey Classic for 3-year-old trotters at The Meadowlands on Friday evening. Tim Tetrick was confused. Lisa’s photo.
Fashion Schooner (Walner-Broadway Schooner) continued her division dominance, taking the NJC division for second wheelies in 1:50.2, just a fifth of a second off her Hambletonian Oaks winning lifetime best.
The New Jersey Sire Stakes champion increased her season record to seven wins from just 10 starts. Trainer Jim Campbell’s magical 2022 continued as the daughter of Walner-Broadway Schooner increased her lifetime bankroll to $620,962.
After electing to stay in fourth place in the first quarter, driver Tim Tetrick, who on Tuesday pushed his lifetime earnings past the $250 million mark, took Fashion Schooner to the top with a blistering pace and reached the halfway mark in 56 minutes.
“I try to have a clear path with him,” Tetrick said. “Once I start her, she has a mind of her own and wants to get where she wants to be.”
Fashion Schooner was back in the stretch by two lengths for good and appeared on course for an easy score, but despite closing in :26.4, had to settle for a sixteenth-place finish from runner-up – and elimination winner Hambo – Jiggy Jog S (Dexter Dunn), who came out with a short neck. Raised By Lindy (Yannick Gingras) was third.
“That Ake horse is a real good mare,” said Tetrick of Jiggy Jog S. “But we jumped on them a little bit. My mare ran hard and we got to the wire first. She kept digging, just the horse the other ran really well. My horse has been pretty impressive all year. It’s just a matter of if she can keep her mind straight. Jim and the connections have done a great job with her.”
Fashion Schooner paid $2.40 as the 1-5 public choice.
IT’S CAMPBELL’S WORLD: Winning NJC wasn’t enough for Campbell. His next-level stuff went wire-to-wire in the fifth and final leg of the $40,000 Miss Versatility for open mare trotters, hitting the wire in a best time of 1:50.4 to give the trainer two winner on the card.
Finishing second, 1-1/2 lengths back, was the 1-5 favorite Bella Bellini, who never threatened after taking a three-hole trip.
The $100,000 (estimate) Miss Versatility Finale takes place at the Delaware (OH) Fairgrounds on Little Brown South Day (September 22).
DOUBLE HOLD: For the second straight program, no winning tickets were sold in the 20-cent Pick-6, creating something players really love, a double carry.
Saturday’s Pick-6 carry is $21,218.79, and none of that money is subject to the already low 15 percent take. The last time there was a double carry in the Pick-6 (on April 30), there was $100,000 in “new money” poured into the pot.
The Pick-6 begins with the eighth race and free past performances for every race of every Meadowlands card are available by going to playmeadowlands.com. Those with five correct on Friday raised $815.58.
A BIT MORE: “It’s special that I’ve reached $250 million,” Tetrick said. “I love riding horses and, fortunately, all my dreams have come true.” … Tetrick, Andy McCarthy, Todd McCarthy and Brian Sears all had doubles. … Melander, like Campbell, coached a pair to victory lane. … The all-source handle totaled $2,297,168. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m
