Dat You Miz Blue wins Ready Jet Go

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - Dat You Miz Blue zipped back to the winner's circle under John Velazquez to score the $75,000 Ready Jet Go Stakes on closing night at the Meadowlands. Beau's Surprise posted a surprise and ended the unbeaten streak of Dixie Two Thousand with a heart-stopping head victory in the $50,000 Great Falls Stakes, while Grade 1 winner Rize tied a track record with his 2 1/4-length $75,000 Creme Fraiche Stakes win.

Dat You Miss Blue had been caught in fast paces in her last three stakes before shipping to New Jersey for trainer James Jerkens. After two dull efforts using Lasix, the four-year-old got off the medication and stalked the favored Big Bambu before rolling to the 7 1/2-length win in 1:08.79. Arriana's Passion was second and La Galerie was third.

Beau's Surprise has won three straight stakes for owner Thomas McClay and Penn National-based trainer Todd Beattie. Clinton Potts closed into a very fast pace to nab Dixie Two Thousand in the final strides and keep him from a seventh straight win. Sea of Green was 1 1/4 lengths back in third and off a 1:09.20 final time.

Rize reunited with jockey Eibar Coa for his first victory since June for trainer Norman Pointer and Runnin' Horse Farm. He stalked the pace and stayed clear of Pickupspeed and Banner Headline who finished second and third. The winning time of 1:53.95 equaled the record for 1 3/16th-miles.

Trainer Robert Klesaris secured his third Meadowlands training title and first since 1985 when Lauren's Lad took the third race. He topped J. Willard Thompson 17-15. Julian Pimental's 58 wins earned him the leading jockey award and made him the third apprentice to take the title. Fellow apprentice Jeremy Rose was second with 46 wins.

The 44-day meeting, the shortest Thoroughbred meet in Meadowlands history, posted a 14% gain in on-track handle and a 25% increase in total handle. The substantial gains came despite missing a week of racing following the September 11th attacks. The $16.3-million given away in purses set a New Jersey record.