Harness: JK She'salady preps for qualifying debut at Meadowlands

Champions Father Patrick, Pinkman, Market Share and Artspeak—among others—were the official story on the track during qualifying action at the Meadowlands on Saturday morning. However, 2014 Horse of the Year JK She’salady was also in attendance going an uncharted training mile.

According to her connections, the now 3-year-old filly paced the opening half in about 58 2/5 seconds and sprinted home to complete the mile in 1:54 or so into a strong stretch headwind.

“She was very good,” said regular driver Tim Tetrick, who got his initial first-hand look of the filly in 2015. “We just wanted to make her finish strong. She was good-gaited and happy to be out there.”

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JK She’salady finished her rookie year of racing perfect in 12 starts for trainer Nancy Johansson and owners 3 Brothers Stable. She earned $883,630 in her first year of racing.

Nancy’s husband, Marcus, said the filly would qualify next week at the Meadowlands in preparation for her 2015 debut.

“We couldn’t be happier with how she has come back,” said Marcus Johansson.

On the charted record, Tetrick steered three-time millionaire Market Share to a third-place finish behind Melady’s Monet and Father Patrick to start his 6-year-old season. The Linda Toscano trainee was timed in 1:56, six and a quarter lengths behind the leaders.

“He’s a year older, but he hasn’t changed much. It just takes him a little longer to get tight now,” said Tetrick about Market Share.

Melady's Monet set comfortable fractions of 29 1/5, 57 4/5 and 1:27 with Father Patrick following closely from the pocket. Those two continued single-file right through the wire, with driver Yannick Gingras content to settle for second and simply follow along without asking Father Patrick for speed.

Other winners on the qualifier card included 2-year-old champion colt trotter Pinkman (1:55 1/5) and top trotting filly Wild Honey (1:55 1/5). The top 2-year-old pacing colt from last year, Artspeak, was making a move on the final turn and threw in a break.