Meadowlands: Alagna sends out three winners in baby races

Trainer Tony Alagna had the winner in the three of the seven qualifiers for 2-year-olds on Saturday morning at the Meadowlands.

Trainer Linda Toscano opened the day’s activities by revealing another sharp looker from the first crop of her 2012 Horse of the Year Chapter Seven in the filly Seventh Heaven. Making her career debut, Seventh Heaven was reserved off the early fractions by driver Steve Smith, then trotted through the stretch with aplomb to nail Kim’s Spitfire (John Campbell) late in 2:01 1/5 with her last quarter much quicker than the 30 seconds on the timer. Richard Balog, of Plesac fame, bred and retains ownership of the filly.

Havanna Bar was the race two winner in 1:59 with Andy McCarthy at the lines. Andy held the Muscle Massive filly in third early off comfortable fractions, then tipped her off the cover of Myrna Myrna (Buzzy Sholty) mid-stretch through the 29 flat final quarter to draw clear by a length. Noel Daley trains Havanna Bar, a $23,000 Harrisburg yearling, for Christer Haggstrom, whose day job is coordinating just about everything that goes on for the Elitlopp.

Catch The Game took a record of 1:59 this morning, making a slow grind up to the lead by the 59 4/5 half for Mark Mac Donald, then holding sway over Long Tom (Marcus Melander) and Mac And Pay (Andy Miller) through the 29 second end to the mile. Paul Kelley trains the Muscle Hill $47,000 Lexington yearling and owns him in partnership with Little E LLC., SRF Stable and Anders Jonsson.

Muscle Hill sired another impressive winner right back the next race in the royally-bred Signal Hill. Brett Miller picked up the drive for Alagna and steered the colt right into a pocket trip behind Euro Gap (Jimmy Takter) through a 1:28 three quarters, then surged by that rival in deep stretch for the 1:57 record. Southwind Woody (Andy Miller) evidenced some talent with a late gain to be third. Signal Hill cost the partnership of Brittany Farms, Dave McDuffee, Marvin Katz and Adriano Sorella $250,000 at the Lexington sale last fall.

Sky Fulla Star won the first of the pacing races with a deep close in 1:58 4/5 for Mark MacDonald. She rated off the pace kindly, then used a stretch surge to score over Colorful Jasmine (Corey Callahan) and pacesetter Odds On Miami (A. Miller). Bruce Saunders trains Sky Fulla Star for Julie, Francine and Charles “Cotton” Nash of Lexington, Kentucky, where they purchased the Art Major filly for $42,000 last fall.

Captain Velocity was a winner again for Alagna and owner the Trent Stohler Stable, this time in a “shut-down” 1:56 4/5 / 28 3/5 for driver Marcus Miller. He led all the way and held sway over the late rally of Mr. Varsity (Brett Miller), with American Dreamer (John Campbell) a solid third.

Alagna wrapped the morning’s baby menu with a winning effort by Art Scene in 1:57 1/5 / 28 1/5 for Corey Callahan. He got a nice trip, following the leader Bold And Brassy (Jimmy Marohn, Jr) until mid-way on the final bend where he engaged and then went by that stubborn rival late for the win. Rock N Blue was a gaining third for John Campbell. Brittany Farms bred and retains an interest in the son of American Ideal with Alagna Racing, In The Gym Partners and Americam Art Stable.

--press release (Meadowlands)--