Meadowlands: Ariana G remains undefeated with Jim Doherty Memorial triumph

Ariana G ran her record to four wins from four starts after a rallying 1:53 1/5 tally in the $306,500 Jim Doherty Memorial for 2-year-old trotting fillies on Saturday afternoon at the Meadowlands.

Waffle Cone (John Campbell) was aggressively driven from post six, as she battled early with Thats All Moni (Brett Miller) to the 28 1/5 opening quarter. Thats All Moni cleared past that point, but it was a short-lived stay on the front as Campbell popped back to the outside to retake the front. Waffle Cone would go on to reach the half in 56 1/5 with Broadway Idole (Brian Sears) first-over out of third. She was tracked by elimination winner Chezatter (Dave Miller), and Ariana G (Yannick Gingras) tracked her from third-over.

Broadway Idole and Waffle Cone were side-by-side at the 1:25 3/5 three-quarters, but Miller had Chezatter three-wide, and Gingras continued to stick right with her. Chezatter swept into the lead turning for home, but Gingras fanned Ariana G out off the cover, and she would respond beautifully, trotting past Chezatter for the victory by just over a length. Thats All Moni was up for third, followed by Broadway Idole and Donato Fashion (Jason Bartlett).

"I was in a bad spot (in the first turn). I had (Tim Tetrick) outside of me there, but thankfully I was able to get out," Gingras said. "After that I felt like I was following the filly to beat, so I was confident from there."

Jimmy Takter trains Ariana G, a daughter of Muscle Hill, for owners/breeders Al Libfeld and Marvin Katz. Ariana G, who has earned $223,250 from her four trips to the winner's circle, is out of the Cantab Hall mare Cantab It All ($286,412), making her a full sister to All The Time ($577,616), who is the morning line favorite for the Hambletonian Oaks. The 3-5 favorite, Ariana G paid $3.20 to win.