Meadowlands: Formful finishes in New Jersey Sire Stakes finals, except for one

Melanie's Fran, Shoshie Deo, and Hypnotic Tale polished off sweeps in their respective $75,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes finals for 3-year-olds on Friday evening at the Meadowlands, but Take A Wish spoiled the run of expected results by posting a 21-1 upset in the event for trotting fillies.

Driven by Steve Smith, Take A Wish sat a three-hole trip while 1-5 choice and potential sweeper Samis Rolin Stone (Dewayne Minor) led through stations of 29 4/5, 58 3/5, and 1:27 1/5. Smith brought his charge two-wide coming off the last turn, and despite the soft panels up front, Take A Wish closed in 27 3/5 to get up and win by half a length in 1:55 2/5. Samis Rolin Stone had to settle for second, followed by Diamondstone US (Andrew McCarthy) and Princess Marxxx (Yannick Gingras).

Trainer Dawn Anderson also co-owns the victorious daughter of Wishing Stone with Mark Schullstrom. Take A Wish broke her maiden in her seventh try, and she has now earned $51,950. She paid $45.60 to win.

The result was better for Dewayne Minor in the final for trotting colts as his Shoshie Deo (George Brennan) won in 1:57 3/5 after showing the way through a quarter in 29 2/5, a half in 1:00 3/5, and a three-quarters in 1:29 4/5. He defeated Brutal Storm (Trond Smedshammer) by a length and a half, with Paging Doctor Teo (Sergio Corona) third. 4-5 second choice U Need Stones (Gingras) made a break early and again on the far turn after catching the field and coming first-up, eliminating him from contention.

A Wishing Stone colt, Shoshie Deo is trained by Minor for owner Annemette Minor. Shoshie Deo has a record of 7-5-0 from 15 starts, and he has put away $150,080. Shoshie Deo was the 3-5 favorite and returned $3.40 to win.

Hypnotic Tale (David Miller) sat a two-hole trip in the final for pacing fillies and was up in the lane to win by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:54. Cruzinforavictory (Frank Milby) came on to get second, and Hurrikane Empress (Gingras), the leader through fractions of 26 4/5, 57, and 1:27 1/5, faded to third.

Hypnotic Tale is a daughter of Hypnotic Blue Chip who is trained by Linda Toscano for owner/breeder Ronald Mario. This was Hypnotic Tale's fifth career victory, and she has now banked $102,618. She was the 2-5 favorite and paid $2.80 to win.

Miller also won the colt pace, held before the card as a non-betting affair, with Melanie's Fran in 1:56 3/5, defeating Hypnotico (Austin Siegelman) by nine lengths in a match race.

Melanie's Fran, a gelding by Hypnotic Blue Chip, is trained by Kevin McDermott for owner 80 Slot Right Stable. Melanie's Fran is now a seven-time winner in his life, and he has pocketed $188,750.