Meadowlands: Fred And Ginger shines in 1:47 3/5 on major stakes night

Fred And Ginger doesn’t have to play second fiddle anymore. The stablemate of champions Foiled Again and Sweet Lou found room late and captured his second TVG FFA series leg for driver Ron Pierce in a brilliant 1:47 3/5 on Saturday night at the Meadowlands. The six-year-old by Real Artist from the powerful Ron Burke stable, made the most of his rail position as the action on the track was fast and furious from the start.

As expected, 3-5 favorite Golden Receiver blasted to the lead when the gate opened and snapped off a :25 3/5 quarter in the process. Fred And Ginger let the favorite pass and was content in the two hole. However, Pet Rock with Simon Allard was not content and the pair tried to engage the favorite but could not pass.

That set up a :52 3/5 first half mile and before Golden Receiver had a chance to take a breather, Yannick Gingras pounced on him with Sweet Lou. The four-year-old made an extended brush and wore down the favorite by head-stretch. It was Sweet Lou’s race to win as Golden Receiver attempted to fight back on the inside and Pierce looked for room with Fred And Ginger to rally between horses. In a thrilling stretch drive, Fred And Ginger got up by a head. Sweet Lou held the place valiantly with Modern Legend finishing third.

Dynamic Youth finished fourth while Pet Rock was beaten just two lengths in fifth in a phenomenal four-year-old debut.

Fast times were the norm on a warm Saturday night at the Meadowlands. Smilin Eli captured the $150,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes for sophomore colt trotters in 1:52 1/5 for driver Tim Tetrick. Yannick Gingras took home a pair of Sire Stakes finals, scoring with Shared Past (1:53 4/5) in the three-year-old filly trotting division and Rockin Amadeus (1:49 3/5) in the sophomore colt pace.

Ms Caila J Fra and driver Simon Allard posted the fastest Sire Stakes clocking, emerging from a blanket finish with a 1:49 personal best. The Western Ideal-sired miss was unraced at two and has now won five times in 2013.The race was mared by an accident which saw Ron Pierce’s horse, O Narutac Rockette go to the ground. Reports were that all horses were okay. Pierce took off the rest of his drives and reportedly had some leg discomfort.

Andy Miller made the most of a pocket trip behind Feeling You in the first $90,450 Golden Girls for aged pacing mares. The six-year-old rallied past a stubborn Anndrovette in a personal best 1:48 4/5 clocking during daylight hours.

Later on, Rocklamation and Gingras captured the $92,950 second Golden Girls division in 1:49 3/5.