Meadowlands: Freshmen compete in New Jersey Sire Stakes, Kindergarten Classic

Play Trix On Me, Odds On Sarasota, and Rockin The Aces all repeated their wins from the first round as New Jersey Sire Stakes action for 2-year-olds continued on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

In the $25,000 grouping for male trotters, which was a non-betting race held prior to the main card, Play Trix On Me (Tim Tetrick) strolled through fractions of 28 1/5, 58, and 1:27 2/5 on his way to a 5 1/4 length victory in 1:54 3/5. St Martins (Andrew McCarthy) was second, followed by Barley (David Miller).

The victorious Trixton colt is trained by Gareth Dowse for owner Matthew Dugan. Bred by Steve Jones, Play Trix On Me, who has won all three of his starts, fetched just $4,500 at last year's Goshen Yearling Sale, but his dam Lima Playmate (Credit Winner) made $265,755 with a mark of 1:57.

The $25,000 dash for filly pacers was also a non-wagering contest, and Odds On Sarasota (D. Miller) tracked Duck N Roll (Dexter Dunn) from the pocket through a 28 3/5 opening quarter, a 58 2/5 half, and a 1:27 2/5 three-quarters. Miller tipped his charge to the outside past three-quarters, and she would overtake the pace-setter on her way to the win by a length and a half in 1:55. Ready Set Rock (Andrew McCarthy) was second, with Duck N Roll fading to third.

A daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven, Odds On Sarasota is trained by Ross Croghan for owner/breeder Odds On Racing. Odds On Sarasota is out of Odds On Charmaine (Western Hanover, 1:51 2/5, $341,245).

Rounding out the horses to go two-for-two was Rockin The Aces (Scott Zeron) in the $25,000 male pace. Starting from the trailing post 11, he brushed to the lead past the 57 second half and kept control from there, winning in 1:53 3/5. He defeated Follow Your Heart (Dunn) by three-parts of a length, with Rockin The Gates (Yannick Gingras) third after breaking before the start and then getting caught first-over much of the mile.

Rockin The Aces, by Rock N Roll Heaven, is trained by Carmen Auciello for owner Robert Barry. Rockin The Aces, who was bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. and was purchased for $60,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale, is out of Mattaroni (Matt's Scooter, 1:52 3/5, $744,481), making him a brother to the likes of Clint Westwood (Western Terror, 1:48 4/5, 539,233). Rockin The Aces was the 2-1 second choice and returned $6.00 to win.

New faces emerged in the two $25,000 filly trot divisions, however, with Fortune Starlet (Dunn) and Spoiled Princess (Brian Sears) winning in 1:55 4/5 and 1:56 2/5, respectively.

Fortune Starlet, a Trixton-Fortune Dream (Daguet Rapide) filly, is trained by George Ducharme for owner W.J. Donovan. Acquired for $65,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, Fortune Starlet was bred by Deo Volente Farms LLC. and is a half-sister to Shoshie Deo (Wishing Stone, 1:53 4/5, $195,816). A 7-2 shot, Fortune Starlet paid $9.40 to win.

As for Spoiled Princess, she is a daughter of Trixton-Fashion Spooner (Broadway Hall) trained by Nifty Norman for owners/breeders Robert McNerney and Hauser Bros Rcng Ent LLC. She is the third foal out of the dam, a full sister to Beer League (1:54 4/5, $258,906). Spoiled Princess was sent off at 6-1 and returned $15.80 to win.

The Kindergarten Classic Series for rookie pacers also kicked off on Friday night. Trainer Tony Alagna and driver McCarthy won a pair with colt Chief Mate (1:52 1/5), by Captaintreacherous, and filly Lady Lou, by Sweet Lou (1:52 1/5), and JK First Lady (Gingras), the Western Ideal first foal out of 2014 Horse of the Year JK She'salady, took her debut in 1:52 2/5 for trainer Nancy Johansson.

Also winning Kindergarten flights were Captaintreacherous filly Rocknficient, the first foal out of double millionaire Rocklamation, in 1:52 3/5 for Tetrick and trainer Linda Toscano, and Major Betts (Dunn), who posted a 21-1 upset with a 1:51 3/5 mile in the other colt and gelding tilt. He's trained by co-owner Mark Harder, and that is the fastest effort by a rookie pacer so far in 2019.