Meadowlands: Hypnotic AM stars in James Doherty Memorial

A first-over trip was absolutely no problem for 1-2 favorite Hypnotic AM in the $310,700 James Doherty Memorial for rookie trotting fillies on Saturday afternoon at the Meadowlands as she won with authority in 1:53 flat.

Hello Tomorrow (David Miller) launched to the front from post nine in the race, and she would lead to the 27 1/5 opening quarter. Crucial (Yannick Gingras), the second choice settled into the third position at that point, with Hypnotic AM (Brian Sears) tucking into fourth.

Gingras moved Crucial to the outside in the backstretch, and she would clear to the point past the 55 4/5 half, with Hypnotic AM taking up the chase from first-over at that point. Hypnotic AM advanced steadily on the rim around the final bend, and she was side-by-side with Crucial as three-quarters went on the board in 1:25 3/5.

In the lane Hypnotic AM put away Crucial for good, then she pulled away to win impressively over a closing Sherry Lyns Lady (Tim Tetrick). Hello Tomorrow finished third, with Crucial fourth and Ms Savannah Belle (Jimmy Takter) fifth.

"I felt comfortable with the fractions, and the filly is very talented. I was kind of happy with the spot I had," said Sears. "She's not real big, but she's pure class."

A filly by Chapter Seven, Hypnotic AM is a homebred for Anders Strom's Courant Inc. She has won all four of her starts, and pushed her bankroll well into six-figures. She is out of the Muscle Hill mare Daydream AM. She paid $3.00 to win.

"It's a fantastic group of fillies this year, and for her to win first-over like that in 1:53 is fantastic," remarked Strom.