Meadowlands: Jersey-breds get a chance to shine on Saturday

Saturday's divisions of the Home Grown and Garden State stakes at the Meadowlands are a prime example of the modifications to state breeding programs that pan out into success across a large canvas of owners and trainers. Both Nifty Norman and Paul Kelley hope for great results with promising freshmen in action.

Kelley brings recent Massachusetts champion Dawn Of Lindy back to the Meadowlands for the $60,000 Garden State, the third race on Saturday night. The daughter of Walner has won half of her six career starts and took a career-best clocking in capturing the $150,000 championship at Plainridge Racecourse on October 24 in 1:57 1/5.

"This was our plan with her from the start," said Kelley of the campaign that has seen the New Jersey-sired horse race predominantly out of state until her November return. "We had her ready but didn't want to race in the New Jersey Sire stakes early."

A $120,000 purchase from last year's Lexington Selected sale, Dawn Of Lindy has earned $150K this year by capturing two preliminary legs of the Massachusetts program and the rich final.

"There's gold in the Kentucky program, but I was looking for a dual-eligible that could race in Massachusetts where there's maybe 20-25 eligible," said Kelley. "I've had success buying Lindy Farm-bred, and they're the only commercial breeder in the state."

Kelley is hopeful that Dawn Of Lindy can transition from one regional program to another.

"It's a step up in class for sure," said Kelley. "We'll see how she does. If she races well, she is eligible to the Goldsmith Maid."

Yannick Gingras has driven Dawn Of Lindy to her most recent success and will be in the bike on Saturday, with the pair starting from post five in the field of seven.

Norman has a couple of fillies entered in the Garden State and feels that Marg In Charge (post two) has the better chance of his pair.

"She put in a big run in the Kindergarten," said Norman of the Tactical Landing-sired filly that finished third to Norman's Sambuca Hanover in the $241,300 final on November 11. Norman also sends out Tactical Lori in this division from post four and hopes she'll continue to improve.

Glamorous Hanover (post six) made a bold rally along the pylons to nearly surprise Sambuca Hanover in the Kindergarten final and she comes right back for trainer Tony Alagna in Garden State. Now with over $100K in seasonal earnings, Glamorous Hanover starts from post six.

Eight fillies vie for the title in the second Garden State division, race four on the program, with $60,000 on the line. Grand Circuit stakes winner Pizzelle (post three) and Walcango (post five) appear the main threats in this event.

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Wish You Well should be a big favorite in the $40,000 Home Grown for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings carded as race six at The Meadowlands.

"He probably raced a little too hard on the front-end last time, but he came out of the race in good shape," said Norman of Wish You Well, who finished fifth after cutting a contentious pace in the $145,000 Matron Stakes on November 2 at Dover Downs. Wish You Well, from the first crop of Bettor's Wish, has won five of his 11 starts this year with $166K banked and could have a few more big paydays left.

"He's an overachiever for sure," said Norman. "He didn't distinguish himself very much training down, but he's shown his toughness on the track."

With five wins thus far, Wish You Well has taken advantage of the New Jersey breeding opportunities both at the Meadowlands and Freehold this season. Wish You Well starts from post five with David Miller listed to drive.

The $45,000 Home Grown for 2-year-old pacing fillies (race seven) sets up as a major battle, with Breeders Crown contender Blue Pacific (post four) facing a solid group that includes Pulp Fiction (post seven) and Miki In Luv (post 10). Blue Pacific managed a fifth-place finish in the Breeders Crown final after suffering a long overland journey. She had previously captured the Kentuckiana Stallion Management at Hoosier Park in a career-best 1:50 2/5 clocking on September 22.

Pulp Fiction has won six of her eight career starts for trainer Michael Hall. A filly from the first crop of Bettor's Wish, Pulp Fiction has a 1:52 2/5 mark taken over the Meadowlands surface.

Miki In Luv has used her dual eligibility to the utmost, racing and capturing the Pennsylvania Stallion Series final at The Meadows on September 8 and then going on to victory in New Jersey-bred races at Freehold in three of her last four starts. A daughter of Always B Miki, Miki In Luv has earned $112K in her first year on the track.

Norman suggested that should Wish You Well race well on Saturday he'll likely go next in the Governor's Cup trials on November 18 and join stablemate and Kindergarten consolation winner It's Saturday Night in the entry box. Kindergarten series champion Sambuca Hanover will be entered in the Goldsmith Maid.

The 14-race Meadowlands Saturday card starts at 6:20 P.M. (ET) and offers a pair of $50,000 guaranteed Pick 4s in races six and 10.