Meadowlands: Jim Doherty Memorial eliminations won by Ariana G, Chezatter

Rookie trotting fillies squared off in a pair of $20,000 Jim Doherty Memorial eliminations on Friday night at the Meadowlands, with heavy favorite Ariana G remaining unbeaten in the first elimination, and Chezatter pulling a slight upset in the other.

Driven by Yannick Gingras, Ariana G drove from fourth to first at the 57 1/5 half, and after a 1:25 4/5 three-quarters, she trotted home in 28 2/5 to win by a length and three-quarters in 1:54 1/5. Broadway Idole (Dave Miller) finished second and Waffle Cone (Matt Kakaley), who yielded the top spot to the eventual winner, checked in third. The other fillies to move on to the final were Rosesareexplosive (Tim Tetrick) and Evelyn (Ake Svanstedt).

Jimmy Takter trains Ariana G, a daughter of Muscle Hill, for owners/breeders Al Libfeld and Marvin Katz. Ariana G, who has earned $70,000 from her three trips to the winner's circle, is out of the Cantab Hall mare Cantab It All ($286,412), making her a full sister to All The Time ($565,116), who will be racing in one of the Hambletonian Oaks eliminations Saturday night at the Meadowlands. The 1-9 favorite, Ariana G paid $2.10 to win.

In the second elimination, favored Thats All Moni was trying to make it a Takter/Gingras sweep, and she chopped out the opening quarter in 28 seconds, but then gave way to the attack of Chezatter (Dave Miller) en route to the 57 4/5 half. Chezatter continued to lead onto the far turn, but then Gingras popped Thats All Moni back to the outside, and she would get to within a nose of Chezatter at the 1:27 2/5 three-quarters.

Thats All Moni appeared to take the lead on the outside early in the stretch drive, but Chezatter fought back inside the final eighth, and she would re-take the lead. From there, she pulled away to defeat Thats All Moni by a length and three-quarters in 1:54 3/5. Onda Su (Corey Callahan) was third in a photo over Donato Fashion (Tetrick), and Sianna Hanover (Kakaley) got fifth to also secure a spot in the final.

Chezatter, an Explosive Matter filly, is trained by Trond Smedshammer for owner Purple Haze Stables LLC. Chezatter, who has won three times from four attempts and put away $54,014, was purchased for $30,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale and is out of the Malabar Man mare Chez Lucie ($112,981). She has produced the likes of Chez Mahmo (Andover Hall, $134,208). Sent off at 7-2, Chezatter returned $9.00.