Meadowlands: Joviality S topples Venerable in Goldsmith Maid

Joviality S and driver Brian Sears put on a powerful stretch rally, posting a mild upset in capturing the $479,450 Goldsmith Maid for 2-year-old trotting fillies at the Meadowlands on Saturday night. The Breeders Crown winner came right back to score her second major victory, defeating division leader Venerable in the process.

With 11 entered, the Goldsmith Maid saw plenty of action in the early stages, as Andrew McCarthy and Valentina Blu blasted from post ten, looping the field to command in the first turn. Joviality S and Sears left with purpose and got into the second spot, but Sears didn't waste time when he saw favored Venerable coming on the outside and re-moved his filly to the front. David Miller and Venerable worked their way to the front shortly thereafter but were put to immediate pressure by Kindergarten champion Misswalner Fashion and Tim Tetrick. Venerable stung Misswalner Fashion enough but yielded for the pocket just past the 56 3/5 half-mile marker.

Tetrick kept the pace lively, as Misswalner Fashion trotted strongly to three-quarters in 1:24 1/5 and prepared for the stretch drive. Venerable, as expected, rallied out of the pocket to take her shot and slowly wore down the pace-setter. Sears, however, angled Joviality S from the three-hole, and the Chapter Seven-sired lass took off with an explosion that left Venerable powerless to stop her on this occasion. The 1:52 1/5 mile was a stakes record for the late-season stakes event.

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Venerable would settle for second in just her second career defeat, with Misswalner Fashion a very creditable third in the mile. Early leader Valentina Blu finished fourth, with Palermo Hanover fifth across the wire.

Joviality S is trained by Marcus Melander for owner Courant Inc., and was a winner for the ninth time in 12 career starts, setting a personal-best time in this victory. Sent off as the 5-2 second choice in the field, Joviality S returned $7 to win.

"She's been a fabulous filly from day one," said Melander following the victory.

"She didn't surprise me," said Brian Sears of the victory. "She's a gamer. Heading into the lane I had a lapful."

Indeed, Joviality S suddenly becomes a major contender in a division thought sewn up by Venerable heading into the race.

"They've only raced each other twice," said Melander. "She won early, and we won late."