Meadowlands: Kindergarten Series prelims wrap up

Driver Joe Bongiorno had some power Friday night at the Meadowlands, and the 30-year-old pilot put it to good use, taking two of the seven $20,000 fifth leg divisions of the Crawford Farms Kindergarten Series for 2-year-olds of each sex and gait.

The Kindergarten finals and consolations will be contested at The Big M on Saturday, Nov. 4 with total purses estimated at $1 million.

Bongiorno guided Miss I La to victory lane in the first of two splits for filly trotters in 1:54 2/5 for trainer Noel Daley. After leaving the gate quickly, the daughter of Walner-Southwind Venus settled into the pocket behind Sambuca Hanover, then vacated that spot to challenge that foe at three-quarters before going on to a 1 3/4 length win. Sambuca Hanover held second with Go For Gaagaa No third.

"She's a very talented filly who did everything right," said Bongiorno. "She settled into the hole nicely and when I moved her out, she did what she had to do."

Miss I La returned $4.40 to win as the 6-5 favorite.

Lou Vuitton was equally as impressive, scoring in the second of three colt and gelding paces in a sparkling lifetime-best of 1:50 4/5 for trainer Ron Burke.

After sitting behind Fasnacht Hanover at the quarter, Bongiorno moved Lou Vuitton to the top, and after reaching the half in 55 3/5, had a 55 1/5 back-half in his gas tank to record a 1 1/4 length victory. Fasnacht Hanover finished second with Crush Kill Destroy third.

"He was very good, but he's a little lazy," said Bongiorno. "You have to keep his attention, keep his mind on business. I was pleased with his effort."

Lou Vuitton, a son of Sweet Lou-Shark Lightning, returned $2.80 to his backers as the heavy 2-5 public choice.

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In the first of the three colt and gelding paces, Caviart Justice (Lazarus-Caviart Jane) prevailed for driver Jordan Stratton and trainer Nancy Takter in a lifetime-best 1:52 1/5 as the 9-5 second choice before Courtship (Betting Line-Midnight Romance) took the third split for Matt Kakaley and Travis Alexander in a lifetime-best 1:51 as the 3-5 chalk.

In the evening's lone event for colt and gelding trotters, Mosquito (Muscle Hill-Amour Heiress) clicked for Stratton and Lucas Wallin in a lifetime-best 1:54 2/5 as the 5-2 second choice.

Pressure Cooker (Heston Blue Chip-Bettor Be Steamin) won the only filly pace of the night for Corey Callahan and Linda Toscano, hitting the wire in a lifetime-best-equaling 1:51 4/5 as the 5-2 third choice.

The other filly trot was taken by Honey's Sweet (Chapter Seven-Corazon Blue Chip) in 1:54 2/5 as a 15-1 outsider for Steve Smith and Tony Alagna.

A LITTLE MORE: Kakaley, Stratton and Bongiorno all recorded driving doubles. Daley and Shane Tritton led the trainers with two winners each. All-source handle on the 13-race card totaled $1,942,647. Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.

--press release (Meadowlands)--