Meadowlands: Manchego edges out Atlanta in thrilling Miss Versatility

The first meeting of 2020 between two of the best trotting mares in history - Manchego and Atlanta - proved to be worth the hype and wait. The two superstars of the Standardbred world hooked up in the stretch and were separated by just a hair at the wire in 1:50-flat at The Meadowlands on Friday night (June 19).

The $40,000 first leg of the Miss Versatility for trotting mares began with Swedish import Felicityshagwell S firing hard off the gate to the lead in a 27 2/5 opening quarter as the other leavers found seats along the pylons. Atlanta and driver Yannick Gingras were first to pull from third and made a quick brush to the lead at the three-eighths point. Then Dexter Dunn said go with Manchego and she rushed to the front by the half in 56 seconds.

Manchego would increase the tempo with a 27-second third quarter as the other basically followed in line until Atlanta popped out of the pocket in the stretch and took aim. She charged home with a furious rally, and to the naked eye at full speed looked to have just gotten her nose up at the wire, but Manchego was resolute and held her ground for the game victory in a great stretch battle.

"I thought she held on," said winning trainer Nancy Takter after the race. "She raced tough and never got a breather. She was going pretty close to full speed for five-eighths of the mile."

Manchego returned $2.60 as the 1-5 favorite for owner Black Horse Racing. She is now perfect in two starts in 2020 and will stay at The Meadowlands for her next start in the Arthur J Cutler Memorial on July 4.

New Jersey Sire Stakes Action

The stakes action on Friday began with split 7-horse $25,000 divisions of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting fillies.

Dubai Princess went down the road through fractions of 27 3/5, 57 2/5 and 1:25 before stopping the clock in a sizzling 1:52 to win easily over Common Sense S and Violet Stride. Yannick Gingras drove the $31.40 winner for trainer Nancy Takter and owner Greathorse.

Spoiled Princess ($4.00) followed the same path to victory in the second split. With Dexter Dunn in the bike, she set fractions of 27 4/5, 57 1/5, 1:26 and gamely dug in to best Fortune Telln Lady and Caviart Eva in a 1:53 4/5 mile. Nifty Norman trains the Robert Mc Nerney and Houser Bros Racing Ent. filly by Trixton, who sired all 14 competing in this Sire Stakes division.

In the single division of the Sire Stakes for 3-year-old filly pacers, Odds On Racing’s Odds On Sarasota ($5.00) went to the front and never looked back. With Tim Tetrick at the controls for trainer Ross Croghan, the daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven posted fractions of 27 3/5, 57 1/5, 1:25 2/5 and stopped the clock in 1:53 1/5 while wrapped up nearing the wire. Thundra sat the pocket and finished second while Ready Set Rock left well and wound up third.

Jula Trix Treasure pulled off the 8-1 upset in the lone $25,000 leg of the 3-year-old colt and gelding trot. After leaving for a tuck fourth through an opening quarter of 28 seconds, trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt moved first-over past the 57-second half and loomed just off the pace-setting Barley. Toccoa Falls would pull the pocket just before the 1:26 2/5 three-quarter clocking and looked like he could be the winner, but his momentum stopped in the stretch and Jula Trix Treasure kept chugging along to blow by the leaders in deep stretch for the 1:54 victory. Play Trix On Me had excess cover and charged home for second ahead of Barley. Sired by Trixton, as were the other eight in the field, the winner is owned by Jula Racing Inc.

When the $25,000 Sire Stakes for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers was sent on its way, there was no doubt that the winner would be sired by Rock N Roll Heaven, as he produced the entire field of 10 combatants. When Rock Me Hard ($4.80) made his move on the final turn, there was also no doubt that he was a winner.

Villiam posted the 28-second opening quarter before Rock N Teen brushed to the front at the three-eighths. He would cruise past the half in 56 4/5 and looked to be in good shape until Rock Me Hard rolled by passing three quarters in 1:25 4/5 and powered away for the easiest of wins in 1:51 4/5 over Rockin The Aces and Rockin The Gates. W Bart Dalious trains the winner for The Wiz Kids Stable LLC.

Total handle on the 18-race marathon program came in just shy of $3.5 million. Tim Tetrick was the driving star with six wins.