Meadowlands: Mavens Way was ready to roll in New Jersey Sire Stakes

Hambletonian eligible Mavens Way turned in a strong effort in his first start of his 2016 campaign, trotting a 1:51 4/5 mile in the lone $25,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes split for 3-year-old colts and geldings on Friday night at the Meadowlands. Batoutahill and Southwind Hope won the companion $20,000 divisions for fillies.

Driver John Campbell fired Mavens Way to the top from post five, and he would carve out fractions of 27, 55 2/5, and 1:24 3/5 while giving the cold shoulder to Southwind Flash (Joe Bongiorno) in the middle half. In the stretch favorite Jack Vernon (Corey Callahan) gained on Mavens Way after a mid-pack trip, but Mavens Way held safe by a quarter of a length at the finish line. Double L Lindy (Steve Smith) checked in third.

Mavens Way, a colt by Muscle Hill, is co-owned by trainer Ake Svanstedt along with partners Mal and Janet Burroughs and T L P Stable of New Jersey. He now has a pair of wins from 10 starts, and he has earned $60,777. He paid $9.80.

Batoutahill (Campbell) broke her maiden in the first section for the fillies, turning a first-over trip into a 1:55 1/5 victory. Hillosophical (Jim Marohn Jr.) was the runner-up, beaten three-quarters of a length, and Southwind Pearl (Corey Callahan), the leader through stations of 27 1/5, 57, and 1:26 1/5, wound up third.

The winner, a daughter of Muscle Hill, is a homebred for Michael Andrew of Maine and is trained by Trond Smedshammer. She has banked $14,434 and returned $6.20 for the win.

Southwind Hope (Andy Miller) brushed from third to first at the 58 second half in the other race for the ladies, then held off New Leaf (Callahan) and Glad All Over (Campbell) to score by a neck in 1:54 1/5.

Another Muscle Hill filly, Southwind Hope is trained by Julie Miller for Andy Miller Stable Inc., Little E LLC., and Lawrence Dumain of New Jersey and New York. This was her sixth appearance in the winner's circle from 15 starts, and she has earned $84,788. She paid $3.40.