Meadowlands: McCarthy brothers master Garden State Trots
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The path to the winner's circle in Saturday night's Garden State Trots for New Jersey-sired sophomores at the Meadowlands went through the McCarthy brothers, as Todd had a triple and Andy won the remaining split over his younger sibling.
Yo Tillie, driven by Todd and making her first pari-mutuel start for trainer Andrew Harris in her $40,000 section, won the fastest split in 1:52 3/5. She moved from third to first around Spicy Nice, driven by Andy, coming to the 56 second half. From there, Yo Tillie sailed through three-quarters in 1:24 3/5 and came home in 28 seconds to defeat Spicy Nice by 3 3/4 lengths.
A daughter of Tactical Landing bred by Gbw Breeding Farms and Black Creek Farm, Yo Tillie is owned by Harris in partnership with William Pollock and Bruce Areman. This was her ninth victory from 13 outings, she has pocketed $325,300 and she paid $2.40 to win.
Todd also swept the colt and gelding events, worth $55,000 and $60,000, with Mr Walner Fashion and Yannick G Kemp. Mr Walner Fashion yielded to sit in the pocket behind Grande Via (David Miller) before the 56 3/5 half, then wheeled back to the outside in the last quarter and got by Grande Via on his way to a 1 1/2 length triumph in 1:53.
Mr Walner Fashion, a Walner homebred for Fashion Farms, is trained by Jim Campbell. Mr Walner Fashion broke his maiden in his sixth kick at the can, has earned $36,211 and returned $10.20 to win.
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Yannick G Kemp drove on to take control past the 28 4/5 quarter in his section, then gave way to a two-wide Tactical Dynasty (Yannick Gingras) beyond the half, which went on the board in 57 seconds. McCarthy made another move with Yannick G Kemp, bringing him off the pylons before the 1:25 three-quarters and going back around Tactical Dynasty.
Through the stretch favored Go Ahead Makemyday (D. Miller) had dead-aim at Yannick G Kemp after stalking him, but he made a break, allowing Yannick G Kemp to cruise to a 2 1/2 length triumph over Travolta Hanover (Dexter Dunn) in 1:53 3/5.
Sent out by Nifty Norman, Yannick G Kemp is a Walner colt owned by Mel Hartman, Rojan Stables and Little E LLC. Kemppi Stables Oy Inc. and Suojalampi Stable Inc. are the breeders of Yannick G Kemp, who has a summary of 5-3-2 from 16 tries and a bankroll of $130,809. He returned $13.60 to win.
Todd also drove 1-5 favorite Kendra back in the opening $40,000 clash for the fillies and put her on the engine after the 28 1/5 quarter, but Andy came first-over with Conversano past the 56 4/5 half, moved into second prior to the 1:25 three-quarters and got the measure of Kendra in the stretch, bettering her by a neck in 1:53.
Juan Cano trains Conversano, a Muscle Hill filly, for owner Hot Lead Farm. The Joseph Parisi-bred made her fourth trip to the winner's circle in her tenth start, she has put away $74,875 and she returned $7.60 to win.