Meadowlands: Miss Versatility Series gets underway

Ohio invader Herculisa surprised Atlanta on the wire at 12-1 to capture the second $30,000 Miss Versatility division at the Meadowlands on Friday night, surprising the $3 million-winning mare on the line in a blistering 1:52 1/5 mile over a rain-soaked, sloppy surface.

Atlanta, Herculisa and Royalty Deal all left hard in the early going, with Herculisa gaining the front and yielding to Royalty Deal past the 27 4/5 opening quarter. Andrew McCarthy with Royalty Deal cut a rated pace of 56 3/5 to the half and was still marching along rather slowly to three-quarters in 1:26 1/5 when Atlanta and driver Yannick Gingras pulled from third and blew right by her into the homestretch.

Atlanta looked on cruise control leaving the leader, but Dexter Dunn was able to angle Herculisa, a daughter of My MVP, off the pylons. The Ohio champion was airborne in the late stages and flew past Atlanta in a 26 second final fraction with hers a tick or two faster. Atlanta had to settle for second in her 7-year-old debut, with When Dovescry a distant third in the mile.

Herculisa drew two 10 holes at the Meadowlands in last year's Breeders Crown elimination and final for 3-year-old trotting fillies. From post six on Friday night, she got the job done for owner Jesmeral Stable and trainer Virgil Morgan Jr.. Herculisa returned $27 with the upset score, her second win in as many starts in 2022.

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In the first $30,000 Miss Versatility division, it was the 5-year-old Next Level Stuff having her way on the front-end in the field of six for driver Tim Tetrick and scoring easily in 1:52 4/5 over the sloppy surface.

With 4-year-olds Bella Bellini and Katie's Lucky Day leaving inside of her for early control, Next Level Stuff secured the front right past the first quarter marker in 27 4/5. From there, the field raced in line for nearly three-quarters, with Tetrick rating the pace in fractions of 57 2/5 and 1:26 1/5 for the middle-half.

Next Level Stuff led into the stretch and Scott Zeron tried to energize Katie's Lucky Day from the pocket, while Dexter Dunn gave Bella Bellini her cue. Those two rivals fought each other through much of the homestretch for minor spoils as Next Level Stuff, a daughter of Sebastian K, sprinted home in 26 3/5 for the victory. Bella Bellini, making her 4-year-old debut, nabbed the place spot ahead of Katie's Lucky Day.

Sent off as the 3-5 favorite, Next Level Stuff returned $3.40. Trained by Jim Campbell for owner-breeder Runthetable Stables, Next Level Stuff won for the second time in as many starts in 2022.