Meadowlands: New Jersey Sire Stakes champions crowned

Sophomores of both sexes and gaits took to the track on Friday night at the Meadowlands in four New Jersey Sire Stakes finals as the track welcomed fans into the building for the first time since re-opening.

Play Trix On Me overcame a first-over trip to win the $128,000 contest for male trotters in 1:53 3/5 with Scott Zeron at the lines for trainer Linda Toscano and owner Renee Spahr. Jula Trix Treasure (Ake Svanstedt) followed from second-over and was the runner-up, three-parts of a length behind the winner, with AP Hall Of Trix (Pat Berry) third.

It was the seventh win in nine career starts for Play Trix On Me, a Trixton colt who has now banked $204,850 and who also won the New Jersey Sire Stakes final for his division last year. He was the 1-9 choice and paid $2.20 to win.

Odds On Sarasota completed a sweep of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for pacing fillies as she backed up her wins in the two preliminary legs with a 1:52 2/5 decision for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Ross Croghan, and owner Odds On Racing in tonight's $160,000 final. She brushed into the lead going to the 56 second half-mile marker and never looked back, downing Thundra (Tyler Buter) by 4 3/4 lengths. Wynona Strided (Dexter Dunn) collected third.

"Ross and the crew did a great job. I'm happy I got to win one for Odds On Racing and Dana Parham, so that was cool," said Tetrick. "She's been steppy off and on at times, but tonight she was really good. She got the job done and did it pretty impressively."

A daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven, Odds On Sarasota has a record of 5-0-1 from seven starts and has now earned $131,200. She was the 4-5 favorite and returned $3.80 to win.

Rockin The Aces (Brian Sears) followed the cover of Rock Me Hard (Tetrick), dove to his inside in the stretch, and out-footed him to the wire to take the $160,000 final for pacing colts and geldings by half a length in 1:49 4/5. Rockin The Gates (Corey Callahan) was third.

Robert Cleary trains Rockin The Aces, a Rock N Roll Heaven gelding, for owner Robert Barry. Rockin The Aces is now a four-time winner in his life, and he has stashed away $177,110. He was the 6-5 second choice and paid $4.40 to win.

Tetrick collected his second victory in the finals when he guided Ab'sattitudexpress to a 1:52 2/5 tally in the $160,000 test for trotting fillies. She found ample room up the inside in the stretch from the pocket and wound up downing leader Dubai Princess (Yannick Gingras) by a length and three-quarters. Common Sense (Svanstedt) rallied wide for third.

"I've watched her go a few times. Last week she looked really impressive, just drew away from the field," remarked Tetrick. "I knew it was going to be a tough task for her, trying to beat Dubai Princess, but we got a great trip and everything went our way. She really trotted good to the finish line."

The winning Trixton filly is trained by Lucas Wallin for owner/breeder Stop The Jade Farm LLC. She made her fourth appearance in the winner's circle and has put $111,000 in the bank. A 4-1 shot, she returned $10.60 to win.