Meadowlands: New Jersey Sire Stakes prelims conclude

Wall Of Fame and Wrong Sounds Right were the winners of two of the nine leg three divisions of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for 2-year-olds of each sex and gait Friday night at the Meadowlands.

Platinum division races went for a purse of $25,000 while Silver dashes were contested for $10,000.

Wall Of Fame, a product of Walner-Saadet, remained perfect in three Platinum-level filly trots (race three) for the driver-trainer, husband and wife team of Andy and Julie Miller, and stamped herself as one of the major players in the $225,000 final, which takes place on Hambletonian Day, Aug. 8.

Racing in the four-hole down the backstretch, Wall Of Fame vacated the rail at the five-eighths, made up ground on leader Love's Passion nearing the far turn, had to swerve into the three-lane when Dandelion Wine popped out of the pocket for the stretch drive, but continued to gain through the lane - after a slight stall - before going on to half-length win over Dandelion Wine.

"We're just taking it race-by-race for now," said Andy. "She was kind of staying alongside (Dandelion Wine through the stretch), but when I hollered at her, she got going again. She'll be in the sire stakes final next week and then we'll decide from there (what we are going to do)."

As the 1-9 favorite, Wall Of Fame returned $2.20 to win after completing the mile in 1:52 3/5.

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In race seven, Wrong Sounds Right recorded his second victory in three tries after taking a split for Platinum-level colts and geldings on the trot for driver Todd McCarthy and trainer Jim Campbell.

The Tactical Landing-Broadway Jo Ell colt used a wicked brush onto and around the far turn to challenge leader Lifetime Dreamer and was strong through the stretch to record a one length score over Presidente in a lifetime-best 1:53.

"He's come along very nicely," said McCarthy. "We're really happy with him. He was pretty quiet in his qualifiers but now we've been able to kind of open him up a little bit and now he's coming along quite nicely. Jim's doing a great job with him. He's showing a lot of talent right now, and we're just looking forward to next week. Hopefully he comes out of tonight happy and healthy and we are hoping for a good draw next week (in the final)."

Sent off as the 12-1 fourth choice, Wrong Sounds Right returned $26 to win.

AND THE WINNERS ARE: The other seven NJSS winners on the card were:

Race 2: Platinum filly pace - Perfect Hope Deo (Perfect Sting-Machnhope), Andy McCarthy was the driver, Noel Daley is the trainer, winning time 1:52 (first win in three career outings), paid $12.60 as the 5-1 fourth choice in the betting

Race 4: Silver filly trot - Day One Dandy (Walner-Delilah Hanover), Scott Zeron, Nifty Norman, 1:54 (first win in three lifetime tries), $9 as the 7-2 third choice

Race 6: Silver filly pace - Perfect Kiss (Perfect Sting-Dr J's Kiss), Todd McCarthy, Linda Toscano, 1:53 4/5 (first win in four starts), $4.40 as the 6-5 favorite

Race 9: Silver colt and gelding trot - Maxman (Walner-Lovely Lindy), Tim Tetrick, Toscano, lifetime-best 1:55 2/5 (two-for-three lifetime), $16.40 as the 7-1 third choice

Race 10: Silver colt and gelding trot - Wyoming (Walner-Wahoo Broline S), Yannick Gingras, Ake Svanstedt, 1:55 2/5 (first win in two tries), $7.60 as the 5-2 second choice

Race 12: Silver filly trot - Declan Shea (Tactical Landing-Mymomsablizzard), Tetrick, Richard Johnson, 1:56 (first win in three career starts), $41 as the 19-1 sixth choice

Race 13: Platinum filly trot - Nevis Peak (Walner-Ramona Hill), Gingras, Ron Burke, lifetime-best 1:53 4/5 (two-for-two lifetime), $5.80 as the 9-5 second choice

BEFORE THE BETTING CARD: A pair of non-wagering NJSS dashes were held before the start of the 15-race betting program, those races were won by:

NB1: Platinum colt and gelding pace - Aintmyfirstro Deo (a gelded son of Perfect Sting-Some Renditions), Zeron, Megan Scran, lifetime-best 1:52 (now three-for-three in his career)

NB2: Silver colt and gelding pace - Jerzy George (Lazarus-Holy Trinity), Andy McCarthy, Chris Freck, lifetime-best 1:53 3/5 (now two-for-three lifetime)

A LITTLE MORE: Tim Tetrick gave his fans' bankrolls a jolt with his four wins, none that went off as the favorite. He led the driver colony in victories for the night, scoring at 7-1, 19-1, 13-1 and 3-1. Daley and Toscano topped the trainers with a pair of victories apiece. All-source betting on the 15-race program totaled $2,500,176. Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m. (EDT) with a 14-race card that features eliminations for the $1 million Hambletonian and $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks.

--press release (Meadowlands)--