Meadowlands: New Jersey Sire Stakes races continue for 2YOs

Aintmyfirstro Deo and Perfect Body emerged victorious at the Meadowlands Friday night when the mile oval carded 10 second leg New Jersey Sire Stakes events for 2-year-olds of each sex and gait on the 15-race pari-mutuel program.

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

In race three, a colt and gelding Platinum division pace, the Megan Scran-trained Aintmyfirstro Deo, off a sparkling front-end 1:54 1/5 score in his pari-mutuel debut, won again, but used a far different tactic to get the job done.

Sitting fifth in the field of six to the three-quarter mile mark, driver Scott Zeron called on the gelded son of Perfect Sting-Some Renditions for late pace when they reached the top of the lane, and he responded in a big way, using a stretch-length rally to record a safe neck victory over Velvet Ditch in a lifetime-best 1:52 3/5.

"He's a nice horse. Megan has done a nice job with him," said Zeron speaking of his horse, as well as his significant other. "(He was gelded because) he was not easy to break. He would lay down on the track and not get up. It's interesting when you drive a baby. Last week (with this horse) I took control (on the front) too early (but we won anyway). This week, I was lucky enough I was still in striking distance when we turned for home."

As the 3-5 favorite, Aintmyfirstro Deo returned $3.20 to his backers.

Perfect Body didn't pace a straight line in the stretch, but didn't need to while taking a Platinum division for filly pacers in race five.

The Chris Choate trainee worked her way into a second-over trip after the half-mile marker, tipped off that cover shortly after the field straightened up into the stretch, and despite bearing out for the final eighth of a mile, had more than enough pace to record a three-quarter length score over 9-5 favorite Sterl The Pearl in 1:51 4/5.

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"She seems like she's pretty nice," said winning driver Brett Beckwith. "She'll figure out (how to stay straight) as she goes. We'll see how it shakes out. It's tough. If it was me, I would let her figure it out as she goes, but, it's up to Chris, obviously."

Perfect Body, a daughter of Perfect Sting-Sweet Body, returned $12 to win as the 5-1 third choice in the wagering.

The other eight NJSS contests on the betting program were taken by the following horses:

Race 1 - Platinum division, filly trot: Wall Of Fame (Walner-Saadet), Andy Miller was the driver, trained by Julie Miller, winning time 1:52, paid $2.80 as the 2-5 favorite.

Race 4 - Silver division, filly pace: Soap In My Eyes (Perfect Sting-Seadog Lady), Dexter Dunn, Tony Beaton, 1:53 3/5, $8.60 as the 3-1 second choice.

Race 7 - Silver division, colt and gelding trot: Delta (Tactical Landing-Bayou), Dunn, Marcus Melander, 1:55, $6.80 as the 2-1 third choice.

Race 8 - Platinum division, filly trot: Grandiflora (Muscle Hill-Floribunda S), Todd McCarthy, Noel Daley, 1:52 3/5, $7.60 as the 5-2 second choice.

Race 9 - Silver division, colt and gelding trot: Maxman (Walner-Lovely Lindy), Tim Tetrick, Linda Toscano, 1:56, $37.80 as the 17-1 fifth choice.

Race 11 - Silver division, filly trot: Turtle Dove (Walner-When Dovescry), Dunn, Melander, 1:56 1/5, $2.60 as the 1-5 favorite.

Race 12 - Silver division, filly trot: Whoopdedoo Hanover (Six Pack-Woohoo Hanover), Yannick Gingras, Blake MacIntosh, 1:55 4/5, $22.80 as the 10-1 fourth choice.

Race 13 - Platinum division, colt and gelding trot: Lifetime Dreamer (Ecurie D DK-Lifetime Gift), Gingras, Ake Svanstedt, 1:52 4/5, $4.40 as the 6-5 second choice.

Before the pari-mutuel card began, there were a pair of NJSS dashes contested as non-betting events. Those winners were:

NB1 - Silver division, colt and gelding pace: Jerzy George (Lazarus-Holy Trinity), Andy McCarthy, Chris Freck, 1:54 1/5.

NB2 - Platinum division, colt and gelding trot: Wrong Sounds Right (Tactical Landing-Broadway Jo Ell), Todd McCarthy, Jim Campbell, 1:54 2/5.

A LITTLE MORE: Gingras and Dunn led the driver colony with three wins apiece. Todd McCarthy won twice on the betting card as well as one non-bettor. Melander and Svanstedt topped the trainers with a pair of walks down victory lane each. All-source handle on the 15-race card totaled $2,479,094. Racing resumes Saturday at 6:35 p.m. (EDT).

--press release (Meadowlands)--