Meadowlands: Perfect Alliance sets stakes record; National Debt still perfect

Favorites dominated in stakes action at the Meadowlands on Saturday night as Perfect Alliance ($2.60) and National Debt ($2.80) maintained their perfect records.

Perfect Alliance, a 4-year-old trotting mare, toyed with her competition en route to a stakes record 1:52 2/5 winning mile in the $53,200 Charles Singer Memorial final.

Coming into the race with an unblemished record in four starts this year and sent off as the prohibitive favorite, Perfect Alliance settled in the pocket behind second choice Time To Quit as the field approached the opening quarter in 27 4/5. Driver Andy Miller then called on Perfect Alliance and took charge well before the half in 55 seconds.

With the favorites lined up one-two, Ray Hall made a move towards the front passing the five-eighths marker and began to apply some light pressure by three quarters in 1:24 1/5. It was to no avail, as Perfect Alliance brushed aside her male counterpart and scooted away for the victory over fellow mare Little Bitty Lies. Time to Quit was third.

[DRF HARNESS: Sign Up for the FREE DRF Harness Newsletter Today!]

“I couldn’t be happier with this performance tonight; she was unbelievable,” said trainer Julie Miller.

Owned by Jeff Gural’s Little E Stable, Jason Settlemoir, David Stolz and Arthur Geiger, Perfect Alliance has now earned $55,350 this year. The daughter of Credit Winner-Yalta Hanover is expected to head to Pocono Downs for the Bobby Weiss series which begins on March 26.

National Debt came into the $60,500 Buddy Gilmour Memorial without a loss in five career starts and the 3-year-old pacing colt extended his winning streak to six with a 1:50 3/5 clocking.

Capital Account took command before the opening quarter in 27 4/5 but was quickly placed in the pocket when Tim Tetrick moved National Debt to the front approaching the three-eighths marker. That pair paced in single file without any pressure for the leaders through middle fractions of 55 2/5 and 1:23 1/5.

At the head of the lane, driver Yannick Gingras edged Capital Account off the cones to take a shot at National Debt, but the latter would not give way. The Ron Coyne,Jr- trained National Debt dug in under a drive over Capital Account and Dinner At The Met.

“I think it was a good mile; (1):50 (and change) in March,” said Tetrick. “He’s a little lazy and he has some learning to do, but he does everything right.

“Let’s see if he can go (1):47,” remarked Tetrick, referring to the time he’ll need to post to compete against the divisional elite later in the year.

Owned by Kelly Hoerdt, Erna and Blair Coreil, and J&T Silva Stables, National Debt has earned $39,000 in just two starts this year.