Meadowlands: Rookies clash in Kindergarten Series

Southwind Chaska used an authoritative brush to grab the lead at the half and sailed home from there as much the best on a Friday evening when the fourth leg of the Kindergarten Series was in the spotlight at the Meadowlands with seven $25,000 divisions for 2-year-olds of each sex and gait.

The Jim Oscarsson trainee hit the wire first in the second of two filly trots 1 1/2 lengths in front of a fast-closing Duicinea Hanover. Kickan finished third.

"She's just a true professional," said winning driver Tim Tetrick. "She's like driving a 6- or 7-year-old horse. [Jim] is a really good trainer and things worked out."

A daughter of Tactical Landing-Southwind Chai, Southwind Chaska recorded her fourth win in six starts after completing the mile in a lifetime-best 1:54 4/5. The third-place finisher in the New Jersey Sire Stakes final and second-place finisher in the New Jersey Classic final, she returned $2.80 as the 2-5 favorite in the field of eight while lifting her lifetime bankroll to $136,375 for the Oscarsson Racing Stable and John R. Cummins.

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In the first of two filly paces, On Heir challenged leader Amira Hanover at the three-quarters and continued a steady gain around the far turn and to the wire to score by 1 1/4 lengths in a lifetime-best 1:51 2/5. JK Fierce Lady was second with Amira Hanover holding third in the six-horse field.

Andy McCarthy thinks highly of the daughter of Captaintreacherous-Delightful Dragon, as he's given up some big-time out-of-town drives to keep guiding the filly.

"Short term, I am always trying to think of the big picture," said McCarthy. "I just kind of wanted to stay with her; I guess that was the call.

"She's got a big engine and she keeps getting better and better."

Trained by Noel Daley and owned by the Patricia Stable, D. Sipple, L. Zelin and the Gandolfo Stable, On Heir clicked for the second time in five lifetime tries while upping her earnings to $37,500. As the 2-5 public choice, she paid $2.80 to win.

SCHOOL DAYS: The other five Kindergarten winners were:

-Race 3 – colt and gelding pace: Signal Caller (Captaintreacherous-Square Dancer), driven by Andy McCarthy, trained by Daley, time for the mile was a lifetime-best 1:51, as the even-money favorite, he returned $4 to win

-Race 4 – colt and gelding trot: Highball Hanover (Bar Hopping-Hall Of A Dream), Andy McCarthy, Daley, lifetime-best 1:53 4/5, $22 as the 10-1 fourth choice

-Race 5 – filly trot: Frattina Diablo S (Captain Corey-Lindy Strong), Mark Herschberger, Tony Alagna, 1:55 2/5 in her first lifetime win, $3.40 as the 3-5 public choice

-Race 7 – colt and gelding pace: Toast Of The Town (Sweet Lou-New Year), Todd McCarthy, Daley, lifetime-best 1:51 1/5, $2.60 as the 1-5 favorite

-Race 12 – filly pace: Prtynproud Hanover (Downbytheseaside-Pretty N Fast), Jason Bartlett, Joe Bongiorno, lifetime-best 1:52 3/5, $3.40 as the 3-5 public choice

A LITTLE MORE: Andy McCarthy and Tetrick tied atop the driver leaderboard after guiding three to the winner's circle while Daley became just the second trainer during 2025 at The Big M to train four to victory lane. All-source handle on the 14-race program totaled $2,128,540. Live racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m. (EDT), the last night of harness racing at the Meadowlands until Oct. 18.

--press release (Meadowlands)--