Meadowlands: Rookies commence New Jersey Sire Stakes careers

Dramatra, a half-sister to 2013 Hambletonian champion Royalty For Life, began her career with a 1:57 3/5 victory as the New Jersey Sire Stakes races for 2-year-olds of both sexes and gaits started on Friday at the Meadowlands.

Racing in the second of two $25,000 splits for trotting fillies, Dramatra went to the lead from post five, eased through panels of 29 4/5, 59 4/5, and 1:29 3/5, and closed in 28 seconds to win by two lengths in 1:57 3/5. Stella Kemp (Ake Svanstedt) was second, followed by Tricky Sister (Yannick Gingras).

By Trixton, as were all the trotters competing in the sire stakes tonight, Dramatra is trained by George Ducharme for co-owner/breeder Alfred Ross and co-owner Raymond Campbell Jr. Dramatra, who is out of the Donerail mare Bourbon N Grits, baby-raced twice in preparation for this event, winning at Vernon Downs and then finishing second at the Meadowlands. She paid $3.20 to win as the 3-5 favorite.

The other filly trot section went to a dead-game Spirit Of Deo (Anthony MacDonald), who put in an extended bid from first-over and just got up by a nostril over pace-setter Caviart Eva (Andrew McCarthy) to prevail in 1:57 1/5. Common Sense, a Swedish-bred filly, was third for trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt.

Spirit Of Deo is trained by Andrew Harris for owner Thestable Spirit Of Deo. She qualified a trio of times up at Woodbine Mohawk Park, breaking stride on the first two occasions but then finishing a good second in the final baby race. Bred by Deo Volente Farms LLC., Spirit Of Deo was a $10,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale buy and is out of the unraced Yankee Glide mare Caylee Dream, whose dam Brigham Dream was the 2008 Breeders Crown Open Mare Trot winner. Dismissed at 15-1, Spirit Of Deo returned $33.80 to win.

Play Trix On Me (Tim Tetrick), who already had a 1:58 4/5 win at Harrah's Philadelphia to his credit, drew first blood in the male trot, strolling to a 1:55 4/5 triumph in their lone $25,000 flight. He controlled the proceedings at the 29 1/5 quarter, 58 3/5 half, and 1:28 three-quarters, then sprinted home stoutly in 27 4/5 to win by 8 3/4 lengths over Barley (David Miller). AP Hall Of Trix (Yannick Gingras) took third.

The victorious Trixton colt is trained by Gareth Dowse for owner Matthew Dugan. Bred by Steve Jones, Play Trix On Me fetched just $4,500 at last year's Goshen Yearling Sale, but his dam Lima Playmate (Credit Winner) made $265,755 with a mark of 1:57. Play Trix On Me was the 1-9 favorite and paid $2.20 to win.

In the sole $25,000 contest for pacing colts and geldings, Rockin The Aces (Zeron) pushed on to the front past the 27 4/5 first quarter and then rang up the half in 57 4/5. Follow Your Heart (Dexter Dunn), who had tucked into fourth from post nine, then came with a big brush in the third quarter and cleared Rockin The Aces for the front before the 1:27 three-quarters. Follow Your Heart turned first, but he began to tire in the lane, and Rockin The Aces took advantage, coming back out two-wide and mowing him down on his way to the win by a length and a half in 1:54 2/5. Rock N Teen (Jason Bartlett) was the runner-up, with Cedar Hall Heaven (Eric Abbatiello) third.

Rockin The Aces, by Rock N Roll Heaven (as were all but one of the pacers in the sire stakes events), is trained by Carmen Auciello for owner Robert Barry. Rockin The Aces, who was bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. and was purchased for $60,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale, finished second at Woodbine Mohawk Park and sixth at the Meadowlands in his two qualifiers. Rockin The Aces is out of Mattaroni (Matt's Scooter, 1:52 3/5, $744,481), making him a brother to the likes of Clint Westwood (Western Terror, 1:48 4/5, 539,233). Rockin The Aces was the even-money favorite and returned $4.00 to win.

Filly pacers raced prior to the card in a non-wagering event, and Odds On Sarasota (David Miller) won in 1:56 1/5. She was in second through stations of 29 3/5, 59 4/5, and 1:29, edged to the outside heading to three-quarters, took the lead in the lane, and pulled away to win by 3 1/2 lengths over Bigforherbritches (Chris Ryder). Pace-setter Duck N Roll (Dunn) faded to third.

A daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven, Odds On Sarasota is trained by Ross Croghan for owner/breeder Odds On Racing. Odds On Sarasota, who is out of Odds On Charmaine (Western Hanover, 1:51 2/5, $341,245), finished fourth in both of her qualifiers at Gaitway Farms.