Meadowlands: Rookies compete in Garden State, Home Grown Stakes

Two $90,000 divisions of the Garden State for 2-year-old trotters and one $80,000 Home Grown event for 2-year-old pacers took place on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

Both Garden State Trot splits, which were for New Jersey-sired horses, were raced as non-wagering events. In the filly dash, Violet Stride (Brian Sears) controlled things through panels of 29, 58 1/5, and 1:26 4/5, but Tricky Sister (Daniel Dube), who trailed in fourth for the first half of the mile, popped to the outside on the last turn and finished up best in the lane, rolling by Violet Stride and winning by a length in 1:55 1/5. Alyvia Deo (Tyler Buter) and Miracle Finish (Nicholas Graffam) rounded out the field.

Tricky Sister is a daughter of Trixton-Pay Me Sister (Revenue) owned by breeder Robert Key. This was her fourth career win, and she has now earned $144,054.

Colt and gelding trotters took to the track next and Kasha V (Steve Smith) led to the 28 4/5 opening quarter, but then was overtaken by a pocket-pulling Barley (David Miller) near the 58 2/5 half. After clearing, Barley was able to repel a first-over move from debuting Kixton Hanover (Ake Svanstedt) around the final bend and to the 1:27 4/5 three-quarters, then held sway in the lane to score by a length in 1:56 4/5. St Martins (Andrew McCarthy) shifted to the inside in the lane after following Kixton Hanover from second-over and was gaining but broke stride nearing the wire, which meant he was moved from second to third and Kixton Hanover was moved up. Kasha V trailed home.

Nifty Norman trains Barley, a Trixton-Canoli (Cantab Hall) gelding, for owners Enzed Racing Stable Inc. and Gus Dovi. Barley, who was bred by Oakwood Farms and fetched $11,000 at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, now has a record of 4-4-3 from 15 tries and has pocketed $134,064.

The Home Grown Pace, which took place on the pari-mutuel program, saw the boys face off against the girls and was for horses that were New Jersey-sired, New Jersey Sire Stake Standardbred Development Fund eligible, or foaled in New Jersey.

Major Betts (Dexter Dunn) was the 1-9 favorite, and he moved from second to first around Sound Idea (Scott Zeron) past the 28 1/5 opening quarter. Major Betts maintained his grip on the proceedings through a 57 second half and a 1:25 3/5 three-quarters, then sprinted home in 27 seconds flat to win by a length and three-quarters in 1:52 3/5. Sound Idea did the fillies proud by finishing second, with gelding Follow Your Heart (McCarthy) coming on for third.

Trainer Mark Harder also co-owns Major Betts, an Art Major-Southwind Johanne (Dragon Again) cokt, with partners Joseph Jannuzzelli and Deena Rachel Frost. Major Betts is now a four-time winner from his 11 appearances, and he has put away $134,274. He paid $2.10 to win and place with no show wagering available.