Meadowlands: Ryder trainees two-for-two in NJSDF finals

Trainer Chris Ryder took both $60,000 New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund finals for 3-year-olds on the pace Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

His win in the colts and geldings division impressed, but did not come with the horse the betting public expected.

Obliterate, a 10-1 outsider despite having won his NJSDF preliminary a week ago in 1:48 3/5, worked out a good trip after an aggressive drive from Chris' son, Patrick, to score his fourth career win from just 10 tries.

Bookie J, Obliterate's headline-grabbing stablemate who was a perfect five-for-five in 2026 heading into the race, worked out an ideal second-over trip, but the 1-9 public choice couldn't deal with Obliterate late, who closed with a rush after leaving the gate in a lightning-quick 26 3/5.

He raced in the pocket until mid-stretch, when the colt by Perfect Sting-Triple V Hanover vacated the rail while in tight quarters, before a late burst of speed got him to the finish three-quarters of a length in front of Bookie J. Corvette Stingray raced bravely first-over and hung in there to claim the show dough.

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"We really liked this horse all along and it's taken a few starts to get him right where we want him," said Patrick. "My dad's always had so much faith in him and he's always believed in me driving him.

"I wasn't real happy putting him in the two-hole. I just kind of took my chances. I was hoping I'd get room (late), and it was really tight. When I snuck my way out, he gave me a really good run. I couldn't believe how well he responded."

Obliterate completed the mile in 1:49 4/5 and returned $22.40 to his backers.

In the split for fillies, driver Dexter Dunn hustled Car Keys to the top at the quarter while parked in 27 seconds and went down the road from there, winning in a lifetime-best 1:50.

The daughter of Always B Miki-Road Bet won for the first time in seven seasonal tries after reaching the half in 54 3/5 and three-quarters in 1:22 4/5. Sunny Station, the 7-5 favorite, popped out of the five-hole with a bit more than three-eighths to go, and while she gained throughout the latter stages, wasn't a major danger to the winner, coming up a half-length short. Napalm finished third.

Car Keys returned $7 to win as the 5-2 second choice.

A LITTLE MORE: Dunn led the driver colony with three winners on the card. Jody Dunning and Chris Ryder topped the trainers with a pair of walks down victory lane apiece. All-source handle on the 14-race card totaled $2,479,146. Racing resumes Friday at 6:35 p.m. There is no racing on Saturday due to a World Cup soccer match at MetLife Stadium.

--press release (Meadowlands)--