Meadowlands: Sintra shines in Graduate Pace final

Sintra managed to find a perfect trip and turned it into a track record-equaling performance, capturing the $240,000 Graduate Series final at the Meadowlands on Saturday night in 1:47 2/5 for driver Jody Jamieson and trainer David Menary.

The two Jimmy Takter trainees in the race got the ball rolling early as Western Fame zipped out from post ten to a quick lead, only to release Lyons Snyder at the quarter in 26 3/5. Second choice Dr J Hanover and Doug McNair made a move down the backstretch and had to work hard to clear Lyons Snyder, who stretched him out to a 53 2/5 first-half clocking.

Check Six was on the advance soon thereafter for Yannick Gingras, and he was stalked intently by Sintra, with Boston Red Rocks in third-over position. The field tightened up on the turn, with Dr J Hanover holding a tenuous lead at the three-quarters in 1:20 4/5 and Jamieson eager to press forward with Sintra.

"I almost ran over Yannick," Jamieson said after the race, referring to Check Six's cover.

Sintra did find a clear path and accelerated sharply to draw clear with a 26 3/5 final quarter equalling the mark held by Bettor Sweet and Wiggle It Jiggleit. Boston Red Rocks finished second for the fifth time this year in nine tries for driver Brett Miller, and early leader Western Fame managed to get out of trouble off the final turn and finish willingly for the third spot.

Sintra is owned by Brad Gray, Michael Guerriero and Menary Racing Stable Inc. and is trained by Menary, who said following the race that the next stop for the 4-year-old gelding by Mach Three will be the Joe Gerrity at Saratoga in two weeks. Sent off as the 6-5 choice Sintra returned $4.60.