Meadowlands: Sophomore trotters compete in Reynolds Memorials

Three-year-old trotters continued on the road towards next month's Hambletonian in W.N. Reynolds Memorials on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

In the first $35,400 colt and gelding division, Winner's Bet (Dexter Dunn) took the lead in the stretch after angling out of the pocket and held sway to the wire, prevailing by half a length in 1:52 2/5. Air Power (Mattias Melander), the 3-5 favorite, was last at the half but closed in 25 3/5 to finish a rallying second and Upstaged (Brian Sears), who posted fractions of 27 3/5, 56 2/5 and 1:25 3/5, ended up third.

Trained by Domenico Cecere, Winner's Bet is a Walner colt owned by Lindy Farms and Robert Rudolph. This was the S R F Stable-bred's fourth career win, he has now banked $361,830 and he paid $10.40 to win as the 4-1 third choice.

The second $34,900 test for the boys saw Celebrity Bambino (Yannick Gingras) in charge early on, but he was passed by Oh Well (Tim Tetrick) at the 27 3/5 opening quarter and then Tactical Approach (Scott Zeron), the 2-5 choice, drove on to the lead on the way to the 56 second half. Tactical Approach maintained the top spot through three-quarters in 1:24 3/5, but Oh Well and Celebrity Bambino fanned to his outside for the drive, and it was Celebrity Bambino who had the best kick, tallying over Oh Well by three-quarters of a length in 1:51 3/5. Tactical Approach had to settle for third.

"We always believed in his ability obviously. He finished second in the Breeders Crown and he raced real well then. Vacation's over, it's time to race," said Gingras. "They trained him a little bit harder this week, I think. Worked his ass off in the post parade and he was good."

Ron Burke trains Celebrity Bambino, a colt by Muscle Hill and bred by White Birch Farm, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., J&T Silva Stables, LLC., Knox Services Inc. and Phil Collura. Celebrity Bambino has a record of 6-3-3 from 16 appearances, he pushed his earnings to $350,769, and he returned $19.00 to win as the 8-1 third choice.

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Quick Stop (Tetrick) tallied a 1:52 4/5 victory in the opening $37,400 clash for the fillies. Karaboudjan (Sears) chopped out a 27 3/5 quarter, 57 1/5 half and a 1:25 3/5 three-quarters, but Quick Stop, who tipped first-up from third on the final bend, forged her way into the lead in the lane and won by half a length over pocket-sitter Wild Jiggy S (Dunn). Karaboudjan had to settle for third.

A daughter of Tactical Landing bred by Fair Winds Farm, Quick Stop is co-owned by trainer Anette Lorentzon in partnership with Acl Stuteri Ab. Quick Stop has four wins, three seconds and three thirds from 14 trips behind the gate, she has pocketed $305,930, and she paid $4.60 to win as the favorite.

Bond (Ake Svanstedt) stretched her win streak to ten in the other $37,400 filly showdown. After carving out splits of 27 1/5, 56 3/5 and 1:26 2/5, she sprinted home in 26 4/5 to defeat Bella Macchiato (Dunn) by two lengths in 1:53 1/5. Royal Filly (Tyler Buter) was third from the pocket.

"It was not the toughest race for her this year, but she made it easy," said Svanstedt. "She is doing what I expect, but they're going to be tougher later."

Svanstedt also trains and co-owns Bond, a Southwind Frank filly bred by Diamond Creek Farm, with Little E LLC. and L Berg Inc. She has put away $656,288 and returned $2.10 to win as the 1-9 chalk.

--quotes gathered by Derick Giwner--