Meadowlands: Stakes action starts for rookies with Tompkins-Geers

Twin B Joe Fresh sparkled in her career debut Friday night at the Meadowlands, taking the featured $47,975 Tompkins-Geers Stake for 2-year-old pacing fillies.

The daughter of Roll With Joe-Fresh Breeze worked out a perfect cover trip and closed well through the stretch before holding off Ucandoit Blue Chip by a neck in 1:52 2/5. Lioness By The Sea was third.

"She's robust, like a lot of attractive ladies," kidded winning trainer Chris Ryder. "She's got the curves, is very muscular and is on the big side."

Lioness By The Sea led the field past the quarter (in 28 2/5), half (57 1/5) and three-quarters (1:25 2/5). At the five-eighths, Hungry For Love was first-over trying to cut into the leader's edge while providing a live tow for Twin B Joe Fresh, who tipped off that cover mid-stretch before rallying to get the win.

The $65,000 purchase was a bit expensive for Ryder's taste, but he went ahead and bought the horse nonetheless.

"The main appeal is the family, especially the mother, but Roll With Joe is a sneaky good sire. I did overpay. She should have cost $30,000, maybe $40,000, but sometimes you have to be aggressive."

Ryder and Barry Spak, one of Ryder’s regular clients, along with winning driver Dexter Dunn and Ryder's second trainer, Pete Trebotica, own the filly.

"We weren't looking to race her hard. I was half-hearted about putting her in the race in the first place," said Ryder. "But I knew she had a good motor."

As the 6-1 third choice in the betting, Twin B Joe Fresh returned $15.80 to win. Stop The Show, the 3-5 favorite, never threatened and finished seventh in the nine-horse field.

"Twin B Joe Fresh isn't eligible to a heckuva lot," said Ryder. "Kentucky sires, New York sires and the Bluegrass. I think that's good for her."

BROWER MASTERFUL AGAIN: Dave Brower had yet another big night in The Big M's Battle of the Masterminds handicapping tournament, turning his mythical $500 bankroll into $1,090 in winning for the third time through the first five nights of the competition.

If patrons had followed all of Brower's selections to this point, they would be showing a profit of $2,165.

The contest continues every night through August 5. On-track patrons who select the winning handicapper and then win a random drawing on a given night are eligible for the $10,000 grand prize.

Brower, Dave Little, Jessica Otten, Edison Hatter and Ken Warkentin will go at it every night through August 5. The grand prize winner will be chosen on Hambletonian Day, August 6.

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A LITTLE MORE: With a carryover of $5,731 driving the machine, the 20-cent Pick 6 ended up with a total pool of $34,675. Those with winning tickets walked away with $1,460.46. Only one horse during the sequence went off at odds greater than 5-2. Todd McCarthy, Andy McCarthy and Scott Zeron all recorded driving doubles. Trainer of the Week Edwin Quevedo is gunning for a second straight trophy after schooling a pair to victory lane. Tony Alagna also had a training double. All-source handle totaled $2,410,213. Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.