Meadowlands: Successful start to 2018 campaign for Ariana G

Ariana G made a triumphant return to racing action in the first of two $50,000 Graduate divisions at the Meadowlands on Saturday. In an event exclusively for 4-year-olds, Ariana G, the lone mare in the field of eight, secured the lead following the quarter and then rated the mile perfectly, winning for Yannick Gingras in 1:52 1/5.

Yes Mickey led the action early, with Ake Svanstedt setting the gelding to the opening panel in 27 3/5 before yielding to the 2-5 favorite. Ariana G and Gingras had little trouble during the middle-half, setting fractions of 56 2/5 and 1:25 while under limited pressure from Bill's Man into the stretch.
Ariana G had a comfortable lead much of the stretch, with Gingras sitting chilly, as only Dunbar Hall made a race of it, with visiting Jody Jamieson urging the Ontario-based gelding to the place spot ,with Yes Mickey settling for third.

Jimmy Takter trains Ariana G for owners and breeders Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld.

Jamieson turned the tables on Gingras in the second Graduate division as 3-1 shot Achille Duharas out-kicked International Moni on the wire in a 1:52 2/5 mile.

Race favorite Moonshiner Hanover was away quickly before yielding to International Moni in the 27 2/5 opening quarter. No sooner had David Miller released International Moni, he was quickly out to regain, and that kept the lone mare in the field, Barn Bella, parked through fractions of 55 3/5 and 1:24 4/5. Jamieson had left in the early stages but keenly moved out to follow the mare's cover on the backstretch.

Turning into the homestretch Jamieson took advantage of clearance and sent the Andover Hall-sired horse wide with momentum. Gingras found room to the inside, and International Moni used it perfectly, taking a slim advantage, but Achille Duharas was simply too strong and rallied to get up on the wire in a career-best clocking. International Moni settled for second, with Lord Cromwell closing strongly for third.

Achille Duharas, owned and bred by Haras De L Estrie Inc., paid $8.20 for the victory his sixth of the year in nine starts for trainer Benoit Baillargeon.