Meadowlands: Svanstedt stable triples in NJ Sire Stakes

The Ake Svanstedt barn showed up in a major way on Friday night at the Meadowlands, winning three times in the first leg of New Jersey Sire Stakes action for sophomore trotters.

The most impressive of Svanstedt's winners was the Dexter Dunn-driven Lindysmusclemania in the second $25,000 flight for colts and geldings. Dunn planted Lindysmusclemania on the lead going towards the 56 3/5 half, and off three-quarters in 1:25, Lindysmusclemania sprinted home in 26 4/5 to win by 2 3/4 lengths over Really Fast (Yannick Gingras) in a sparkling 1:51 4/5 performance.

"I was obviously impressed. There was a bit of hype about him coming into the race after his qualifier (a 1:53 2/5 decision with Svanstedt driving on April 30). I was lucky to get the drive, and he was a true gentleman out on the track," said Dunn. "Yannick and Ake both came out of the gate, so we got away third and made a move down the back. He was really like driving a car. He came back to me early and went forward when I wanted him to. Three-quarters wasn't too bad in 1:25, but when I asked him to go, he really took off.

"I just asked him to stretch out a bit, and stretch out he did. The rest of the way down the stretch was just a ride for me."

Stall Droad Inc. owns Lindysmusclemania, a Muscle Hill colt. This was his fifth win in his eighth start, and he has now pocketed $52,355. He paid $3.00 to win as the 1-2 favorite.

Svanstedt drove his other winners, taking the last split for colts and geldings with 19-1 Narzario, a gelding by Trixton, in 1:53 to break his maiden, and the first of two sections for fillies with 5-2 second choice Wet My Whistle, a daughter of Muscle Hill, in 1:53 1/5.

Rounding out the victors for the colts and geldings was Marie Ortolan-Bar trainee Cuatro De Julio, a Trixton colt who was steered by Lucas Wallin to a 1:53 1/5 decision over Svanstedt's Mon Amour, and Hot As Hill (David Miller), a daughter of Muscle Hill, bagged the second tilt for the fillies in 1:53 for trainer Ron Burke.

Pacers competed in a pair of $20,000 non-wagering races prior to the pari-mutuel program, and the winners were Anna Jeans (Jason Thompson/John Urbanski, 2:01 1/5), a filly by Great Vintage, and Fika Time (Tim Tetrick/Chase Vandervort, 1:53 2/5), a gelded son of Sunfire Blue Chip.