Meadowlands: Tetrick doubles in Miss Versatility Series opener

Next Level Stuff and driver Tim Tetrick ended the 2020 season with a victory in the Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Trot. The now 4-year-old daughter of Sebastian K returned to stakes action on Saturday and scored as the 3-5 favorite in the first of two $30,000 divisions in the opening leg of the Miss Versatility Series for trotting mares at the Meadowlands.

Next Level Stuff started from the pole position, but Tetrick was content to let others do the early battling, as 60-1 shot Morairtime blasted to command on the first turn, putting Felicityshagwell S and When Dovescry behind her. With an opening panel in 27 4/5 and half in 56 3/5, the longshot leader was unchallenged. When Dovescry, who was making her 5-year-old debut went on the offensive with David Miller past five-eighths of a mile and engaged the leader, as Tetrick put Next Level Stuff behind When Dovescry for cover.

When Dovescry disposed of the leader following the 1:24 4/5 three-quarters and trotted strongly down the stretch. Tetrick tipped Next Level Stuff off cover in the late stages, and the Jim Campbell trainee responded to encouragement to get the job done nearing the wire in a 1:52 2/5 clocking. When Dovescry held bravely for second, with Felicityshagwell S squeezing through for third. Hypnotic AM made a solid charge from last to finish fourth in her season's debut.

Bred and owned by Runthetable Stables, Next Level Stuff was a winner for the 14th time in her career and returned $3.40.

"She's a trip mare," said Tetrick following the race. "We got a good trip tonight."

Tetrick came back to sweep the divisions, capturing the second $30,000 stanza with Ab'sattitudexpress in a solid 1:52 3/5 mile.

Sent off as the 3-5 favorite, Tetrick left the gate strongly with Ab'sattitudexpress but had to work hard as last year's Hambletonian Oaks champion Sorella, with Yannick Gingras, had the front and pushed the chalk through a 27 3/5 opening quarter before releasing her.

Once in control, Tetrick did his best to calm the middle-half and was successful, hitting the half in 56 2/5 and three- quarters in 1:24 4/5 with no outer flow. Meanwhile, Gingras was antsy in the pocket and angled to challenge off the final bend.

It was a stirring stretch drive, with Tetrick urging his mare on and Sorella and Gingras gaining. In the final yards Tetrick was able to coax the daughter of Trixton just enough, and she prevailed in a close photo, hitting the wire in a season's-best clocking. Sorella, making her first start as a 4-year-old, was a long nose back in second, with Miss McKee finishing third.

Trained by Lucas Wallin for owner/breeder Stop The Jade Farm LLC., Ab'sattitudexpress was a winner for the third straight time in 2021 while offering a $3.40 return to her backers.

"Tonight was a big effort. She held off a good mare," said Tetrick.