Meadowlands: Thirteen qualifiers held on Friday morning

Some of last season's stars were out at the Meadowlands on Friday morning as 13 qualifying races took place under sunny skies.

Hambletonian winner Cool Papa Bell captured his second straight qualifier in the opener, turning a three-hole trip into a 1:54 2/5 victory for driver Todd McCarthy, trainer Jim Campbell, and owner Runthetable Stables. Later on during the session, Campbell also sent out victorious 3-year-old Crazy Wow gelding Wild Bill Kelso (Scott Zeron), who led the way and held on by a nose in 1:53 2/5 mile.

McCarthy would also win qualifiers with 2022 Kindergarten champion 2-year-old pacing filly Bellissima Hanover in 1:52 4/5 for trainer Tony Alagna and Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt Pace finalist Christchurch in 1:51 3/5 for trainer Nancy Takter.

In addition to tallying with Bellisima Hanover, Alagna also had a pair of sophomore pacing colts score in Stormalong (Jordan Stratton, 1:51 3/5) and Dupree Hanover (Andy McCarthy, 1:52 4/5).

The Takter barn also had successful qualifiers with 3-year-old pacing filly Always A Show Off, who converted a pocket trip into a 1:54 triumph with Josert Fonseca in the bike, and 3-year-old Muscle Hill filly Another Like Me, who prevailed in the same fashion in 1:55 3/5 for Fonseca.

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Last year's Jim Doherty Memorial champion Instagram Model surfaced for the first time in 2023 and won her event in 1:53 1/5 after angling out from third in the stretch. Zeron was at the controls behind the 3-year-old daughter of Chapter Seven for trainer Annie Stoebe and owner R. Lynn Curry. Stoebe and Curry's 4-year-old Bar Hopping mare Champagne Hanover (A. McCarthy) also emerged victorious during the morning, getting up late from the pocket in a 1:55 2/5 mile.

Ake Svanstedt also had a pair of victories, with 3-year-old Walner colt Up Your Deo moving past Unique Style (Mark MacDonald) and French Wine (Andy Miller) in the lane for a 1:55 1/5 decision, and 3-year-old Cantab Hall colt Chamba riding a pocket trip into a 1:54 4/5 mark.

In the one test for older pacers, Billy Clyde, a 1:47 3/5 performer a year ago, went down the highway to win in 1:51 4/5 with a 26 4/5 final kicker. MacDonald had the call behind the 5-year-old Always B Miki stallion for trainer/co-owner Ray Schnittker.