Meadowlands: Three freshmen repeat in Kindergarten Classic action

Fire Start Hanover, Commanding Officer, and Summa Cum Laude all remained perfect through two legs of the Kindergarten Classic for 2-year-olds at the Meadowlands Friday night.

Fire Start Hanover had an easy time of it in the first race filly pace, sailing down the road in a lifetime-best 1:52 1/5 to win by 1 3/4 lengths with driver Victor Kirby calling the shots. The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Fit To Frame, who is trained by Nifty Norman, paid $3.20 to win as the 3-5 favorite and ran her overall winning streak to three.

Commanding Officer completed an all-chalk early Daily Double for trainer Tony Alagna and driver Scott Zeron. The 2-5 favorite cleared to the lead before the three-eighths on the way to a 1 1/2 length romp in 1:52 1/5 in a division for colt and gelding pacers. The son of Captaintreacherous-Turnoffthelights returned $2.80 to win.

Summa Cum Laude stayed unbeaten in taking another division for male pacers in race nine. Driven by Simon Allard for trainer Ron Burke, Summa Cum Laude took over the lead after Bettor Not Talk went off-stride while racing on the point on the way to the half. The winner, a son of Somebeachsomewhere-Western Graduate, scored by a length in 1:52 2/5 and returned $4.00 as the even-money post-time choice.

--press release (the Meadowlands)--