Meadowlands: Three for McCarthy, two for Tetrick in New Jersey Classic finals

Todd McCarthy won three New Jersey Classic finals while Tim Tetrick guided a pair of victors on a big card for the best 2-year-olds in the Garden State on Friday at the Meadowlands.

McCarthy captured the $275,000 A level final for filly trotters with Quick Stop. After racing in fourth through fractions of 28, 58, and 1:26 3/5 set by Secret Volo, Quick Stop rallied on the outside in the lane, and thanks to a 27 3/5 last quarter, she was able to get up at the wire to defeat Quick Stop by a head in 1:55. Warrawee Yes (Bob McClure) closed well for third.

Anette Lorentzon trains Quick Stop, a daughter of Tactical Landing-Falls For You bred by Fair Winds Farm, and also co-owns her with ACL Stuteri AB. Quick Stop, a $72,000 buy at last year's Standardbred Horse Sale, has won half of her six starts, and she has now earned $190,300. She was the longest shot on the board at 9-1 and paid $21.20 to win.

"I thought we were too far back," said Anna Lorentzon, who heads up the barn's New Jersey operation. "But she always wants to come home. She's a very honest horse.

"We'll see how she comes out of this race, but she is staked to everything for the rest of the year. We are very pleased with what she has accomplished so far."

Southwind Admiral took the $100,000 B level colt and gelding trot in 1:56 for McCarthy, trainer/co-owner Ron Coyne Jr. and co-owners Blair Corbeil, Richard Carney, and Farrell Carney. Southwind Admiral, also by Tactical Landing, was bred by Southwind Farms.

Alexa's Fantasy rounded out McCarthy's trio, as she bagged the $75,000 B level filly pace in 1:52 2/5. Aaron Lambert trains Alexa's Fantasy, from the first crop of Lazarus, for co-owner/breeder Jeffrey Snyder and co-owner Michael Snyder.

Oh Well and Tetrick put up panels of 27 4/5, 57 4/5, and 1:26 1/5 in the $275,000 A level colt and gelding trot, and Oh Well would hold sway in a 27 3/5 final kicker, winning by a length in 1:53 4/5. Celebrity Bambino (Yannick Gingras) and Gates Hanover (Dexter Dunn) dead-heated for second.

A Muscle Hill-Fine Tuned Lady colt bred by Concord Stud Farm, Oh Well is trained by Marcus Melander for owner S R F Stable. Oh Well, who was purchased for $530,000 at last year's Standardbred Horse Sale, has put together a record of 3-2-0 from five starts thus far, has pocketed $360,880, and returned $3.80 to win as the 4-5 favorite.

"He's a great horse," said Melander. "We gave him a little break after the (Peter) Haughton (when he finished second on Aug. 6). He needed the break because there are a lot of races to go."

Tetrick also grabbed the $100,000 B level filly trot with Saint Trixie, who worked out a pocket trip from post ten and pounced in the stretch to score in 1:55 3/5 for co-owner/trainer Fred Grant and co-owners Timber Ridge Stable, Murray Brown, and Steve Katz. Saint Trixie, a Trixton filly, was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms.

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Voukefalas (Jordan Stratton) backed up his New Jersey Sire Stakes title by taking the non-wagering $150,000 A level colt and gelding pace on the engine in 1:53 4/5. By Lazarus and out of the Cams Fortune mare Inittowinafortune, Voukefalas visited the winner's circle for the third time from five trips behind the gate, and he has now stashed away $227,400.

The $150,000 A level filly pace went to Two Pistol Annie, who was positioned third at the 27 4/5 quarter, 56 second half, and 1:24 three-quarters, then powered into the lead in the lane before she drew off to prevail by four lengths in 1:51 for Dexter Dunn, Nik Drennan, and owners Brenda Selwyn-Waxman and Tess Waxman. Two Pistol Annie, a Lazarus filly who was bred by Anvil And Lace Farm, picked up her third lifetime triumph, and has now earned $81,878. She paid $4.20 to win.

Completing the New Jersey Classic champions was Kraken Seelster, who held sway on the lead through the stretch to annex the $75,000 B level colt and gelding pace in 1:53 3/5. Kraken Seelster, another Lazarus progeny, was driven by Yannick Gingras, is trained by Linda Toscano and is also owned by Tess Waxman. Kraken Seelster was bred by Marvin and Leon Lehman.

--quotes courtesy of the Meadowlands--