Servis not easing up

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Jason Servis hopes to conclude another successful Meadowlands Racetrack meet with a flourish on Saturday night.

Servis heads into closing weekend a virtual lock to win a second-straight Big M training title. He won three consecutive races Wednesday night to open an 18-9 lead over five trainers - J. Willard Thompson, Patricia Farro, Jim Ryerson, Peter Walder, and Greg Sacco.

Servis has seven horses entered Saturday, including the duo of Bythebeautifulsea and Brush on By in the $64,000 Storm Cat Stakes for 2-year-olds going a mile and 70 yards. The Storm Cat is one of three stakes on the 11-race card, which wraps up the 33-date meet.

"It would be all right with me if it lasted a little bit longer," said Servis. "Things are just falling into place. I was ganged up with seconds at Monmouth Park. A lot of those came back to win here."

Servis had 21 wins at Monmouth, which tied him for seventh with Ryerson, and also had 24 seconds.

In the Storm Cat, Brush on By makes his first start against winners. A homebred for Char-Mari Stable, he drew off to a four-length win at the Big M in his first route race.

"Brush on By is a nice colt," said Servis. "He's just starting to figure it out. He doesn't have any idea what's going on."

The Storm Cat will be the fourth start for Brush on By, who has improved sharply in each outing.

"When we first ran him, we couldn't get him too break," Servis said. "He was like a big Baby Huey. The latest race, he just toyed with those horses. I'm hoping the light is starting to come on."

Bythebeautifulsea, another Char-Mari homebred, could serve as a pacesetter for Brush on By. A New Jersey-bred, Bythebeautifulsea will make his first start around two turns.

The Storm Cat offers Buffalo Man an easier spot after he took a swing at the big boys in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park and finished eighth. He was 2 for 3 at Monmouth, including a close third in the Grade 3 Sapling Stakes.

After making his first two starts at Monmouth, Keeneland Kid ventured to Keeneland last time out and rallied from ninth to finish fourth in an allowance race on the Polytrack.

* Also on the card, graded stakes winner Magnolia Jackson makes her first start since June when she runs in the $64,000 Montclair State University Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs.

Trained by Gary Contessa, Magnolia Jackson rallied for third last out in the Grade 2 Vagrancy Handicap at Belmont Park. Before that, she won the Grade 2 Bed o' Roses Breeders' Cup Handicap at Aqueduct.

* Livermore Valley owns the best Beyer Speed Figures in the $64,000 Seton Hall University Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs. She earned a career-high 97 Beyer last time out, when she rallied to finish fourth in the Grade 3 Safely Kept Stakes at Laurel. Before that, she earned a 96 Beyer for her win in Monmouth's Mongo Queen Stakes.