by Carol Hodes, for the New Jersey Sires Stakes

Freehold, NJ — McCedes, winner of four of seven starts, has been installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite in the $85,000 New Jersey Sires Stakes Final for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings, the seventh race on Saturday (September 22) at Freehold Raceway.

The son of McArdle will leave from post four with Cat Manzi at the lines.

The Chris Ryder trainee gets the slight nod over Genuwine, listed at 7-2. The Cam’s Card Shark colt has five wins and been no worse than third in his seven starts. Daniel Dube will handle the Erv Miller protégé.

Ryder, who was the trainer of $2.5 million earner McArdle, acquired McCedes’ dam, the unraced Only Gossip, on May 1, 2004. She was in foal to McArdle.

The Sampson Street Stables of Old Forge, Pa., and Jerry and Rosalie Silva of Bellmore, N.Y., acquired an interest in the gelding after he won his racing debut with a 1:54.1 clocking at the Meadowlands on July 12.

The field for the $85,000 New Jersey Sires Stakes Final for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings, from the rail out (horse, driver, trainer and morning line odds): Shoot First, Tim Tetrick, Don Niccum, 5-1; Pro Art, Stephane Bouchard, Noel Daley, 9-2; Genuwine, Daniel Dube, Erv Miller, 7-2; McCedes, Cat Manzi, Chris Ryder, 3-1; Artic Stretch, Steve Smith, Linda Toscano, 10-1; Cold Cape Cod, David Miller, Timothy Torbert, 8-1; Cash Cab, Jim Pantaleano, Ross Croghan, 6-1; and Meant To Be Me, Jeff Gregory, Linda Toscano, 12-1.