East Rutherford, NJ – Breakfast With The Babies, Meadowlands Pace Day edition, sponsored by Fashion Farms, began at 9 a.m. Saturday (July 17) on a warm, muggy morning, cloudy skies and no wind. There were a few qualifiers of note after the 2-year-old races were completed.

It turned out to be Nancy Takter day at BWTB as the 2020 Dan Patch Trainer of the Year won six of the nine 2-year-old races and a qualifier on the morning.

Nancy’s NJSS final winning sophomore trotting colt Really Fast held off the charge of Kildare King in 1:51.2 for Yannick Gingras.

Top open class pacer Nicholas Beach reeled off what was, to the knowledge of the panel of experts present, the fastest qualifying race ever. Driver Joe Bongiorno put Nick on the front through a half in :55, set sail with a :27.2 third panel then flew home in :25.2 for a 1:47.4 final time with Bongiorno sitting chilly in the bike.

Crawford Trot winner of a few weeks ago, Forbidden Trade (Dan Dube), just got up over Mississippi Storm in 1:51.3 to wrap up the day.

An American Ideal colt match race opened the card when the first was scratched down to two. Scott Zeron put Go With The Flow on the lead from the start and held sway over Third Power (Dexter Dunn) despite drifting noticeably in the stretch, the mile in 1:55. Go With The Flow is trained by Linda Toscano for owner/breeder Arnie Chusid.

Jimmy Takter drove the Father Patrick colt Takato to a 1:57.3 win over stablemate Pretender (Josert Fonseca) in race two. Nancy Takter trains the winner for Black Horse Racing, John Fielding and her mom Christina who paid $140,000 for the colt in Lexington from breeder Steve Stewart and Kemppi Farms.

JK Standingovation (Dunn) won right back for Nancy in the third, stalking an honest pace set by El Pistolero (Andy Miller) and breaking the beam in 1:53.4 (:28.1). The son of JK Endofanera cost 3 Brothers Stables and Caviart Farms a hefty $240,000 at the Hoosier Classic sale last fall.

Famous Father made it a natural hat trick for Nancy Taster with her famous father Jimmy along for the ride. After a stalking trip, the elder Takter tipped the Father Patrick colt to the outside as they straighten up and he went on by willingly. Goran Falk and Christina Takter are partners on the son of their broodmare Hollywood Hill.

Balance made it four straight for the taker barn when Scott Zeron drove him to a impressive front-running 1:53.3 (:27.1) win over Two Proud (A. Miller) with something left. The Bettors Delight colt from West Of LA, producer of horses that have earned more than $3 million, is owned by Diamond Creek Racing and was bred by Bob McIntosh, CSX Stables and Al McIntosh Holdings.

Dave Miller drove the Nifty Norman trained Cantab Hall filly Fortunapedia to a 2:02.3 win over stablemate Seven Shadows (Dunn). Ross Stables bred Fortunapedia, who was purchased from the Standardbred Horse Sales for $30,000 by current owners Patricia Stable and Enzed Racing Stables.

Nancy picked it right back up with “One For The Thumb” in the seventh with homebred Always B Idyllic (Dunn) who set a steady pace then sprinted home in :27.2 for the 1:54.1 win over a late moving Treacherous Dragon (Tetrick). Christina Takter, Marvin Katz and Brixton Medical own the Always B Miki filly from the million dollar winning race mare Idyllic Beach.

Mrs Taylor was a 2:00.2 winner for Yannick Gingras and the Burke barn, sliding up the inside through a :29.1 last quarter for the score over Giza Dreams (Zeron) and Unmistakable (Tony Alagna) with Agro Dolce (D. Miller) flashing sneaky late foot to be fourth. The winner is by Muscle Hill from the great Buck I St Pat, who Burke trained to an over $2.3 million career.

Midnite Express G (Tetrick) closed out the day as Nancy Takter’s sixth winner of the morning. Tetrick held the Donato Hanover filly just off the lead as Jaya Bae (Marcus Melander) set comfortable fractions and when tipped and asked, she responded willingly. Just Bee Awsome (D. Miller) closed up nicely to get the place under a grip while the early leader held for third. Midnite Express G is owned by Misty Ridge Stable, who bred her with Melvin Graber.

Tonight is, of course, “The Greatest Night In Harness Racing” Meadowlands Pace night and all that comes with it. A special post time of 6 p.m. for tonight’s card and the Pace will highlight a two-hour live broadcast of America’s Day At The Races on Fox Sports 2. Free programs are available on the Meadowlands website.