by Meadowlands Media Relations

East Rutherford, NJ – Conditions were perfect at The Meadowlands this morning (May 14) for the weekly qualifiers with clear skies, no wind and temperatures in the 60’s at go time.

Derick Giwner photo

Southwind Frank was a 1:54 winner.

Last year’s top freshman colt Southwind Frank made his second appearance of the Spring and was an easy winner in 1:54 with last quarter in :27 for Yannick Gingras. Settled third through a :29 opening quarter, Southwind Frank was moved to the front and set the balance of the fractions while finishing well within himself several lengths in advance of Jack Vernon and Brooklyn Hill.

Friday’s (May 20) New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS) are a logical starting point for Southwind Frank who became the fastest 2-year-old colt trotter ever with his 1:52.2 win at The Red Mile last fall and is the heavy winter book favorite for the 2016 Hambletonian. He is trained by Ron Burke on behalf of Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Our Horse Cents Stable and J&T Silva Stable.

The top two trotting fillies of last season met in the opener and went to the wire together with Dan Patch 2-Year Old champion Broadway Donna (Dave Miller) just getting up to nail Breeders Crown winner All The Time (Yannick Gingras) by an inch in 1:55.2. The pair sat third and fourth until the top of the stretch when All The Time rose up to challenge mile cutter Seaside Illusion with Broadway Donna following her cover then fanning off as they trotted home as a team in sub :27 last quarters.

Both are homebreds. All The Time races from the Jimmy Takter barn for owner/breeders Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld while Broadway Donna is trained by Jim Campbell on behalf of Jules Siegel’s Fashion Farms.

It’s shaping up to be a fun season for the sophomore pacing colts as a few division leaders impressed the small but faithful legion of spectators this morning.

Boston Red Rocks looks like he’s ready to defend his Dan Patch title with a final time of 1:51 and a last quarter panel in :26.1 for Tim Tetrick. He set the pace through a comfortable :57 half then took off, widening his margin as Tetrick pleased. Boston Red Rocks is an imposing presence on the track, tall, regal looking and fast.

Steve Elliott trains the NJSS eligible for Peter Blood and Rick Berks.

American Passport served notice that he’ll have to be dealt with this season, blasting home with a last quarter mile in :25.4 and stopping the clock in 1:51.3 for the mile with Scott Zeron as still as a statue in the sulky. He sat in the pocket to Katie’s Rocker, ripped out of that position as they straightened up and was eager through the stretch.

To Katie’s Rocker’s credit, he held well for second in his first seasonal appearance.

Brittany Farms, Riverview Racing, Jodi Siamis and trainer Tony Alagna own the winner.

Talk Show looked really good today as well. He showed flashes last season, battling the best colts but was often difficult to manage and wound up in the wrong spot quite frequently. After some tutelage at the Steve Elliott winter camp for the unruly and a critical change or two, Talk Show was a gentleman this morning for Zeron. He patiently sat in the pocket behind Racing Hill and when a seam developed between that one and the first over Ideal Rocky, Talk Show zipped by in hand.

He races for the Pegasis Investment Group, Team S Racing and W. Garofalo.

Crazshana sharpened up for the Graduate Series with an easy mile in 1:53 win from the pocket for Dave Miller looking strong through the stretch with a :27.2 final quarter panel. Market Share, the 2013 Hambletonian winner, was out this morning for his second qualifier after a good long rest and acquitted himself well, setting solid fractions on the lead until Crazshana slipped past late.

The winner is trained by Jeff Bamond, Jr. for Bamond Racing, LLC.

Live racing tonight resumes tonight at 7:15 p.m.