by Carol Hodes for SBOANJ

Manalapan, NJ ––- Western Vintage opened his 2014 campaign on a winning note, capturing the $50,500 first leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Saturday night, May 17, 2014 at the Meadowlands.

The son of Western Ideal was sent off as the 6-5 favorite in the 12th race and provided driver Yannick Gingras with his sixth win of the night.

Western Vintage moved up with cover on the outside tier down the backstretch and then three-wide on the turn for home where he engaged Doo Wop Hanover [Rocknroll Hanover] until pulling away in the final sixteenth, stopping the clock at 1:49.4 for the mile.

The Nancy Johansson trainee was a one-length winner over Doo Wop Hanover, and it was three lengths back to Frankandjoanne [Rocknroll Hanover] in third.

Western Vintage [$4.40] picked up his sixth win in nine career starts and pushed his earnings over the $342,000 mark. He races for Perry L. Soderberg of Hightstown, NJ and Marvin Katz of Toronto, Ontario.