from the USTA Communications Department

East Rutherford, NJ — Winning It brushed to the lead before the half-mile marker and then romped to a six length victory in a time of 1:54.1 in the $12,500 opening leg of the Tender Loving Care series for 3-year-old fillies on Thursday night (Feb. 2) at Meadowlands Racetrack.

Lisa photo

Winning It remained unbeaten in four lifetime starts with a 1:54.1 score in the Tender Loving Care.

Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and The Panhellenic Stable, the Dragon Again-Day After Day lass paid $6.20 to win in scoring her fourth win in four lifetime starts and first as a sophomore.

Yannick Gingras was in the bike for trainer Ron Burke as Winning It paced a final quarter in :26.4 in taking the easy triumph over Air Guitar Hanover (John Campbell) with Tollfree Hanover (Daniel Dube) finishing third.

The other division of the Tender Loving Care was captured by Gottaseeaboutagirl ($5.60) and driver David Miller in a time of 1:54.3. Owned by Michael Horn, Charles Bonham and Alexander Rice Sr., the daughter of Western Terror-Minnie Driver is trained by Bib Rice. Gottaseeaboutagirl scored a narrow victory by a head over Jamie Sue (Tim Tetrick) with Perfect Pose (Ron Pierce) third.

The Thursday card at Meadowlands Racetrack also featured three divisions in the opening leg of the Junior Trendsetter for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers.

The first division went to Val D’Or Farms’ Social Network (David Miller) in a 1:53.4 clocking. The Tell All-Newsletter gelding drew off in ther stretch to a 5-3/4 length triumph over Bigtime Rush (Brian Sears). Big League was third for John Campbell. Joe Holloway trains the winner, who paid $2.80 as the prohibitive favorite.

In the second split, The Wiz Kids Stable’s Take A Walk overcame post 10 to score a 1:55.1 triumph for driver John Campbell and trainer Tony Dinges. The I Am A Fool-Walk Of Shame sophomore was a 1-1/4 length winner over Rock Three Times (Yannick Gingras) with Mr Govianni Fra (Ron Pierce) third. Take A Walk paid $6.40.

The final Junior Trendsetter division went to Eric Ell and John Emmons’ Eastwood Blue Chip with a wire-to-wire triumph in 1:53.4. Ron Pierce was in the bike for co-owner/trainer Eric Ell as the Dragon Again-Shes Smashing geldiing won by 2-1/4 lengths over I’m The Pied Piper (John Campbell). Sharkteen was third for Tim Tetrick. Eastwood Blue Chip returned $20.20 to win.