by Carol Hodes, for the SBOA of New Jersey

Manalapan, NJ — Dial Or Nodial has the $500,000 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic on his speed dial.

For Dial Or Nodial the New Jersey Classic, which is on June 13 at the Meadowlands with eliminations on June 6, is the first major challenge of his 3-year-old campaign.

The son of Western Ideal, winner of the 2008 New Jersey Sire Stakes Finals at both the Meadowlands and Freehold, is among the 45 colts and geldings nominated to the richest event for state-breds. Both the Classic and its filly companion event, the $200,000 Thomas D’Altrui Miss New Jersey, are sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey.

“Dial is coming back good,” noted trainer Jimmy Campbell, who is stabled at White Birch Farm in Allentown, N.J. “We look to qualify him the first week of May. The Classic is what we are looking at first. As far as preps before, it all depends on the qualifiers.

“He has filled out and grown,” said Campbell, who has 45 in training, all but two are 2- or 3-year-olds. “I’m happy with the way he looks. We also have Fire In The Shark eligible. He will qualify the same time.”

Arlene and Jules Siegel of New Hope, Pa., own and bred both pacers.

Fire In The Shark, a son of Cam’s Card Shark, finished in-the-money in 11 of 16 starts at two, earning $172,875. Three of his four victories came at Freehold, two in New Jersey Sire Stakes, and another in the New Jersey Futurity. He also captured an International Stallion Stakes division at the Red Mile.

Dial Or Nodial won eight of 12 starts and earned $414,124 at two. He captured the $175,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Final at the Meadowlands on July 10 and the $85,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Final at Freehold on September 20. He was voted the divisional champion and New Jersey Sire Stakes Horse of the Year by the NJSS Board of Trustees.

The colt also won a pair of stakes at Lexington’s Red Mile — divisions of the Bluegrass and the International Stallion Stakes — taking his mark of 1:51.2 in each of the stakes. He was fourth in the $647,800 Governor’s Cup at Woodbine and third in the $700,000 Breeders Crown at the Meadowlands.

This year marks the 30th edition of the New Jersey Classic, the richest of all state-bred races. Among the previous winners have been divisional champions On The Road Again (1984), Jate Lobell (1987), Matt’s Scooter (1988), Western Hanover (1992), Presidential Ball (1993), Cam’s Card Shark (1994), Jenna’s Beach Boy (1995), Bettor’s Delight (2001) and Rocknroll Hanover (2005).

The stakes record of 1:49.1 was set in 2006 by Feelin Friskie.