from the Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — Fresh Deck and Always A Virgin headline a pair of $35,400 New Jersey Sire Stakes divisions for 3-year-old colt pacers on Saturday night (June 16) at the Meadowlands.

The Joe Holloway trainees finished first and third, respectively, in the $500,000 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic on June 2 at the Meadowlands. Always A Virgin is rated the 5-2 morning line favorite from post four in Saturday’s fourth race NJSS division, while Fresh Deck tops the field at 9-5 from post four in the ninth race.

Holloway will use this week’s third leg of the NJSS and $175,000 final on June 23 to prepare Always A Virgin for a run at the $1 million Meadowlands Pace on July 14 (eliminations held one week prior). Since Fresh Deck is not eligible to the Pace, the colt is Holloway’s only hope to bring home his first trophy in the track’s signature event.

“I want to win the Meadowlands Pace and the (Little Brown Jug),” said Holloway, who sits fourth all-time in wins and earnings at the Meadowlands. “In the Pace, I’ve had some chances but some bad timing, too. Red Bow Tie (1997) popped a gravel the week of the Pace and was not a threat in the final. Ain’t No Stopn Him (2000) would have been right there, but was interfered with at the half. No Standing Around and Jenna’s Beach Boy (1995) both had big chances, but sickness and injury came at a bad time for them. With ‘Jenna’ I wound up bringing him back Jug week and he beat the older pacers, Riyadh and those kinds of horses.

“You just don’t get that many chances as a trainer,” he continued. “Look at the catch drivers — Brennan, Campbell, Sears — guys like that. They’re going to get a contender this year and more than likely, next year, too. As a trainer, you don’t get these a lot. Always A Virgin is the kind of horse I think can win it.”

Although winless in three starts this season, Always A Virgin fought a gutsy first-over battle against his stablemate, Fresh Deck, to finish third in the NJ Classic. At 2, the colt posted a record of three wins and two seconds in 10 starts, including a second place finish in a $94,800 Bluegrass division at Lexington. He won his $20,000 elimination of the Governor’s Cup at the Meadowlands, but finished fifth in the $450,000 final. The son of Western Ideal races for Bluewood Stable and the Roll The Dice Stable.

Glowing Report retired

Richie Silverman reports that top older pacing mare Glowing Report has been retired. The 6-year-old mare won 22 of 73 career starts and was third or better in 50 races. Her bankroll of $1,992,269 makes her the richest daughter of Artsplace. She is owned by Marvin Rounick.

“She has had some problems with her ankles and overall, the racing — the hard racing — just caught up to her,” said Silverman. “What a special mare she was on the track. She was tough, she overcame a lot. Right now, I’m not sure what Mr. Rounick will do. I know she’ll be turned out for a while, then we’ll see.”