from the Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — Operation Lindy rebounded from a miscue last week to win the first of two $34,050 New Jersey Sires Stakes divisions for 3-year-old trotting colts on Thursday night (June 14) at the Meadowlands.

Lisa Photo

Operation Lindy equaled the NJSS stakes record with his 1:53.3 score on Thursday.

Driven by Andy Miller, Operation Lindy catapulted off the cover of the leader, Biz Hub, and drew off to a 1-1/4 length victory in 1:53.3, equaling the stakes record set by New York Yank in 2005. Operation Lindy paid $24.80, $10.60 and $3.80. Year In Review flew home fastest of all to finish second and returned $3.80 and $3.40. Biz Hub held on for third and paid $8.80 to show.

“The horse never used to get his mind into a race,” said trainer Dewayne Minor. “That’s why he had only a few starts at 2. I’m looking forward to his 3-year-old season. So far, his attitude has changed quite a bit this year. He always had the speed, but he never got into a race last year. He was too immature. This year he’s turned the corner.”

Minor, who races as Cowboyland Aalborg of Highland Park, Michigan, purchased Operation Lindy in April 2006 from breeder Lindy Racing Stable of Connecticut. The colt hit the board in three of eight starts as a freshman. He was a game third in his 2007 debut, the first round of the NJSS; however, he broke stride while on the move in last week’s second leg of the series and finished sixth.

Operation Lindy moved one step closer to a Hambletonian bid with the victory. He is one of 152 colts and geldings eligible to the $1.5 million classic on Saturday, August 4, at the Meadowlands.

When the leader went off stride, Primary AS picked up the pieces in the second NJSS division. Brian Sears guided the son of Malabar Man to a 1:54.2 win over Princetonian and Win Me Millions. Trond Smedshammer trains the colt for the Kittelsen Racing Stable of Norway. Primary AS is also eligible to the $1.5 million Hambletonian.

The $175,000 New Jersey Sires Stakes Final will be raced on Thursday, June 21 at the Meadowlands.