from the Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — On the richest night for the New Jersey Sire Stakes — the $700,000 Night of Champions — a pair of “Yankees” positioned themselves as prospects for the Hambletonian and two offspring of Artiscape swept the pacing divisions.

In the trotting events, Celebrity Secret, a son of Yankee Glide, and No Pain No Gain, a daughter of Muscles Yankee, were winners in their respective $175,000 finals on Friday night (June 20) at the Meadowlands.

Celebrity Secret was a neck winner over Fuel My Muscles.

In the third race, trotting colt Celebrity Secret ($5.40, $2.80, $2.80) rallied for a neck victory over Fuel My Muscles (by Muscles Yankee, $4.20, $4.00), extending his winning streak to three in a lifetime best of 1:54. It was three-quarters of a length to Kajan Kooker (by Self Possessed, $3.60) in third.

At 2, Celebrity Secret spent most of his year chasing eventual divisional champion Deweycheatumnhowe, resulting in no wins, four seconds and one third in eight tries. This year the bay colt has three wins in five tries and has marked himself as a Hambletonian hopeful.

“He responded well, coming first up and was out a long way,” said Tim Tetrick, who was driving Celebrity Secret for the second time. “He was out a long way and responded well late in the lane. I was the first one to move to the front at the quarter pole. I saw Andy (Miller with Azur), who had a good horse, so I had to let him go. I knew David (Miller with Fuel My Muscles) is tough, very game. He had the toughest trip; he left and had to come first up. I was hoping I didn’t have to do that, which I didn’t. I got the better trip today.”

Staffan Lind trains Celebrity Secret for the Celebrity Farms and the Celebrity Secret Stable. The colt, a $75,000 Lexington Selected Sale yearling, has lifetime earnings of $391,426.

No Pain No Gain was a 1:55.3 winner for David Miller.

No Pain No Gain ($8.60, $4.80, $3.60) drew off to a 3-3/4 length victory, capturing the $175,000 final for 3-year-old trotting fillies, the first race and the first of four finals for 3-year-olds by New Jersey sires.

The Muscles Yankee filly had a comfortable lead through the stretch, too far ahead for Fancy Vacation (by Dream Vacation, $3.40, $3.40), carrying a two-race winning streak, to catch her. It was 5-3/4 lengths to Winbak Brat (by Muscles Yankee, $7.40) in third. The Hambletonian Oaks eligible trotted the mile in 1:55.3.

“She kind of just jumped up there (to an easy lead),” said winning driver David Miller. “She’s just easy to get along with. I like her a lot. She’s versatile and there are no big worries when driving her. I think she’s a big, rugged horse and I’m sure she can carry her speed a long way so (the Hambletonian Oaks) is what I’m hoping for.”

Jonas Czernyson, who won the 2005 Hambletonian Oaks with Jalopy, conditions No Pain No Gain for William White, Jr.’s White Creek Stable Inc. No Pain No Gain, a $110,000 Harrisburg Yearling Sale purchase, lifted her career earnings to $275,338 with six wins, two seconds and one third from 15 starts.

“She’s coming along a little earlier than the other ones so I’m hoping we can keep her going now,” said Czernyson. “It was an easy night. She’ll have off next week and, if everything goes right, she has the Delvin Miller and then on to the Oaks.”

Cartniverous rallied in the lane to post a lifetime best 1:52.4 victory.

In the $175,000 3-year-old filly pacing final, the fourth race, Cartniverous (by Artiscape, $36.20, $10.40, $7.00) caught 6-5 favorite Knock Three Times (by Western Ideal, $3.20, $2.40) in the final 70 yards to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.4, a career best. Ideal Nectarine (by Western Ideal, $4.80) was third by 1-3/4 lengths. It was Cartniverous’ second win in 12 starts this year, the last coming on May 1.

“She tries real hard, but I haven’t had her in the right spot to win a race yet,” noted Eric Goodell, who guided Cartniverous for trainer Josh Green. “I either left with her and got in a bad spot or took her back in slow fractions. But today my main goal was to follow Dave (Miller with Knock Three Times) around if I could.”

Lifetime, the filly has four wins, three seconds and three thirds from 21 starts. A $20,000 Harrisburg Yearling Sale purchase, she has banked $205,653 for Leonard Hubbard.

Lisa photos

Scape Ghost was a 1:50.2 winner for Brian Sears in the 3-year-old colt pace final.

Scape Ghost ($12.00, $6.80, $4.60) held on for a three-quarter length victory over the pylon skimming Dontloseyourdayjob ($10.20, 4.80, by Life Sign) to capture the $175,000 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings final, the fifth race, in a career best of 1:50.2. Get Out Of Dodge ($2.60, by Artiscape), the 9-5 favorite, had his winning streak snapped at two, finishing third by 1-3/4 lengths.

Scape Ghost, driven by Brian Sears and trained by Mark Silva, provided Artiscape with a sweep of the pacing events and will be eyeing the $1 million Meadowlands Pace on July 19.

“Well, we always thought real highly of him,” said Sears, the leading driver at the Meadowlands. “He’s been a nice colt all along. He’s really got a good way of going. He’s had some issues. Mark (trainer Mark Silva) has done a great job with taking his time with him.

“It was nice to be able to stroll around there for a little bit and have that in the tank and come home,” Sears added. “I’ve had him on the front before, and he kind of let me down. But tonight he was full of himself and took right off. I think Scape Ghost can definitely make some noise.”

“I told Brian to get as close to the front as possible,” Silva noted. “Yannick’s (Gingras with Get Out Of Dodge) horse is good but this horse is just special. He just has a different feel. Next up for him is Historic Week.”

Scape Ghost, unraced at 2, now has five wins and one second from eight starts. He has banked $152,150 for Rodney Mitchell Inc., who purchased him for $24,000 at the New Jersey Classic Sale.