East Rutherford, NJ – Be Perfect BG made good on her name Friday night (July 18) at The Meadowlands, remaining unbeaten in four lifetime starts after taking the lone filly pace when seven $25,000 divisions of the second leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for 2-year-olds were contested for horses of each sex and gait.
The daughter of Perfect Sting-JK Mardi Says impressed winning last week after leaving from post 11, and driver Dexter Dunn said it was more of the same this time around.
“She felt just as good,” said Dunn. “The trip was a little better for her tonight (leaving from post five). She seems to be learning all the time and she was really good tonight.”
Sitting just behind leader Perfect Thought through an opening quarter of :27.1 and half of :56.1, Dunn opted to pop out of the pocket at the five-eighths, made steady progress on the leader while still less than a length behind at three-quarters (which went in 1:25.2), roared to the point at the head of the stretch before going on to a convincing 2-1/2 length win in a snappy lifetime-best of 1:51.4. Perfect Thought held second with Beautiful Memory third.
“She was on the front last week and was good off the helmet tonight,” said Dunn. “She came off (her cover) and sprinted home. For sure, at this stage, there are a lot of positive signs (that point to her having a big year).”
A Tony Beaton trainee who is owned by Ecurie CSL, Be Perfect BG, who has gone off as the favorite in each of her career outings, returned $2.60 to her backers after going off at odds of 1-5.
AND THE WINNERS WERE: Here are the other six New Jersey Sire Stakes winners:
· Race 3 – Filly Trot: Days Away (Muscle Hill-Danae), driver Jason Bartlett, trainer Per Engblom, time for the mile 1:54.4, returned $23.20 to win as the 10-1 fifth choice in the wagering.
· Race 6 – Filly Trot: Royal Patti (Walner-Serenity Joy), Jeff Gregory, Jeff Gregory, 1:56, $4.80 as the 7-5 favorite.
· Race 8 – Colt and Gelding Pace: Sonofanutcracker (Nutcracker Sweet-Rob Them Blind), Andy McCarthy, Tom Cancelliere, 1:52.3, $14.20 as the 6-1 fourth choice.
· Race 9 – Filly Trot: Emmas Mystery CCL (Muscle Hill-Mistery Woman), Andy McCarthy, Noel Daley, 1:55.2, $8.60 as the 3-1 third choice.
· Race 10 – Colt and Gelding Trot: Apex (Walner-Mission Brief), Dexter Dunn, Marcus Melander, 1:54.3, $2.40 as the 1-5 favorite.
· Race 12 – Colt and Gelding Trot: Kingmen (Walner-Pats Inspiration), Trond Smedshammer, Trond Smedshammer, 1:56, $40.60 as the 19-1 fourth choice.
FOSSLI FABULOUS: Karen Fossli was on target once again in the 2025 Meadowlands Monthly Handicapping Contest, taking first place for a second time this year, again walking away with the top nightly prize of $500.
A 20-cent Pick-5 hit of $477 set Fossli up well, as she finished the night with a bankroll of $722.26, so not only did Fossli take home the top cash prize, but also – as per contest rules – took home her profits of $622.26 as well.
Finishing second with a bankroll of $604.50 was Nick Montemurro, who took down the $250 second prize. For Montemurro, it was his third top-two finish this year, so he will have three entries (at least) for the end-of-the-year, invitation-only contest on Dec. 13, which offers prize money totaling $10,000. Fossli and Gary Scogna will have two entries (as of now) apiece in the big-money test, which will be limited to 22 entries.
The next edition of the contest takes place on Aug. 30.
A LITTLE MORE: Andy McCarthy led the driver colony with three winners on the night while Chris Height and Noel Daley topped the trainers with a pair of walks down victory lane apiece. … All-source handle on the 14-race card totaled $2,687,812. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m. (EDT).