by Leon Zimmerman, for the New Jersey Sire Stakes

The New Jersey Sire Stakes begins its 2005 pari-mutuel racing season at The Meadowlands this weekend with the nation’s top two three-year-old pacing colts looking for their first wins of the year.

Rocknroll Hanover, a son of Western Ideal, and Village Jolt, sired by Cam’s Card Shark, will be among 17 New Jersey-sired sophomore pacing colts in separate Sire Stakes divisions on the Meadowlands’ Saturday night racing program.

The 2005 Sire Stakes season actually begins Friday night with 15 three-year-old pacing fillies in two divisions, including Ideal News, a daughter of Western Ideal who swept the Blossom Series last month at The Meadowlands. She drew post five in a field of eight racing for $36,050. Elite Sorority (Cam’s Card Shark), the NJSS two-year-old pacing filly of the year for 2004, tops a field of seven from the outside post going for $35,450.

Village Jolt, the defending two-year-old pacing champion of 2004, drew post six in a field of eight racing for $36,350. His biggest victories at two were the Woodrow Wilson Pace Final and the Breeders Crown Championship. The colt earned $918,577 last year.

Rocknroll Hanover, the first two-year-old to break 1:50 last year with a 1:49.4 victory in the Metro Final, drew post one in a field of nine vying for a $36,950 purse. Among his competitors will be Sleep Easy (Dream Away), the NJSS Co-Horse of the Year for 2004, who leave from post six.