by Amy Silver, publicity director, Meadowlands Racetrack

East Rutherford, NJ — Big Jim, the 2010 two-year-old Dan Patch Award winner, was installed the 8-5 morning line favorite in the $400,000 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic on Saturday night at Meadowlands Racetrack.

The New Jersey Classic is the first major stakes race of the year for 3-year-old pacers and the richest event restricted to New Jersey-sired horses. The New Jersey Classic and companion $150,000 Thomas D’Altrui Miss New Jersey for fillies are sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey. The New Jersey Classic is carded as race six with an estimated post time of 8:44 pm, while the Miss New Jersey is race three at 7:41 pm.

Lisa Photo

Big Jim was a 1:51.4 winner for driver Phil Hudon in the prep for the NJ Classic on May 21.

Big Jim opened his sophomore campaign with a 1:51.4 romp in the prep for the New Jersey Classic on May 21. The son of Western Ideal will start from post eight in the final for the team of driver Phil Hudon, trainer James Dean and owner James Carr. Big Jim won six of 10 starts and $827,204 on the way to being named the Two-Year-Old Colt Pacer of the Year in both the U.S. and Canada last year. He capped his freshman season with victories in the Breeders Crown and Governor’s Cup, the latter in a 1:49.1 world record.

“He was well in hand,” driver Phil Hudon said after the prep. “I didn’t want to rev him up too much late. I was just sitting on him. He finished up good and I think he’ll have a good year.”

Owner James Carr is pointing Big Jim for the $1 million Meadowlands Pace on July 16. He also plans to take aim at Somebeachsomewhere’s 1:46.4 world record for a 3-year-old pacer, set in 2008 at The Red Mile.

“One of my ambitions with this horse is that he is the fastest 3-year-old,” Carr said. “I think given the right conditions, he can be. We did not test the waters with him as a 2-year-old. The last race [Governor’s Cup], we just let him go in the stretch, but prior to that, we just raced him fast enough to win.”

Kripsy Apple tops the field for the $150,000 Thomas D’Altrui Miss New Jersey for fillies. Perfect in three starts this season, the daughter of Western Ideal is rated at 8-5 from post three. Tim Tetrick will be her partner in the sulky. Mark Kesmodel trains the Matron winner for Jeffrey Bamond and Joseph Davino

The field for the $400,000 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic:
PP, Horse, Driver, Trainer
1, Shadyshark Hanover, Tim Tetrick, Erv Miller, 3-1
2, Roll’em Up, Andy Miller, Joe Holloway, 8-1
3, Lizard King, David Miller, Ross Croghan, 12-1
4, Ru Ready To Rock, Yannick Gingras, Chris Ryder, 20-1
5, High Noon, Ron Pierce, Jimmy Takter, 15-1
6, Doin Time Together, Simon Allard, Lou Pena, 15-1
7, Lookinforadventure, Brett Miller, Bruce Saunders, 12-1
8, Big Jim, Phil Hudon, James Dean, 8-5
9, Grams Legacy, Brian Sears, Jimmy Takter, 5-1
10, Jo Pa’s Pe III, John Campbell, John Campbell, 20-1

The field for the $150,000 Thomas D’Altrui Miss New Jersey:
PP, Horse, Driver, Trainer
1, I Kill Time, Ron Pierce, Robin Schadt, 8-1
2, Pretty Katherine, David Miller, Casie Coleman, 5-2
3, Krispy Apple, Tim Tetrick, Mark Kesmodel, 8-5
4, Rocklamation, Andy Miller, Mark Harder, 4-1
5, Weekend Update, Andy Miller, Mark Fransen, 12-1
6, So Perfect, Brian Sears, Jimmy Takter, 15-1
7, Honky Tonk Woman, Yannick Gingras, Ross Croghan, 10-1
8, Myluvmylife, Mike Lachance, Joseph King, 15-1