from the Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — BJ’s Sunset ($10.80, $4.40, $3.40) held on for a three-quarter length victory in the fourth race, the second of three $25,000 divisions of the New Jersey Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

In the other two divisions, winning efforts were turned in by 2-5 Artbitration and 1-5 Earhart Hanover.

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1-5 favorite Earhart Hanover was a winner in the third division of the NJSS.

BJ’s Sunset, driven by Ron Pierce and trained by Mark Harder, paced the mile in a lifetime best of 1:51⁴, picking up her second win in two starts this year. She held off the late charge of Glowing Report ($3.00, $2.40). It was two and three-quarter lengths to Summer Mystery ($3.00) in third.

“She is such a sweetheart,” said Pierce. “She’s a beautiful filly. She’s not very big but she is long and gets over the track well. She’s light and quick and has a good set of lungs on her and probably a big heart to go as fast as she can. You can’t find a better-gaited three-year-old filly. When I tipped her off Jimmy’s back (Jimmy Morrill with Heather’s Gambit), he (Jimmy) took off. I moved her back in to get more of a breather. I knew she was good. When I tipped her off in the stretch, I just hoped George (Brennan) wasn’t to close with Glowing Report. I was lucky to get a big head start on them.”

BJ’s Sunset, a three-year-old daughter of No Nukes, is bred and owned by Brian Nixon of Centerport, New York. BJ’s Sunset, who won the $73,045 Helen Dancer at Freehold on May 8, is being pointed toward the $200,000 Miss New Jersey on May 29 (elims on May 21) at the Meadowlands.