East Rutherford, NJ — Breakfast With The Babies, final edition for 2023, took place at 9 a.m. on Friday (July 28) under perfect conditions. Fast track, 78 degrees and no wind at post time.

Nancy Takter and Brett Pelling got to go home happy after today’s races, as both sent out sharp looking colts.

Nancy’s were both trotters and Karl, a Tactical Landing colt making his very first start, turned heads this morning by converting a pocket ride navigated by Yannick Gingras into a 1:54.4 win. Trotting his final quarter in :27.4 to get by the stubborn leader Coach Calhoun (Dexter Dunn) as they neared the wire, Karl did it with something left. Bred by Crawford Farms who retains an interest in the colt with partners for Christina And Nancy Takter, Black Horse Racing and Bender Sweden. Karl was a $135,000 Lexington yearling.

Takter and Gingras came right back with another firster. This time it was Amstel Hanover who used a :28 final quarter to comfortably edge by Intl Blockade (Domenico Cecere) near the end of the 1:58.1 mile. The Bar Hopping colt races for the trainer in partnership with Christina Takter, Black Horse Racing and Michael Falk and was a $65,000 Harrisburg buy.

Brett Pelling unveiled a couple of talented Captaintreacherous pacing colts this morning, just like the old days when he’d get them fit for upcoming stakes through the balance of the season in Meadowlands qualifiers.

The first was Principle Interest who set a rated pace for Scott Zeron before a :27.2 sprint to the end of the 1:54.2 mile, off by himself over Twin B Ludacris (Dunn) who flashed good late pace. Bred by Let It Ride Stables and Bottom Line Racing, Principle Interest brought $205,000 at the Lexington sale last fall. Dave McDuffee, Paul Bordogna, Mel Hartman and Steven Arnold are partners on the winner.

Dunn drove another really nice colt to his first win for Pelling when Titanic Hanover wore down stablemate JK Parcells (Zeron) through a :27.2 final quarter to get a 1:55 win in his third try. McDuffee, Bordogna and Hartman gave $230,000 for the Hanover bred at Harrisburg last fall.

In the opener, Chaparmbro (Chapter Seven) won her fourth qualifier for trainer/driver Trond Smedshammer, leading all the way and finishing the 1:57.2 mile with a :28.3 final quarter to win by a pole over R Bama (Zeron). Purple Haze and M3 stables gave $260,000 for the winner at Harrisburg. Fair Winds Farm is the breeder.

Bronx Barista showed up unannounced and promptly peeled off a 1:52.1 win for Mark MacDonald. Following a rapid pace set by Sweet Flowers (Andrew McCarthy) through the 1:25.1 three panels, Bronx Barista charged by that rival in the stretch and drew away. Ted Gewertz bred and co-owns the Huntsville filly in partnership with trainer Ray Schnittker and Kitefield Stable.

The “Championship Season” is coming to a close with Hambletonian eliminations Saturday night and the “Greatest Day In Harness Racing,” Hambo Day, is next Saturday with all the frills and more than $3 million in purses.

In closing, many thanks to Jules Siegel for his unwavering support in sponsoring this endeavor for the past few seasons under his Fashion Farms banner.