from the Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — Trainer Noel Daley and Adam Victor & Son Stable scored a stakes double with Hambletonian hopefuls Explosive Matter and Cesar A Blue Chip in the $101,842 Dickerson Cup for 3-year-old trotting colts on Friday night (July 3) at the Meadowlands.

Explosive Matter tipped off cover to win his Dickerson Cup division in 1:55.

After a lackluster performance in his prior start, Explosive Matter ($4.20, $3.20, $2.40) rebounded to win the second of the Dickerson Cup divisions in 1:55. Driven by Ron Pierce, Explosive Matter tipped three-wide off cover on the final turn and stepped a final panel of :27.3 to take the featured fifth race. It was 1-1/2 lengths back to Citation Lindy ($9.20, $4.20), while Tom Cango ($2.60) faded to third after carving the early fractions.

“He was good tonight,” Pierce said. “He had a nice easy week because he was a little sick last week. We just wanted to put a nice, easy mile into him and that’s what we did. It’s not a one horse race (to the Hambletonian). I think there are a few colts that can rise to the occasion and beat (Muscle Hill).”

One of the top colts in his division last year, Explosive Matter won six of eight starts and $363,415 as a freshman. His victories included the Matron elimination and final at Dover and a Breeders Crown elimination. The homebred son of Cantab Hall-Fireworks Hanover was second to divisional champion and early Hambletonian favorite Muscle Hill in the Breeders Crown Final last November.

Explosive Matter’s stablemate Cesar A Blue Chip overcame a troubled trip to win the first Dickerson Cup division, race two, in 1:54.1 with Tim Tetrick in the sulky. Hot Shot Blue Chip recovered from a miscue at the half to finish second. Russell Hill and The Chancellor finished in a dead heat for third; however, The Chancellor would be disqualified and placed seventh for violation of the breaking rule in the stretch.

“The trip was a little iffy, but he overcame it,” Tetrick said. “I was going to be third-over, behind David’s horse (Miller and Hot Shot Blue Chip). He made a break and I was gapped out second-over (behind The Chancellor). I had to work him up the backside to get him up to cover and he responded late.

“He’s got a nice little motor, high speed,” Tetrick added. “They have a few kinks they have to work out, but the speed is there. They have to work on a few shoeing things or something, he’s just not 100 percent flat or square all the time.”

Cesar A Blue Chip is two-for-three this season. Adam Victor & Son share ownership of the Andover Hall colt with Lindy Racing Stable and breeder Blue Chip Bloodstock.

Both Explosive Matter and Cesar A Blue Chip are being pointed toward the $1.5 million Hambletonian, harness racing’s most prestigious event, on Saturday, August 8, at the Meadowlands. Adam Victor Jr. and Sr. are hopeful one of the colts can deliver the Hambletonian trophy that eluded Mr Muscleman in 2003.

“The Hambletonian has been our goal since Mr Muscleman missed his shot that year when he came up sick in his elim,” said Adam Victor, Jr. “We have three serious horses and this has definitely been one of them since day one. He’s shown a lot of talent and as Timmy said, his engine has never been in question.”

Precious Stone won the Ladyship Stake for John Campbell in 1:52.

In an impressive first-over effort, Brittany Farms’ Precious Stone captured the co-featured $75,633 Ladyship Stake for 3-year-old filly pacers. Driven by John Campbell, Precious Stone reached the wheel of the pacesetter Indulge Me entering the stretch and drew off to a three length victory in 1:52. Racing Star was third. Trained by Richard Norman, the daughter of Western Ideal has now won six of 19 starts and $136,100.

Earlier in the evening, Margarita Momma wore down Gabby’s Gambol in the final strides to win the first of two divisions of the $90,632 Coaching Club Oaks for trotting fillies in 1:56. Graceful Sister held third.

“She felt very good, very much within herself,” driver Ron Pierce said of Margarita Momma. “On or off the pace, it doesn’t really matter. You can do whatever you want to do with her. At two, she went some very tough trips out in Lexington and bounced right back.”

Lisa photos

Margarita Momma posted a 1:56 score in her Coaching Club Oaks division.

Margarita Momma, trained by Jan Johnson, is a perfect three-for-three this season. She captured the $200,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship on June 13. Johnson and co-owner Jorgen Jahre are pointing the Yankee Glide lass toward the $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks on August 8.

Thomas Dillon’s Seaside, another Hambletonian Oaks eligible, squeezed through on the pylons to win the second Coaching Club Oaks division in 1:54.2 for driver David Miller and trainer Jonas Czernyson. OK To Play and Broadway Schooner were second and third, respectively.

Historic Stakes Week at the Meadowlands concludes Saturday, July 4, with the $203,000 Titan Cup for older trotters and $85,033 Jersey Cup for 3-year-old pacers. The $50,000 Thomas Strada Memorial for mares and $35,000 prep for the William R. Haughton Memorial for free for all pacers also share the spotlight. Post time is 7 p.m.