by Lindsey McKee, for the Meadowlands

East Rutherford, NJ — Drop The Ball shattered the track record for 2-year-old pacing fillies in one of three $51,500 Countess Adios divisions on Thursday night (August 5) at Meadowlands Racetrack.

Lisa photo

Drop The Ball won her Countess Adios division in a track record time of 1:50.4.

Under the guidance of John Campbell, Drop The Ball romped to a 1:50.4 victory in the fifth race. Her time eclipsed the previous record of 1:51.2, set by Isabella Blue Chip on December 2, 2006. The homebred daughter of Western Terror-Mattcheck Girl remains undefeated in four starts for trainer Paul Reid and owner Bulletproof Enterprises. The bay filly finished 7-1/4 lengths ahead of Shyaway and Cold Mist, who finished second and third, respectively. She paid $4.60 to win.

“I knew she had speed,” said Campbell. “As I said earlier tonight, you don’t know if you have a good horse until you come to the Meadowlands. It’s where you really have to perform but she passed the test with flying colors. I was surprised with the time because she was doing the last quarter so easy. She did that real handy so I was a little surprised at the final time. She’s got a ton of talent.”

Ace Of Pace rolled to victory in the third race division for driver George Brennan in 1:52. The Cam’s Card Shark-Whatsupcuz filly is also undefeated with four wins in her freshman campaign for trainer Mark Ford. Ace Of Pace was a $14,000 yearling purchase from the Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg by the Bell Amore Stable. Fashion Ecstasy was 3-1/2 lengths back in second and Accentuate was third. Ace Of Pace paid $3.00 to win.

“So far she’s done everything I’ve asked of her,” said Brennan. “She’s got some good tactical gate speed and I’ve been able to move her to the lead. Last week I was able to move her first over and she’s diverse. When you call on her she sprints home.”

Rocklamation closed late and rallied past the race leader Jamaica Hanover to break her maiden in the third division, carded as race six for driver Tim Tetrick. The daughter of Rocknroll Hanover-Art Sale finished a head in front of Jamaica Hanover and Show And Tell. She paid $25.40 to win.

After hitting the board in just one of four starts, trainer Mark Harder expected more from the filly.

“I’ve been very disappointed up until now,” said Harder. “I had expected a lot more than what I’ve seen. I thought we might have had a couple wins before now and she was 20 lengths off in the last race so we’ve still got a ways to go.”

Rocklamation was also purchased at the Harrisburg Sale for $50,000 as a yearling for owners Deena Frost, trainer Mark Harder and Stable 45.

The Hambletonian festival continues Friday night with the Niatross and Townsend Ackerman, leading in to Saturday’s $1.5 million Hambletonian.