East Rutherford, NJ — The bettors at the Meadowlands crushed Newsroom down to 1-2 in the wagering, and the son of Always B Miki-Well Hello There delivered in the Friday night (June 30) feature, a $34,050 Geers Stakes division for 2-year-old colts and geldings on the pace.

“I think he has an opportunity to be special,” said winning trainer Joe Holloway. “He’s just a nice horse.”

Off a 1:53.4 qualifying win at Gaitway Farm, Newsroom had the public’s confidence in the field where every starter was making their first career appearance in a betting race, and Dave Miller drove him as if he were best by going directly to the top and carving out fractions of :29, :59 and 1:28.1.

Mirage Hanover, who sat a four-hole to the half, came alongside with a rush to challenge the leader around the far turn, but Newsroom shrugged that one aside during a final quarter of :25.4 to record a half-length win in 1:54.

Newsroom and driver Dave Miller took the Geers Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings on the pace Friday night at the Meadowlands. Lisa Photo.

Mirage Hanover held second with Lou’s World third in the field of six.

“Dave said he’s kind of lazy on the front end,” said Holloway. “So he tried to wake him up during the third quarter. Once he popped the plugs, Newsroom did the rest.”

Next week’s Kindergarten is next up for Newsroom, who returned $3.00 to win.

Before the betting card, Grab The Chance S scored in a $33,000 Arthur Tompkins Memorial split for 2-year-old fillies on the trot. The daughter of Trixton-Opportunity went the mile in 1:56.4 for driver-trainer Åke Svanstedt. In a $35,325 Tompkins division for 2-year-old colts and geldings on the trot, Stormcloudfashion (Walner-Cloud Nine Fashion) reported home first in 1:55.4 for trainer Jim Campbell and driver Todd McCarthy.

A LITTLE MORE: Drivers Dominik Miga (That’smytype, $31.80 to win) and Michael Whelan both recorded their first-ever wins at the Big M. Miga did it in a Meadowlands Amateur Driving Club event while Whelan scored in a conditioned race, guiding the Jeff Cullipher-trained Better Take It ($13.80) to a lifetime-best 1:48.3 effort. … All-source handle topped $3 million for the 40th time in 52 race cards during 2023 after $3,192,296 was pushed through the windows on the 13-race program. … Gabe Prewitt was the big winner on Night 9 of the track’s “Battle of the Meadowlands Masterminds” handicapping contest. He tabbed the $43.40 exacta in the fourth race and had a $200 ticket, which created a $4,340 score. … Racing resumes Saturday (July 1) at 6:20 p.m.