From Meadowlands Media Relations

East Rutherford, NJ — In what was an abbreviated program of six qualifiers this morning, the highlights were few but solid. The skies were overcast and temperatures in the 60’s with little to no wind.

Last year’s PASS champ freshman trotting colt Billy Flynn snuck onto the sheet late and went a nice 1:55.4 trip with a 27.3 final panel for Brett Miller driving for trainer Staffan Lind. Billy Flynn won eight of eleven and a third of a million dollars last season for owners Bender, Inc. and Roy Holth.

Chris Tully photo

Father Patrick‘s 2015 debut was in an impressive one, trotting a 1:52 qualifying mile on Saturday morning at the Meadowlans.

The hotly anticipated (for a morning qualifier) Father Patrick vs JL Cruze match up did not materialize with the latter a no show which was disappointing, but Father Patrick took it upon himself to brighten the day. He coasted along through moderate fractions of 27.4, 56.3, 124.3 with Lauderdale in close attendance before sprinting home in 27.2 to complete the mile in 1:52 completely on his own for Yannick Gingras. He looked fantastic. Jimmy Takter has him honed to a razor’s edge to begin his 2015 campaign, reportedly in the Maxie Lee next Sunday for listed lessee Brixton Medical, Inc.

The show continued with 2014 Horse of the Year JK She’salady adding to her legacy by tracking down and going by last season’s Mistletoe Shalee winner Sandbetweenurtoes in 1:51.2 with a 26.2 close on the timer. Sandbetweenurtoes led through the 1:25.1 three-quarters when JK She’salady rolled up outside her then edged away with minimal encouragement from Tim Tetrick. Trainer Nancy Johansson has indicated that the pride of the 3 Brothers Stable will make her debut in a NYSS event at Tioga Downs on Memorial Day. She certainly appears ready to defend her title.

Rockeyed Optimist wowed the crowd in the finale by searing through a 52.4 final half of a mile in 1:49.4 for Tetrick and he looked great, too. He’s also scheduled to make the trip to Tioga Downs for the first leg of the newly resurrected Graduate Series also on Memorial Day, May 25.

It’s a huge night at The Meadowlands with the second jewel of the thoroughbred Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes scheduled for 6:18 p.m. and live racing featuring the $183,650 Arthur J Cutler Memorial Final, $50,000 TVG Open Pace and leg one of the New Jersey Sires Stakes for sophomore pacers all on the card. The live racing starts at 7:15 p.m.