by Carol Hodes, for the SBOA of New Jersey

Manalapan, NJ — Three-year-olds — pacers in the $230,000 Berry’s Creek Final at the Meadowlands and trotters in the $181,369 Dexter Cup at Freehold — highlight the Saturday, May 9, programs during a weekend filled with stakes at both New Jersey tracks.

Freehold also hosts a trio of Lady Suffolk divisions for 3-year-old trotting fillies on Friday, May 8, while the Meadowlands offers a showcase for free for allers with the elims for the trotters in the Cutler Memorial on Friday and a pair of elims for pacers in the Graduate on Saturday.

The Dexter Cup Final, carded as the eighth race at Freehold, features a first meeting between the elim winners — Anders Bluestone (post four with Jimmy Takter driving) and Keystone Activator (post eight with George Brennan in the sulky).

Keystone Activator, the 5-2 morning line favorite, carries a three-race winning streak and has finished first in four of five starts this year. His elim victory in 1:55.3 established a 3-year-old trotting colt track record at Freehold.

The Jim Raymer trainee has finished first or second in 11 of 18 career efforts and banked $133,095 for the Trillium Racing and Tammie Raymer, who purchased the striking chestnut colt for $10,000 at the Harrisburg yearling sale.

Anders Bluestone, unraced at two and now two-for-two, has earned $24,386. He was a $60,000 Harrisburg Sale purchase for Christina Takter, John D. Fielding, Goran Anderberg and Jim H. Fielding.

Anders Bluestone, the 7-2 second choice with Jimmy Takter driving, is a son of Yankee Glide and one of four New Jersey-sired finalists along with Vesuvio AS (Windsong’s Legacy), Muscle Mayhem (Muscles Yankee) and Wishful Sir (Revenue S).

The $181,369 Dexter Cup field (in post position order with driver, trainer and morning line odds): Vesuvio AS, Jim Meittinis, Anette Lorentzon, 6-1; Muscle Mayhem, David Miller, Jim Campbell, 9-2; Photoforwin, Rick Beinhauer, Rick Beinhauer, 5-1; Citation Lindy, Ray Schnittker, Ray Schnittker, 8-1; Wishful Sir, Andy Miller, Erv Miller, 10-1; Bobbi Jo’s Lindy, Steve Smith, Ray Schnittker, 8-1; and Keystone Activator, George Brennan, Jim Raymer, 5-2. Citation Lindy and Bobbi Jo’s Lindy are coupled in the wagering. Morning line odds subject to change after scratches and driver changes.

The companion event for fillies, the Lady Suffolk, drew 22 starters divided into three divisions with purses ranging from $34,975 to $35,975 and carded as races four, six and seven on Friday at Freehold.

Lulu De Revenue, a daughter of Revenue S, won the $75,000 Harold Dancer Filly last year, and Gabbys Dream by Dream Vacation, who captured the 2008 New Jersey Sire Stakes Final at Freehold, are among 12 New Jersey-sired fillies in the Lady Suffolk.

At the Meadowlands, the Saturday night spotlight is on the $230,000 Berry’s Creek, the first major test of the year for 3-year-old pacers.

The entry of River Shark (post two with Daniel Dube), the Suslow winner who has a four-race winning streak, and Vertigo Hanover (post eight with John Campbell) is rated 9-5 in the morning line for the seventh race feature.

New Jersey-sired finalists include Western Posse (Western Ideal), Drop Red (Red River Hanover), Pair A Dice (Cam’s Card Shark) and Vertical Horizon (Western Ideal).

The $230,000 Berry’s Creek field (in post position order with driver, trainer and morning line odds): Lisagain, Andy Miller, Erv Miller, 10-1; River Shark, Daniel Dube, David Sabatelli, 9-5; Hypnotic Blue Chip, Tim Tetrick, Mark Harder, 7-2; Western Posse, Brian Sears, Noel Daley, 10-1; Annieswesterncard, Ron Pierce, Joe Seekman, 8-1; Arctic Warrior, David Miller, Sam Beegle, 8-1; Vertigo Hanover, John Campbell, Duane Marfisi, 9-5; Pair A Dice, John Campbell, Steve Elliott, 15-1; and Vertical Horizon, Yannick Gingras, Bjorn Noren, 20-1. River Shark and Vertigo Hanover are coupled in the wagering. Morning line odds subject to change after scratches and driver changes.

The co-featured $50,000 elims for the Graduate will determine the finalists for the $250,000 (est.) final on May 16. The top five from each, races six and ten, will advance with the elim winners having choice of post positions.

Million-dollar earner Shark Gesture, a 6-year-old by New Jersey-sire Cam’s Card Shark, is the 5-2 morning line pick in the first division, leaving from the rail with Tim Tetrick driving. Winbak Speed, who has been first or second in nine of 13 starts this year, is rated 9-5 in the second elim, leaving from post four with Ron Pierce at the lines.

In addition to Shark Gesture, New Jersey-sired entrants include McCedes (McArdle), who won the $500,000 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic in 2008, and Palone Ranger, a $1.2 million earner by Western Ideal.

The first nine finishers in the 10-horse $40,000 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial elim, the tenth race on Friday night, will earn spots in the $200,000 (est.) final.

The 5-2 morning line favorite is Arch Madness, leaving from post four with Brian Sears driving. New Jersey-sired entrants include Su Mac Lad winner Lanson (Self Possessed) and 2008 Older Trotting Horse of the Year Enough Talk (Enjoy Lavec).