East Rutherford, NJ — The Meadowlands hosted the first leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for 2-year-olds on Friday (June 28). All five of the divisions raced for a purse of $25,000.

The 2-year-old filly pacers started the night off in a non-betting race before the regularly scheduled card. David Miller teamed up with the Ross Croghan trainee Odds On Sarasota to claim the first NJSS division of the night. Miller sat with Odds On Sarasota in a two-hole trip until the stretch where he pulled her and marched past the leader Duck N Roll. The Rock N Roll Heaven-Odds On Charmaine filly stopped the clock in 1:56.1, with Bigforherbritches coming in second and Duck N Roll finishing third.

Next up were the 2-year-old colt pacers in the first race of the regular card. Scott Zeron steered the odds-on favorite Rockin The Aces to the winner’s circle for trainer Carmen Auciello. The Rock N Roll Heaven-Mattaroni colt earned himself a lifetime mark of 1:54.2 with his first career win. Rock N Teen finished a close second with Cedar Hall Heaven coming in third.

The 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters took the stage for the third division of the NJSS. Once again the odds-on favorite took home the purse money in this race. Tim Tetrick wired the field with Play Trix On Me for trainer Gareth Dowse in 1:55.4. The Trixton-Lima Playmate colt opened up by 8-3/4 lengths in the stretch to trot home in :27.4. Barley finished second with AP Hall Of Trix finishing third.

The very next race was the first division of two for the 2-year-old filly trotters. Driver Anthony MacDonald pulled Spirit Of Deo first up at the half and was able to nose out the leader Caviart Eva at the wire. Spirit Of Deo, by Trixton-Caylee Dream, trotted her last quarter in a blistering :26.4 to upset the odds-on favorite. Caviart Eva finished a close second with Common Sense S coming in third. This is the Andrew Harris trainee’s first start of her career and what a way to start her 2-year-old campaign. Spirit Of Deo was bred by Deo Volente Farms of Flemington, N.J.

The last NJSS of the night was the second division for 2-year-old filly trotters. Scott Zeron teamed up with trainer George Ducharme this time, to win his second sire stakes race of the night with Dramatra. The odds-on favorite daughter of Trixton-Bourbon ‘n Grits wired the field from post five to stop the clock in 1:57.3. Dramatra finished two lengths ahead of second place finisher Stella Kemp. Tricky Sister finished in third place.

The second leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for 2-year-olds will take place on Friday (July 5) at The Meadowlands.