East Rutherford, NJ — Driver David Miller poised Loubet (Sweet Lou-Atsallrite Hanover) into a second-over position and nursed his speed in the straightaway sprint to nail a 1:49.3 victory in the $233,970 Kindergarten Classic final for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Saturday night (Nov. 12) at The Meadowlands.

David Miller and Loubet winning the Nov. 12 Kindergarten Classic Final for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings at The Meadowlands. Lisa Photo.

Blue Hunt (Tim Tetrick) bolted from post 8 to the point into a :26.4 first quarter as Save America (Yannick Gingras), the 4-5 favorite, peeled from the pegs and swept to the lead in the backstretch. Save America tried to snag a breather to a :55 half while Goldin Greatness (Dexter Dunn) readied to flush first over to the far turn with Loubet keeping close in behind.

Once activated, Goldin Greatness marched forward to within a length of Save America passing three-quarters in 1:23.1. Save America held his ground spinning for home and dug deep to keep Goldin Greatness at bay. All the while Loubet revved off cover and gathered his momentum down the center to hit his best stride in the final eighth. Loubet slid to the lead as Save America folded and held a 1-1/2-length advantage past the beam over a pylon-skimming Blue Hunt. Goldin Greatness fought to finish third and Ants Marching (Josert Fonseca) rallied for fourth.

“He was on the left line pretty good there,” David Miller said after the race. “Right off the gate, I got Dexter [Dunn on Goldin Greatness] on me and Yannick [Gingras on Save America] got in front of him, and then I figured Yannick would re-move and I would have live cover. It was working out great until the last turn – he just was bearing out too much… enough to where Todd [McCarthy on Ants Marching] slipped out in between us. But he was strong enough to get the win anyway. The horse just raced tremendous.”

Ron Burke trains Loubet, a colt by Sweet Lou who bagged his third win from four starts. The win padded his bankroll to $129,236 for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Michelle Yanek and Philip Collura. He paid $6 to win.

–Ray Cotolo

Odds-on favorite Charleston braced for a pair of challengers in the final quarter but failed to withstand the fresh legs of Bellisima Hanover (Captaintreacherous-Bedroomconfessions), who burst from the pocket and claimed the cash in the $238,810 Kindergarten Classic final for 2-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday night (Nov. 12) at The Meadowlands.

Driver Todd McCarthy asserted Bellisima Hanover onto the helm and clicked a :27.3 first quarter. Charleston (Dunn) then swung out of third and brushed to lead before a :55.3 half while Cultured (Zeron) pulled first over from fourth and steadily progressed towards the front.

Todd McCarthy and Bellisima Hanover winning the Nov. 12 Kindergarten Classic Final for 2-year-old pacing fillies at The Meadowlands. Lisa Photo.

Charleston posted three-quarters in 1:23.4 and quickened for the drive with Cultured to her outside and Bellisima Hanover antsy in behind. The pacesetter maintained control into the eighth pole, but came under serious pressure as Cultured drifted and opened a gap for Bellisima Hanover. Bellisima Hanover readily launched between horses to land a final-stride blow on Charleston and take a neck victory in 1:50.2. Cultured finished third and Cantgetuoutamymind (Corey Callahan) took fourth.

“I kind of thought I was in a great spot there until the top of stretch there,” Todd McCarthy said after the race. “It wasn’t looking so promising, but we were lucky enough to shake loose late and she certainly surged to the line. I was looking for anywhere I could go, but I was fortunate enough that Cultured got a little tired and drifted up the track, and I was able to squeeze through the little gap there. But when I did, she certainly surged forward and found the line very well.

“She’s been so good, and earlier in the season there she put down some big miles,” McCarthy also said. “She had a couple off runs, but full credit to Tony [Alagna]. He got her back and spot-on tonight, so it was a good way to get toward the end of the season with her anyway.”

Bellisima Hanover notched a third win from 11 tries in her campaign and deposited to an account now worth $199,547 for owners Riverview Racing, Alagna Racing, Caviart Farms, Daniel Plouffe and S. Head. The daughter of Captaintreacherous, trained by Tony Alagna, returned $11.80 to win.

–Ray Cotolo

A LITTLE MORE: Todd McCarthy and Yannick Gingras were the top drivers on the night with three winners apiece. … Trainer Ron Burke took the conditioner’s colony to school on Kindergarten Series finals night with four winner’s circle trips. … Just over $41,000 in “new money” was added to the $5,000 carryover in the 20-cent Pick-6, and those who had all six correct walked away with a payoff of $3,487.32. … All-source handle busted the $3-million barrier as $3,085,385 was pushed through the windows on the 14-race program. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.

–Dave Little