by Carol Hodes, for the SBOA of New Jersey

Manalapan, NJ — Dial Or Nodial, who won the 2008 New Jersey Sire Stakes finals at both the Meadowlands and Freehold, is among the 45 colts and geldings nominated to the $500,000 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic.

The New Jersey Classic for 3-year-old New Jersey-sired pacers and its filly companion event, the $200,000 Thomas D’Altrui Miss New Jersey, will share the spotlight with a pair of $200,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Finals for 3-year-old trotters on June 13 at the Meadowlands.

Elimination races will take place on June 6 for the New Jersey Classic and June 5 for the Miss New Jersey, which drew 39 nominees.

The New Jersey Classic and Miss New Jersey are sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey.

Dial Or Nodial, a son of Western Ideal-Smart Dialing, won eight of 12 starts and earned $414,124 at two, racing for owner-breeders Arlene and Jules Siegel of New Hope, Pa. The Jim Campbell trainee won both the $175,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Final at the Meadowlands on July 10 and the $85,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Final at Freehold on September 20 and was voted the divisional champion by the NJSS Board of Trustees.

The colt also won a pair of stakes at Lexington’s Red Mile — the Bluegrass and the International Stallion Stakes — taking each with his mark of 1:51.2. He was fourth in the $647,800 Governor’s Cup at Woodbine and third in the $700,000 Breeders Crown at the Meadowlands.

Twist N Clout, also a Western Ideal offspring, was the NJSS filly divisional champion in 2008 and is among the Miss New Jersey eligibles. Owned by Val d’Or Farms of Millstone, N.J., bred at Perretti Farms in Cream Ridge, N.J. and trained by Joe Holloway, she banked nearly $500,000 at two.

The filly had five wins, a second and a third in 13 starts, winning a division of the Debutante and the $175,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Final at the Meadowlands. She also captured a pair of $100,000 races, taking divisions of the Kentuckiana Stallion Management at Indiana Downs and the International Stallion Stakes in Lexington, taking a mark of 1:53.2. She was fourth in two $400,000 stakes, the Sweetheart and Three Diamonds, and second by three-quarters of a length to Fox Valley Topaz in the $700,000 Breeders Crown.

This year marks the 30th edition of the New Jersey Classic, the richest of all state-bred races. Among the previous winners have been divisional champions On The Road Again (1984), Jate Lobell (1987), Matt’s Scooter (1988), Western Hanover (1992), Presidential Ball (1993), Cam’s Card Shark (1994), Jenna’s Beach Boy (1995), Bettor’s Delight (2001) and Rocknroll Hanover (2005).

The stakes record of 1:49.1 was set in 2006 by Feelin Friskie.

John Campbell, who won the inaugural edition in 1980 with Bold Rush, and Mike Lachance have each driven five New Jersey Classic winners.

In March 2006, the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey renamed the stakes to salute two of its longest-serving leaders. Abbatiello, a member of harness racing’s Hall of Fame and currently a New Jersey Racing Commission member, was a founder of the SBOANJ in 1961. He served as its president for nearly three decades. D’Altrui served 33 years as an SBOANJ board member, 22 years as vice president.

The progeny of seven stallions are represented in the nominees for both events this year, topped by Western Ideal with 22 colts and fillies, the late Artsplace with 20 and Cam’s Card Shark with 17.

2009 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic Nominated Colts
Allamerican Chief-Cam’s Card Shark-Chippie Gabby
Amazon Art -Artsplace-Can Du River
Art Colony-Artsplace-Asleep Onthe Beach
Art For Living-Artiscape-Tyler’s Prime Time
Artners In Crime-Artiscape-Pretty Daring
Art-Tastic-Artsplace-Blu’s Girl
Buffalo Rome-Western Ideal-Roman Art
Cam’s Western-Cam’s Card Shark-Western News
Catch The Shark-Cam’s Card Shark-Bearnaise Hanover
Champs Folly-Artiscape-Western Riddler
Come Together-Artsplace-Pleasantville
Dial Or Nodial-Western Ideal-Smart Dialing
Dr C’s Z Tam-Artiscape-Best of Memories
Estero Bay-Western Ideal-Sanabelle Island
Fireintheshark-Cam’s Card Shark-Fie Foe Fire
Harry Bluedini-Artiscape-Swanson Blue Chip
Homerun Baby-Artiscape-Dreamland’s Sachi
Ideal Danny-Western Ideal-Armbro Nectarine
Justin’s Art-Artsplace-Vidality Hanover
Lightning Elvis-McArdle-Gotta Token
Lisdean -Artsplace-Liscara
Mattifioso-Western Ideal-Mattmoiselle
McLaren-McArdle-Juliets Fate
Mindfreak-Cam’s Card Shark-Town Feather
Mr Biba Fra-Cam’s Card Shark-Village Jovial
Mr Terry Fra-Artsplace-Christine’s Return
One Card Please-Cam’s Card Shark-She’s The One
One Wild Nite-Artsplace-The Dragon Flu
Passmaster Hanover-Cam’s Card Shark-Panned Out
Poker Shark-Cam’s Card Shark-Ramilette Hanover
Redneck Riviera-Red River Hanover-Cape Matteras
Richie’s Place-Artsplace-Lasting Flower K
Riding The Rapids-Red River Hanover-Riding Around
Roger’s Place-Artsplace-Jate Mate
Sam Hill-Artsplace-Apple Of My Eye
Sir Arthur-Artsplace-Perfect Profile
Smart And Fast-Cam’s Card Shark-Caramba Hanover
Sombrero Blue Chip-Western Ideal-Advantest
Special Art-Artsplace-Wendy M Hanover
Table And Chair-Cam’s Card Shark-Macks Table
Vertical Horizon-Western Ideal-Summer Mystery
Vintage Master-Western Ideal-Art’s Vintage
Western Avenue-Western Ideal-Arts Touch
Western Blood-Western Ideal-Prettiestgalintown
Western Posse-Western Ideal-Coochie Mama

2009 Thomas D’Altrui Miss New Jersey Nominated Fillies
All Or None-Cam’s Card Shark-Heather’s Western
Allamerican Octave-Artsplace-Observe Me
Arbeedo-Artsplace-Shoobeedobeedo
Best Til Last-Artiscape-Wild At Heart
Britash Redcoat-Red River Hanover-Expensive Ashley
Bryan’s Ideal-Western Ideal-Diamond Mil
Caminated-Cam’s Card Shark-Paula’s Promise
Cammy’s Heart-Cam’s Card Shark-Hattie
Dawn’s Legacy-Western Ideal-Dawn Q
Dingle Bay-McArdle-Nantucket Beach
Dream McQueen-McArdle-Shady Desire
Ella Mae-Artsplace-Nukessa
Enjoy The View-Life Sign-Daylon Flyer
Gadgets To Go-Cam’s Card Shark-Arl’s Troublemaker
Get The Scoop-Life Sign-Open Book
Giovanna Fra-Artiscape-Sangria Red
Ideal Sign-Western Ideal-Impressive Sign
JKMusicofthenite-Western Ideal-L’Chaim
Lilly Langtree-Life Sign-Henrietta MacFaber
LuLu Q-McArdle-Taylor Lou Q
Matter Of Life-Western Ideal-Life Mattes
McGibson-McArdle-Armbro Althea
Mezuzah Hanover-McArdle-Miss Easy
Perfectionist-Western Ideal-Sounds Perfect
Personal Ad-Artiscape-Lookinforagirllikeu
Precious Stone-Western Ideal-Bewitching Jewell
Regal Wish-Cam’s Card Shark-Classic Wish
Scarlet McZara-McArdle-Zara
Showherthemoney-Cam’s Card Shark-Stienam’s Place
Smilesplace-Artsplace-Miss Smiles
Southwind Mocha-Artsplace-Musical Dreamer
Special Sweetheart-Western Ideal-Ladys Special Girl
Spirit To Spare-Artsplace-Bust Out The Bid
Sweet Jane-Western Ideal-Natalia
That’s The Plan-Western Ideal-Best Laid Plans
Twist N Clout-Western Ideal-Economic Clout
U Foria BB-Life Sign-U Neek BB
Up Front River Girl-Red River Hanover-Ever And Again
Windsun Celestial-Artsplace-Windsun Dee