by Leon Zimmerman, for the New Jersey Sire Stakes

Trenton, NJ — Five undefeated New Jersey-sired 2-year-olds will put their records on the line Thursday night (July 23) in the richest single night of New Jersey Sire Stakes competition with $800,000 in total purses for four championship finals at The Meadowlands.

Three-time winner Blue Rock, a son of Rocknroll Hanover, heads a field of 10 in the $200,000 NJSS Championship for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Blue Rock has won two NJSS preliminary legs and a division of the Goshen Cup, all at the Meadowlands. The colt took a mark of 1:52.2 in his most recent NJSS victory.

In the $200,000 championship for 2-year-old trotting colts, there are three unbeaten colts, Break The Bank K (Revenue S), and two sons of Yankee Glide, IL Villaggio and Holiday Road.

Break The Bank K has won two NJSS preliminary legs in 1:56 and 1:56.3, and a Harriman Cup division at The Meadowlands. But the NJSS record for freshman trotting colts belongs to IL Villaggio with a 1:55.4 mark in an NJSS preliminary leg victory. Holiday Road has won his only previous start in 1:57.

In the $200,000 championship for 2-year-old pacing fillies is the undefeated Lover Of Art, a daughter of Artsplace who has won both her previous races, a leg of the Sire Stakes for her 1:54.3 mark, and the Debutante Stake at The Meadowlands.

The fourth $200,000 championship for 2-year-old trotting fillies is a wide-open event, with six of the 10 competitors winning one NJSS preliminary leg each. They are top point earner Reve Pride (Revenue S), three sired by Muscles Yankee (Lindy’s Two Step, Will Of A Woman and Costa Rica), and two sired by Yankee Glide (IPO Blue Chip and Croquet Style). Three other fillies in the race finished second in one leg each.