NJSS finals on Saturday at The Meadowlands

from the Meadowlands Media Relations Department

East Rutherford, NJ — A quartet of $100,000 finals bring the sophomore division of the New Jersey Sires Stakes to a conclusion on Saturday night (May 30) at The Meadowlands.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Mission Brief leads the field in the NJSS final for 3-year-old trotting fillies.

The trotting fillies come up first in the fourth race with the defending champion Mission Brief starting from the far outside in post ten. The fastest freshman in trotting history by virtue of her 1:50.3 tour of The Red Mile last fall and Breeders Crown champ, Mission Brief won the first leg in a measured 1:53.4, then stayed home last week while Rules Of The Road took the second leg.

Yannick Gingras takes his regular position behind Mission Brief for trainer Ron Burke, who owns her in partnership with Our Horse Cents Stable, J&T Silva and Weaver Bruscemi.

Race six is the glamour boy division, the pacing colts. Artspeak was the winner of last season’s NJSS final for this group on his way to year-end honors while his main for here, Hurrikane Ali, had an abbreviated five start freshman campaign in which he was winless.

What a difference a year can make, for as they come into the final Hurrikane Ali has won all three of his 2015 starts including two NJSS legs in 1:50 and 1:50.1 with relative ease for young trainer John McDermott Jr. Gingras has the drive here as well for the ownership group of Kuhen Racing, Jonathan Klee Racing, Dr. Ken Rucker and Robert Pucila.

Artspeak spoke toward his potential for a big season via his effortless 1:49 romp in leg one. Trainer Tony Alagna then held him out of last week’s leg with an eye toward the long campaign, setting up this interesting match-up on Saturday.

Artspeak won eight of ten last season, among those the Metro and Governor’s Cup trophies. Scott Zeron has been his constant companion in all races for the owners, Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Joe Sbrocco and In The Gym Partners (John Fodera and Steve Wienick).

The pacing fillies (race eight) shapes up to be the most contentious of the four finals.

Lindy’s Old Lady (Tim Tetrick) didn’t race at two, but is quickly gaining notice by virtue of a pair of wins in as many starts. She was a leg one NJSS winner in 1:51, then stayed home at Lindy Farm last week as trainer Frank Antonacci carefully manages the frequency of his trips to the well with the talented filly.

Happiness also skipped leg two after a comfortable 1:50.4 win in leg one for Gingras and Burke. She has a Grand Circuit win on her résumé via the Simpson Memorial stake in 1:50.3 earlier this season for Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi.

Wicked Little Minx took the lone division of leg two, holding off the furious late charge of Stacia Hanover in 1:51.1. Nancy Johansson conditions Wicked Little Minx for Courant AB and Brett Miller is back in the driver’s seat for the final.

Stacia Hanover won this division last year and has the look of a filly on the verge of a big mile for her trainer/driver combo of Steve Elliott and Zeron and owners David Van Dusen and Michael Cimaglio.

Bringing the NJSS curtain down on Saturday in the 11th race will be the sophomore trotting colts and a powerful group they are.

Guess Whos Back (winner of this division’s final in 2014) has won both preliminary legs including a hard-fought 1:52.4 decision over Canepa Hanover last week. Driver Brian Sears used the entire stretch to eke out the half-length tally with Canepa Hanover never giving in. Nik Drennan trains Guess Whos Back for owners Joe Davino, Brad Shackman, TLP Stable and J&T Silva.

The potent duo of Canepa Hanover and French Laundry represent the Jimmy Takter barn and both are top colts.

Canepa Hanover has been third and second in the two legs and last week’s effort was a gritty one after being used hard to get to the front, then facing a strong wind in the homestretch. With Takter off to Sweden for the Elitlopp, Yannick Gingras will drive for the interests of Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Sam Goldband, Al Libfeld, Brixton Medical and Christina Takter.

French Laundry was a winner in the first leg, his only 2015 start to this point. He has been rock solid throughout his career for owners Christina Takter, John & Jim Fielding, Katz and Libfeld. Brett Miller is his regular driver and will be again on Saturday night.

Both Hi-5 Jackpots remain intact going into Friday night’s live card with the totals now at $131,037 (race five) and $105,195 (race 12). Saturday night promotions include the chance to win a first class trip to the June 6 Belmont Stakes and JerseyFest which features the NJ vs. Philly Food Truck Mash-Up. The 13-race program starts at 7:15 p.m.

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