from the Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — The New Jersey Sire Stakes program crowned its 2-year-old trotting and pacing champions in four finals worth a combined $800,000 on Thursday night (July 23) at the Meadowlands.

Il Villaggio opened up the Night of Champions with a 1:56 score for Tim Tetrick.

Il Villaggio got up in the final strides to win the first of the four $200,000 championships, race five, for trotting colts in rein to Tim Tetrick. Il Villaggio ($7.80, $3.80, $2.20) was parked first over the whole way and wore down the pacesetter Break The Bank K ($3.00, $2.40) by a half-length in 1:56. It was three lengths back to Holiday Road ($2.10) in third.

“He went one very tough mile,” Tetrick said. “He went a long way. At the top of the lane, he tracked down that good colt that Ronny was driving (Pierce and Break The Bank K). He didn’t give up. He kept digging and got him at the wire.”

The son of Yankee Glide-Dance To Market sold for $100,000 as a yearling under the name Doc N Dugan at the Lexington Selected Sale. He was renamed for the popular Italian restaurant Il Villagio, located near the racetrack in Carlstadt, N.J., by his current owners, Brittnay Farms, Il Villaggio Partners and Blue Chip Bloodstock. The Erv Miller trainee has now won two of three starts and $116,550.

One Last Kiss pulled off an upset for Ron Pierce in the 2-year-old filly pace final.

One Last Kiss ($42.80, $10.60, $12.60) and driver Ron Pierce closed from eighth at the top of the stretch to win the $200,000 championship for pacing fillies, race six, by a neck over BJ’s Canouan ($4.40, $3.60). It was another neck behind to China Art ($7.00) in third. The daughter of Artsplace-Juliet’s Fate, trained by Ross Croghan, posted her first career win in 1:54.1.

One Last Kiss was a $47,000 yearling purchase by Mentally Stable Inc. and Robert Cooper Stables LLC.

Costa Rica ($11.80, $5.00, $3.40) capitalized on a second-over trip to take the $200,000 championship for trotting fillies, race seven, for driver John Campbell and trainer Jimmy Takter. Costa Rica posted her second straight NJSS win as she drew off by 2-1/2 lengths over Lindy’s Two Step ($13.80, $10.00) in 1:58.2. Reve Pride ($2.80) faded to third after coming first up to challenge the pacesetter Sky High.

Costa Rica was a 1:58.2 winner for driver John Campbell.

Takter’s wife, Christina, and brothers John and Jim Fielding purchased the daughter of Muscles Yankee-Examination for $23,000 at the Harrisburg yearling sale.

“She’s very professional,” Campbell noted. “She had a miscue in her first start here, the Acorn (Stake on July 1), but Jimmy (Takter) made some adjustments on her. The week off (last week) helped her a lot because she’s even stronger tonight than she was in her first NJSS.

“I just wanted to get her over and pull the plugs,” Campbell continued. “I knew she’d accelerate pretty well, I just wanted to be careful with her. Once they were out, she did the rest on her own.”

Rock N Roll Heaven moved five-wide in the final turn and rallied late to win the $200,000 championship for colt and gelding pacers, race eight.

Driver Daniel Dube and Rock N Roll Heaven ($17.80, $7.20, $3.60) followed a second over Rockin Image around the final turn and flew past the 4-5 favorite Blue Rock to win in a lifetime best of 1:54. Blue Rock ($2.80, $2.20) finished 2-1/4 lengths behind in second and Rockin Image ($2.80) was third.

“I was following (number) three (Rockin Image),” Dube said of his trip. “John (Campbell) picked that one, I figured that would be a good horse to follow and my horse could fly home. He surprised me; it was awesome.”

Lisa photos

Rock N Roll Heaven posted a 1:54 score in the 2-year-old colt pace final.

Rock N Roll Heaven was a $57,000 yearling purchase, who was sold to Frank Bellino in late-June. The son of Rocknroll Hanover-Artistic Vision is trained by Bruce Saunders. It was the first win in two lifetime starts for Rock N Roll Heaven.

“John (Campbell, the colt’s previous driver) did a great job developing this colt, racing him from behind and teaching him to be a racehorse,” Saunders said of the colt. “Dan (Dube) picked up the drive and put him in the right spot and when he pulled the trigger, he was gone.”

The Night of Champions represented the single largest payday in the New Jersey Sire Stakes program.