by Courtney Stafford, Publicity Consultant,, SBOANJ

East Rutherford, NJ — The Meadowlands hosted the second leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes (NJSS) for 2-year-olds on Friday night (July 6). The pacing races competed for $15,000 each while the trotters raced for $20,000 each. The six 2-year-old NJSS races included one division for pacing colts and one for the fillies, the trotters were split into two divisions for the fillies and two divisions for the colts.

The first NJSS was raced off the card for 2-year-old pacing colts.

Hurrikane Emperor, son of Hurrikane Kingcole-Hurricane Schmumma, was once again the winner of that division for trainer John McDermott Jr. in 1:56.1. Leaving from post position two to take the lead and despite a bobble in the stretch, driver Dan Dube got him back on gait in time to win.

Hurrikane Emperor is now two-for-two in lifetime starts for owners Johnathan Klee Racing, Kuhen Racing LLC, Pegasis Investment Group and George Viemo. Clintock finished second while Black Dan came in third.

Mollydooker, trained by Tony Alagna, took the pacing division for the 2-year-old fillies in the first race of the regular scheduled card.

Driver Brett Miller moved Mollydooker first up to take the lead at the half and win in 1:55.1. Owned by Visionary Breeders LLC, the Great Vintage-sired Mollydooker (dam Fox Valley Zena) has her first lifetime win. Hurrikane Lori Ann and Hurrikanesky dead heated for second.

The first division of the 2-year-old trotting fillies, was won by odds on favorite French Café, trained by Julie Miller. Andy Miller sat patiently with French Cafe and stormed past the competition in the stretch to win in 1:58.1. The Father Patrick-Creamy Mimi filly notched her first win of the season for owners Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld. Given finished second while Sari Bout It came in third.

Joe Holloway’s Father Patrick-Avalicious son, Lucius Vorenus, took the next race on the card, which was the first division of the NJSS for 2-year-old trotting colts.

Lucius Vorenus and David Miller held off a charging Soul Strong in the stretch to win in 1:58.0. Lucius Vorenus is owned and bred by Crawford Farms Racing. Soul Strong finished a strong second and Gerris Trix was third.

Odds-on favorite Battenberg gave trainer Joe Holloway the sweep in the NJSS for 2-year-old trotting colts. The son of Trixton-Coffeecake Hanover was able to find the wire before No Drama Please could catch him in 1:55.4. Owned by Crawford Farms Racing and Val D’Or Farms Battenberg now has his first lifetime win. Finishing a very close second was No Drama Please and Galixton was third.

The last NJSS of the night was for the 2-year-old trotting fillies, where Mother Bonnie upset the favorite for trainer Noel Daley. Andrew McCarthy steered Mother Bonnie (Trixton-Fashion Spooner) to the front to wire the field in 1:55.0. Mother Bonnie is owned and bred by Robert McNerney and Hauser Bros Rcng Ent LLC. The favorite Special Honor held on for second while Golden Tricks took third place.

The finals for all the 2-year-old NJSS divisions will be held on Friday (July 13) at The Meadowlands.