from the Meadowlands Media Relations Department

East Rutherford, NJ — The New Jersey Sires Stakes for 3-year-old trotters resumes on Friday night (May 27) at The Meadowlands with leg two.

The number of races mirrors last week with two filly divisions and a single colt contest but the players have changed significantly with the winners of all three races remaining in the barn this week, their spot in next week’s finals secure.

The first $20,000 division for the ladies is the second race, a field of six. Hillosophical has been steadily improving for Valeriya Medik and took a giant leap forward in last week’s race, trotting in 1:54.4, her fastest mile to date by three seconds while finishing second at odds of more than 100-1. She won’t have to deal with the Garden State’s top filly this week, All The Time, and that alone may land her in the winner’s circle for owner Green Acquisition Corporation. Andy Miller has the drive.

Southwind Hope is the filly to beat in division two (race four). She did all the hard work in last week’s race leading until the final stride when Wildflower stuck her head in front just in time for the win photo in 1:55. Southwind Hope has two wins and hasn’t missed the board in her five seasonal outings this year while banking more than $37,000 for Andy Miller Stable, Little E, LLC and Lawrence Dumain. Andy will drive and Julie Miller is the trainer.

The seven (of nine) colts back from the first leg will advance at least three places in the order of finish in the $25,000 sixth race as the top three finishers from that race, Southwind Frank, Brooklyn Hill, and Bar Hopping, are absent from leg two. That leaves Double L Lindy as the returning leader off of a solid fourth after surviving a long first over bid last week, beaten just five lengths and five in front of the rest of the field. Unraced at two, Double L Lindy races out of the Ake Svanstedt barn for owners Lindy Farms, Joe Sbrocco, Paul Van Camp and Little E. Steve Smith has the drive on him.

The Friday offering begins at 7:15 p.m. with $226,527 in the Super Hi-5 Jackpot pool to open the weekend.