by Evan Pattak for The Meadows

MEADOW LANDS, PA, Aug. 10, 2005—She’s Game, a filly her owners wanted so badly they pursued her through two sales, justified that faith Wednesday night at The Meadows by capturing a division of the $84,744 Fred Jamison, a Grand Circuit stake for 2-year-old pacing fillies.

The stake was contested in four divisions, with the other splits taken by Just Great, Armbro Dancer and Xhilaration. The Meadows is offering Grand Circuit action all week, culminating in the $421,800 Coors Delvin Miller Adios for 3-year-old pacers on Saturday.

She’s Game was sent to the lead by driver Brian Zendt but shuffled back to third before finding late pacing room. She scored in 1:55.4, two lengths better than Delightful Hope, with Hug Me in third.

Brian Magie trains the daughter of The Panderosa for Pine Creek Stables and Charles Krippendorf, the underbidders when She’s Game went through the ring at Harrisburg.

“We wanted her at Harrisburg and missed her, and then they sold her at the Sunshine Sale in Florida,” Magie said. “It was very interesting. Our winning bid in Florida was $9,000 less than our losing bid in Harrisburg–$22,000 in Harrisburg, $13,000 in Florida.”

She’s Game won a division of the Debutante and finished third in her Countess Adios split—both at the Meadowlands—but broke stride in her only previous start at The Meadows.

“I think it was just the first time away from home,” Magie said. “The lights, the different environment, she just wanted to go more than she could really go. She’s a little bit headstrong—not run-away-from-you headstrong—but she has a mind of her own. Today, she was a lot more professional. She wants to be a race horse, and you can’t teach that.”

Armbro Dancer, a daughter of Blissful Hall, recorded the fastest winning time, 1:54.4, with an impressive wire-to-wire effort for driver Dave Palone that featured a last quarter in :27. Trainer Alan Sacco noted that Armbro Dancer was bought back at a Meadowlands sale by her current owners, Omar Beiler, Burnt Cabins and Samuel Stoltzfus.

“The bidding stopped at about $4,700,” Sacco said. “I wasn’t there that day, so I don’t know the reason for it. Her conformation is great.’

Queen Teen was second in the race, with first-time starter Western Gallie third.

Just Great, in her career debut for trainer Mark Harder and his co-owner, John D. Fielding, had no problem with her first-over trip, scoring in 1:56.4 over All Night Long and Armbro Davina. Winning driver David Miller said it wasn’t exactly the journey he would have drawn up for the daughter of Dragon Again.

“I wasn’t too sure about coming first over, but I wasn’t real happy sitting in the three hole,” Miller said. “Her connections said she wasn’t that good on the lead. I gave her a shot, and she raced very well.”

Xhilaration extended her winning streak to three, including victories in divisions of the Reynolds and the Countess Adios. She made a decisive quarter-pole move for Palone and drew off steadily to win by 8-1/2 lengths. Sensational Sarah charged up late to secure place, while Pest from the West was a distant third.

“When she got her own fractions I felt fairly comfortable with her,” Palone said. “They made a change to an open bridle, and she was very willing. It felt like any time a horse came to her, she swelled up and let me know she had plenty of go left.”

Kathleen LaMontagne owns and trains Xhilaration, a daughter of Western Hanover.