by Leon Zimmerman, for the New Jersey Sire Stakes

Trenton, NJ — The New Jersey Sire Stakes will open its 2011 Premier Division racing season at The Meadowlands on June 2 and 3 with the first of two preliminary rounds of competition for 3-year-old trotters.

The trotting fillies will race on June 2 and the colts and geldings on June 3. The second leg of the series will be on July 22 for both.

Sire Stakes Premier Division competition for 3-year-old pacing fillies is slated to begin June 24, with the sophomore pacing colts and geldings on the following night on June 25. The second legs will be on July 23 for both.

A Premier Division Championship Night of finals for all 3-year-olds is on the calendar for August 13.

NJSS Premier Division races for 2-year-olds will begin with two preliminary rounds starting June 30, concluding with a championship finals night on July 16.

Under action by the NJSS Board of Trustees, any horse who qualifies for or races in the Premier Division Championship Finals at The Meadowlands will not be eligible for the NJSS Green Acres series that will begin in September at Freehold Raceway. There will be three legs and a final in each of the eight NJSS Green Acres categories.