by Leon Zimmerman, for the New Jersey Sire Stakes

Trenton, NJ — Sarandon Blue Chip, winner of the two biggest races for 3-year-old pacing fillies in New Jersey-sired competition this year at Meadowlands Racetrack, has been selected as the New Jersey Sire Stakes Premier Division Horse of the Year for 2012.

The award for NJSS Green Acres Division Horse of the Year went to the 3-year-old trotting filly Aunt Mel, winner of five NJ-sired races at Freehold Raceway in 2012.

These awards, which are voted by the Sire Stakes Board of Trustees, are based only on performances in races for New Jersey-sired horses, including NJSS races and other NJ-sired major stakes and futurities.

Lisa photo

Sarandon Blue Chip is congratulated in the winner’s circle after the Thomas N. D’Altrui Miss New Jersey Pace Final.

Sarandon Blue Chip, a daughter of Western Ideal out of the mare Molly Can Do It, won the $150,000 NJSS Premier Division Championship Final for 3-year-old pacing fillies in 1:50.3 and the $125,000 Thomas N. D’Altrui Miss New Jersey Pace Final in a career mark of 1:50.1.

She also won a $22,500 preliminary NJSS series leg and was second in the elimination heat for the Miss New Jersey.

Sarandon Blue Chip earned $153,750 of her $188,789 overall purse earnings in 2012 in New Jersey stakes for co-owners Casie Coleman Stables and Tom Hill. Coleman trains the filly.

Aunt Mel, a daughter of Yankee Glide out of the mare Kimmie Hall, won two of the top three races for her New Jersey divisional competition at Freehold, the $45,000 New Jersey Futurity and the $25,000 NJSS Green Acres Final. She also won two $7,000 Green Acres preliminary legs and the $10,000 elimination race for the Helen Smith.

The filly, owned by Mary Jane Anderson and trained by Erv Miller, earned $52,085 of her $139,420 overall 2012 purse money in New Jersey.

Aunt Mel also had victories in the $40,000 Zweig Filly Trot at Vernon Downs and the $32,000 Review Stake at Springfield, and a third-place finish in the $185,194 Hudson Filly Trot at Yonkers.

The awards will be presented Jan. 27, 2013, at the annual New Jersey Breeders awards banquet at Charley’s Other Brother in Easthampton.