by Rachel Ryan, Meadowlands Media Relations Department

East Rutherford, NJ — The 2013 Championship Meet at Meadowlands Racetrack got underway on clear yet crisp May evening in New Jersey. The John Simpson Memorial for 3-year-old pacing fillies and preps for trotters were featured on the card.

Lisa photo

Shebestingin was a 1:51.2 winner in the Simpson Memorial.

In the $38,415 Simpson filly pace, raced as a non-wagering event betwenn races six and seven, Shebestingin benefited from a short field and was allowed to rate very kind fractions before out-sprinting her rivals home in 1:51.2.

The likely favorite for last year’s Sweetheart stakes before a last minute scratch, Shebestingin has returned in fine form for Joe Holloway and held safe by 2-1/2 lengths over O Narutac Rockette with 2012 Dan Patch Award winner Somwherovrarainbow checking in third.

David Miller drove the winner for Val D’Or Farms, Ted Gewertz and Lee and Linda DeVisser.

While the summer meet primarily features stakes racing, the first race of note on Friday was the A-2/FFA Trot. It was a solid group of older horses and resulted in the fastest trotting mile of the young season with Wishing Stone getting the call over Sevruga in 1:51.2.

Arch Madness was making his third start back and the classy veteran was put into play from the start by Trond Smedshammer through demanding fractions of :27.1, :55.1 and 1:23.1 before grudgingly giving way to the eventual winner.

Wishing Stone races out of the Ron Burke stable for owners Cowboyland Aalborg, TLP Stables, Jerry and Theresa Silva and Deo Volente Farms and was driven by Meadowlands leading driver Yannick Gingras.

The sophomore trotting colts raced in a $20,000 prep with My Man Can a winner for Andy and Julie Miller in 1:54.2 over Explosive Action. The winner of a Wellwood elimination and stakes placed on several occasions last season, resulting in earnings of more than $175,000, the Cantab Hall colt is owned in partnership by Andy Miller Stable, Mark Moger and Albert Delia, Jr.

The fans were certainly happy to see the Meadowlands back in action, sending $3,078,201 through the betting windows for the 13-race program. That marked an increase of $776,323, or 34 percent from the 12-race program raced on Derby eve one year ago.

The Saturday program gets underway at 7:15 p.m., featuring the $100,000 Meadowlands Maturity Trot with a star-studded cast, including Guccio and Googoo Gaagaa. Gates open at 9:30 a.m. for all the Kentucky Derby excitement.