by Nick Salvi, for Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment

East Ruthertford, NJ — Friday (March 14) qualifiers showcased several returning stars on a chilly morning in East Rutherford, N.J.

Sevruga made his second appearance for the Andy/Julie Miller barn and continued his return to form with a 1:54.2/:28.1 win out of the pocket. He followed Detour Hanover’s even fractions around the track before edging out at the head of the stretch and widening as he pleased.

Heston Blue Chip made his seasonal bow, plodding along through slow fractions for Tim Tetrick before a :27.1 sprint through the final quarter in a 1:55 mile, pretty much all in to hang on over a hard charging Escape The News.

Ron Burke sent out a bunch of good older horses this morning and they pretty much took over for the second half of the qualifying card.

Foiled Again was sent to the front by Yannick Gingras in his second qualifier of the year and tacked a :26.3 closer on a 1:51.1 mile. He was several lengths clear of the competition in a visually impressive workout. Doctor Butch was second in a solid effort.

Top pacing mares came next and the tantalizing Burke triumvirate of Camille (Matt Kakaley), Rocklamation (Gingras) and Charisma Hanover (Andy Miller) came together on the wire in 1:51.4 with Rocklamation and Charisma Hanover closing from a ways back into the :26.3 last quarter.

Sweet Lou looked the best of the lot today. He sat an early pocket through the :57.2 half for Gingras, then ripped out of the pocket through consecutive :27.2/:26.2 quarters on the end of the 1:51.1 mile on his own.

Results and replays are available here.