by Carol Hodes, for the New Jersey Sires Stakes

Matawan, NJ — Trainer George Teague, Jr. will send out four of the top contenders in a pair of $175,000 New Jersey Sires Stake finals for 2-year-old pacers this coming week at the Meadowlands.

The Teague entry of Cartniverous and Just Desserts is rated at 2-1 in the morning line in the fillies division, carded as the seventh race on Wednesday night (July 11), while the duo of Duneside Perch and Perseus are installed as the 7-5 favorite in the colts and geldings division, the fifth race on Thursday night (July 12).

Last year the Teague-trained Artcotic was the New Jersey Sires Stake Board of Trustees 2-Year-Old Filly Pacer of the Year. The Delaware-based Teague has candidates for 2007 honors in his pair of Artiscape fillies.

Cartniverous, the first foal of the The Panderosa mare Party Animal, is a perfect two-for-two, both in New Jersey Sires Stake preliminary legs, taking a mark of 1:55.2. She has earnings of $29,062. A $20,000 Harrisburg yearling purchase, she races in the name of George Brem and Leonard Hubbard, both of Cambridge, Maryland. Brian Sears, the leading driver at the Meadowlands, will have the assignment with Cartniverous, who leaves from post four.

Entrymate Just Desserts, handled by Daniel Dube and starting from post six, won her debut on June 20 in an NJSS leg. She was scratched sick from the Debutante the next week and broke stride last week, finishing seventh. A $20,000 Lexington Selected yearling purchase, Just Desserts has banked $12,812 for Teague Inc. (George Teague and sister, Brenda Teague) of Harrington, Delaware, and VIP Internet Stable LLC of Piscataway, New Jersey, the nom de course of Thomas M. Janes.

Sharing the NJSS record of 1:53.1 for 2-year-old pacing fillies are Emory Girl (Sherman Almahurst) since July 23, 1991 and Ladyjack (Cam’s Card Shark) since July 1, 1999.

Duneside Perch, a Cam’s Card Shark colt out of Duck Duck Goose, has a flawless record. After winning both of his qualifiers, he scored two impressive pari-mutuel victories, both in New Jersey Sires Stake action. His regular pilot is Ron Pierce, and he drew the rail.

Last week, Duneside Perch, a $45,000 Lexington Selected purchase, paced the mile in 1:51.4, equaling the New Jersey Sires Stake record set on July 18, 1996 by Jeremys Gambit (No Nukes) and matched on July 9, 1998 by Falcon’s Icon (Falcon Seelster).

Duneside Perch, who has banked $39,625, is a full brother to $541,037-earner Aba Daba Doo. He is owned by Teague Inc. and J. Patrick and Marianne Callahan, who race as Only Money Inc. of Hartly, Delaware.

Perseus, a son of Life Sign–Jett Diamond, was second in his first start at 2 and was third behind his entrymate in last week’s second leg of New Jersey Sires Stake action. Brian Sears will be at the lines, leaving from post five. Perseus has earned back $13,860 of his $30,000 New Jersey Classic yearling sale price for Teague Inc. and Rodney Mitchell Inc. of Camden, Delaware.

Yankee Rocketeer, unbeaten in his two starts, is rated the 2-1 second choice from post eight with John Campbell driving. The Kevin Lare trainee, a son of Artsplace, is owned by North State Street Stable (Joseph Petrosky, Curtis Larrimore and Mark Stonesifer) of Dover, Delaware and Harness the Power (Kevin and Suzanne Lare) of Viola, Delaware.