by Carol Hodes, for the New Jersey Sires Stakes

Freehold, NJ — A pair of pacing colts trained by Linda Toscano swept the two $15,000 eliminations for the Lou Babic Memorial on Saturday (October 13) at Freehold Raceway.

The two — Artic Stretch and Meant To Be Me — will be among the eight New Jersey-sired 2-year-old colts and geldings advancing to the final of the open division of the Babic on October 20. The Babic open division and the companion filly division are both sponsored by the New Jersey Sires Stakes program. Both divisions were clocked in 1:55.1.

In the first division, carded as the second race, Artic Stretch ($9.40, $3.60, $2.10), a son of Artiscape, posted his second straight win with a 1-1/2 length victory over Dontloseyourdayjob ($2.60, $2.10), who is by Life Sign. McArdle Park ($2.10), a son of McArdle, was third by three lengths. Finishing fourth and also making the final was Mr Nice Guy (by Western Ideal).

Artic Stretch, driven by Cat Manzi, now has two wins, four seconds and one third from 10 starts and earnings of $32,292. He is leased to Joann and Joe Thomson’s Hutt Racing Stable of Paoli, Pa.

Meant To Be Me ($5.00, $3.60, $2.40), driven to victory by Ron Pierce in the fourth race, finished 3-3/4 lengths ahead of McCedes ($4.40, $2.80), while it was 5-1/2 lengths to Cash Cab ($2.20) in third. Also making the cut, finishing fourth, was Dear Mac.

Meant To Be Me, McCedes and Dear Mac are all by McArdle while Cash Cab is a son of Western Ideal.

Meant To Be Me now has two wins and one second in six starts and earnings of $24,416. A $35,000 Harrisburg Sale purchase, he is owned by Louis Marciante of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and Amante Standardbreds Inc. (Anthony Amante and Christine Garrity) of Delray Beach, Fla.

The Babic races are named in memory of Lou Babic, who was one of the founders of the New Jersey Sires Stakes program and served for many years as its chairman and as a member of the Board of Trustees.