from the Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — The elimination-winning entry of Yankee Skyscaper and Kinetic Yankee was installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite in the $500,000 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic on Saturday, June 2, at the Meadowlands.

The duo will start side-by-side in Saturday’s final — Yankee Skyscaper from post four with George Brennan in the sulky and Kinetic Yankee from post five with Andy Miller. The richest stake in harness racing for state-bred racehorses, the New Jersey Classic is carded as race five on the card, with an estimated 8:49 p.m. post time. The companion event for fillies, the $200,000 Thomas D’Altrui Miss New Jersey, is slotted as race three with an estimated 8:09 p.m. post time.

Yankee Skyscaper rallied from off the pace to win his New Jersey Classic elimination last week in a career best 1:50.3 effort. The son of Artiscape enters Saturday’s final with a record of five wins in 11 career starts for trainer Chris Ryder. He was the leading money-winner of the 2006 freshman class with $545,000 earned and counted the $900,000 Metro in Canada among his victories.

“We tried to get him pacing at the end and that is just what he did,” said driver George Brennan of the colt’s elimination win. “We got lucky enough, got a great trip and he responded.”

Kinetic Yankee paced to a personal best 1:51 in winning his New Jersey Classic elimination. Trained by Erv Miller, the lightly raced son of Western Ideal is three-for-three this season at the Meadowlands.

“I was a little worried about settling him (down), he is so green,” said driver Andy Miller of the colt’s elimination race. “He got loose late and took off. He was coming strong, but he dug in real good. He is very handy and I think he’s got a chance.

“Kinetic Yankee is a super easy horse to drive,” Miller added. “He won each of his starts so far this year very easily. Now it’s time for him to step up and see if he can take it to another level. This is a big race for him because he’s not in the Meadowlands Pace.”

The duo shares common ownership by Brittany Farms of Versailles, Kentucky; John Fodera of Staten Island, New York; Martha Frank of Fair Lawn, New Jersey; and Fred Mansoor of Toronto, Ontario. Myron and Stephanie Bell, who race as Riverview Farm of North Bergen, New Jersey, also own an interest in Yankee Skyscaper. Both colts were purchased as yearlings at the Lexington Selected Sale in Kentucky, Yankee Skyscaper for $60,000 and Kinetic Yankee for $50,000.

“It is a great feeling to be here for both ends of this entry,” said co-owner John Fodera. “We feel very good about it. Erv has done a terrific job with (Kinetic Yankee) and Chris Ryder, an equally good job with the other horse. I owe a lot to Myron Bell (of Brittany Farms). He is the one who brought me in with these babies. He is the one who picked them both.”

$500,000 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic – Race 5
HD, PP, Horse, Driver, Trainer, Odds
1, 4, Yankee Skyscaper, George Brennan, Chris Ryder, 8-5
1A, 5, Kinetic Yankee, Andy Miller, Erv Miller, 8-5
2, 8, Artist’s View, Daniel Dube, George Sholty, 5-1
2A, 10, Art At Heart, Tim Tetrick, George Sholty, 5-1
3, 1, Always A Virgin, Brian Sears, Joe Holloway, 4-1
4, 2, Red Hot Yankee, Jim Morrill, Jr., Mark Capone, 20-1
5, 3, Artriverderci, Ron Pierce, Bruce Saunders, 8-1
6, 6, Fresh Deck, John Campbell, Joe Holloway, 9-2
7, 7, Watta Hotshot, Mike Lachance, Scott Bell, 10-1
8, 9, Radio City, Yannick Gingras, Monte Gelrod, 10-1

$200,000 Thomas D’Altrui Miss New Jersey – Race 3
HD, PP, Horse, Driver, Trainer, Odds
1, 2, Artistic Ideal, Yannick Gingras, Richard Norman, 9-2
1A, 6, Platinum Hanover, Andy Miller, Chris Ryder, 9-2
2, 1, Current Hanover, George Brennan, Richard Norman, 7-2
3, 3, Lady Mattgalane, Brian Sears, Greg Peck, 2-1
4, 4, Career Artist, Tim Tetrick, Travis Alexander, 10-1
5, 5, Southwind Rio, Ron Pierce, Monte Gelrod, 10-1
6, 7, Speed Date, Daniel Dube, Larry Remmen, 20-1
7, 8, Ideal Sunrise, Ron Pierce, Erv Miller, 12-1
8, 9, Me and My Baby, John Campbell, Bruce Nickells, 8-1
9, 10, Calgary Hanover, Mike Lachance, Don Swick, 8-1