HIDALGO STAYS UNBEATEN AS NJSS KICKS OFF AT BIG M

Saturday, July 13, 2024

Hidalgo, a $600,000 purchase at the Harrisburg Yearling Sale, continued to return on his connections’ considerable investment Friday night at The Meadowlands by remaining unbeaten in two lifetime starts on an evening that saw nine $25,000 leg one divisions of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for 2-year-olds of each sex and gait.

A Ron Burke trainee, Hidalgo sat a pocket trip in the second of three splits for colt and gelding trotters as Go Boom exploded away from post eight in the eight-horse field to lead at the quarter in :28, half in :56.4 and three-quarters in 1:26.2.

Driver Yannick Gingras then gave the son of Muscle Hill-Brooklyn the green light, vacating the pocket at the head of the stretch, but after Hidalgo took a couple of wonky steps, Gingras went back in before re-emerging with less than an eighth-of-a-mile to go and trotted on to an easy 1½-length win in a lifetime-best 1:54.1. Go Boom finished second with Camera Man third.

“He was very impressive,” said Burke. “He just needs some seasoning.”

“He was a little anxious tonight,” said Gingras. “I think he got a little excited. He showed a lot of class and was loaded with trot.”

As the 1-2 favorite, Hidalgo returned $3 to win. His owners are Brixton Medical Inc. and the Hatfield Stables.

EIGHT IS ENOUGH: The other eight NJSS winners on the card were:

• Filly trot (Div. 1) – Wallies Dolly (by Walner-You Want Me), driver Dave Miller, trainer Tony Alagna, winning time 1:54.4 (returned $11.60 as the 9-2 third choice in the wagering)
• Colt and Gelding trot (Div. 1) – Don’t Ask For More (colt by Walner-Can’t Have My Moni), Ake Svanstedt, Ake Svanstedt, 1:55.2 ($6.40 as the 2-1 favorite)
• Colt and Gelding pace (Div. 1) – Manolete (colt by Cattlewash-Glancewithme), Todd McCarthy, Bruce Saunders, 1:52.1 ($3.60 as the 3-5 favorite)
• Filly trot (Div. 2) – Lady Landia (Tactical Landing-Seventimesalady), Svanstedt, Svanstedt, 1:54.3 ($7 as the 5-2 second choice)
• Colt and Gelding trot (Div. 3) – Nordic Catcher S (colt by Six Pack-That Woman Hanover), Svanstedt, Svanstedt, 1:55.3 ($2.60 as the 1-5 favorite)
• Colt and Gelding pace (Div. 2) – Power Code (colt by Cattlewash-Code In), Jody Jamieson, Nifty Norman, 1:52 ($2.40 as the 1-5 favorite)
• Filly pace (lone division) – Bequeath (Lazarus N-Endowment), Scott Zeron, Linda Toscano, 1:52.2 ($5.80 as the 9-5 second choice)
• Filly trot (Div. 2) – Kendra (Walner-Danish Girl), Gingras, Nancy Takter, 1:53.3 ($2.60 as the 1-5 favorite)

A LITTLE MORE: Svanstedt piloted three of his trainees to victory lane in the Sire Stakes to pace both the driver and trainer colonies. … All-source wagering on the 14-race program totaled $2,448,083. … Racing resumes tomorrow at 6:20 p.m. with a spectacular 14-race card that will see stakes purses totaling over $2.4 million, featuring the $650,000 Meadowlands Pace.

PHOTO: Hidalgo and driver Yannick Gingras won a division of the New Jersey Sire Stakes Friday night at The Meadowlands. (Credit: Lisa Photo)