‘SABA’ ROCKS IN BIG M FEATURE

Sunday, April 26, 2026

Leading Meadowlands trainer Per Engblom made a few changes to Saba Rock’s equipment and defending Dan Patch Driver of the Year Jason Bartlett took care of the rest, guiding the 4-year-old gelding powerfully past eight foes in the Saturday night feature at The Big M, a $22,500 high-end conditioned pace.

“Per made a few changes on him because he was running in. I couldn’t control him the way I wanted to,” said Bartlett. “He bounced back (from a second-place finish on April 11) well.”

Wish You Well displayed explosive early energy from post six at the start as Saba Rock had to race wide into the first turn. Wish You Well reached the quarter on the point in :27.1 as Saba Rock took back to fourth and the duo were in the same positions as Wish You Well hit the half in :55.4.

Then it was time to rock.

Bartlett angled Saba Rock off the rail just after the half and swiftly made his way toward the leader on the rim uncovered heading into the far turn. Wish You Well had a slight edge at three-quarters, which went in 1:24, but displaying big-time momentum, Saba Rock opened up 2 lengths when they turned for home before reporting home an easy-as-you-please 2½-length winner in 1:51.2. Captain Crusader A rallied with a rush for second with Voukefalas grabbing the show dough.

“He’s a very fast horse who we expect a lot of good things from this year,” said Bartlett.

A product of Rockin Image-Nightcap, Saba Rock won his ninth race from just 23 career attempts. Owned by Jeff Fought Racing, Brian Carsey and Adam Friedland, he returned $4.80 to his backers as the 7-5 favorite.

BOOKIE J WINS AGAIN: Bookie J put up a flawless performance tracking down leader Thisbeestings Deo through a powerhouse stretch drive to take the second of two $30,000 divisions of the New Jersey Home Grown for 3-year-old colts and geldings on the pace by 4¼ widening lengths.

Trainer Chris Ryder has high hopes – maybe Meadowlands Pace hopes – for the gelded son of Perfect Sting-Skyy, who won the 2025 Kindergarten final. “Well, I wouldn’t tell you that at the moment, but he’s got plenty more. He’s got more gears to him. You know, he’s strong and he’s a tall horse. He’s gotten stronger from 2 to 3 and I think he’s pretty serious.”

The Dexter Dunn-driven Bookie J stayed perfect in two starts this year after stopping the clock in 1:52 over a sloppy track with a -2 variant to up his lifetime stats to six wins from 13 tries, good for earnings of $230,868. He paid $2.40 to win as the 1-5 favorite.

HOME GROWN WINNERS: There were three other $30,000 divisions of the New Jersey Home Grown for pacers contested on the card. Those winners were:

• Race 3 (3-year-old colts and geldings) – Azrael Blue Chip (colt by Perfect Sting-Bathsheba), driven by Andy McCarthy, trained by Besim Odza, winning time 1:53, returning $3.20 to win as the 3-5 favorite
• Race 5 (3-year-old fillies) – Sunny Station (Perfect Sting-Sandy’s Beach), Todd McCarthy, Brett Pelling, 1:53.3, $3.60 as the 4-5 favorite
• Race 11 (3-year-old fillies) – Darlin’s Angel (Captaintreacherous-Darlin’s Delight), Lauren Tritton, Juan Cano, 1:54, $5 as the 3-2 second choice

A LITTLE MORE: Bartlett won five times on the card to top the driver colony. … Engblom took three walks down victory lane to pace the trainers. His 2026 Big M victory total now stands at 34. … All-source handle on the 14-race program totaled $2,284,701. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:35 p.m.

PHOTO: Saba Rock and driver Jason Bartlett won the Saturday night feature at The Meadowlands. (Credit: Lisa Photo)