Dunn sweeps NJSS Platinum pacing finals

Driver Dexter Dunn had the hot hand in the New Jersey Sire Stakes Platinum Division championships for 3-year-old pacers, keeping Be Perfect BG’s undefeated career record intact with a 1:52.1 score over sloppy going in the $180,000 final for fillies after guiding Bookie J to a 1:50.2 triumph in the $225,000 event for colts and geldings on a rain-drenched Saturday night (May 23) at the Meadowlands.

Dunn took his time with 1-20 favorite Be Perfect BG in the early stages, landing third in the field of six behind She Stings (driven by Joe Bongiorno) and Sunny Station (Tod McCarthy) before brushing aggressively to the lead at the end of a :28.2 first quarter. The Perfect Sting-JK Mardi Says filly traveled unopposed through a :56.3 half before facing a mild first-over bid from Napalm (Tim Tetrick) on the far turn. After hitting three-quarters in 1:25.3, Be Perfect BG switched gears off the corner for home and unleashed a :26.3 sprint home while under wraps. She Stings was all-out to protect second from Napalm, who leveled off in the stretch.

“The first time I sat behind her, I thought she was a special filly; she continues to show us that every day,” said trainer Tony Beaton of Be Perfect BG. “Tonight, Dex said he didn’t want to push her too hard in the conditions, and she overcame it. She just does everything that Dex has asked her so far.”

Now a perfect 8-for-8 in her career, Be Perfect BG has earned $236,950 for Sylvain Descheneaux’s Ecurie CSL. She paid $2.10 across the board as the overwhelming public choice.

In the male pace, Dunn and 6-5 public choice Bookie J were looped three-wide by Ooglesaurus (Bongiorno) on the first turn before pushing forward to clear for the lead just beyond a :26.4 first quarter, only to immediately yield for a pocket ride behind fellow preliminary winner and 7-5 second choice Sonofanutcracker (Tetrick) to the :54.3 half. Midway on the far turn, Azrael Blue Chip (Andy McCarthy) mounted a first-over blitz out of midfield to overpower Sonofanutcracker, forcing Dunn to squeeze Bookie J off the pegs for clear sailing to the 1:22.3 three-quarters lest the pair get trapped in a failing pocket.

Azrael Blue Chip and Bookie J sprinted clear of their seven rivals off the corner for home, with Azrael Blue Chip extending his advantage to as much as 2-1/2 lengths in upper stretch. Bookie J countered in the final furlong, and the Perfect Sting-Skyy gelding bore down on Azrael Blue Chip to collar him 30 yards from the winning post and win by a neck. Thisbeestings Deo (Yannick Gingras) split rivals belatedly to take third, another 5 lengths behind, over Ooglesaurus, who was compromised briefly behind the weakening Sonofanutcracker turning for home.

“Top of the stretch, Andy (McCarthy, driving Azreal Blue Chip) got away from us, which that’s what he had to do,” said Chris Ryder, who trains Bookie J for Kenneth Jacobs. “I thought it was going to be a real struggle. I knew that [Bookie J] paces the stretch good. He had to do it real good to get there, and he just got up. I’m really proud of him.”

After winning 4 of 11 races as a rookie, Bookie J has compiled a perfect 4-for-4 sophomore record to date, with his New Jersey Sire Stakes championship lifting his career earnings to $355,868.

“As a baby, I did underrate him,” admitted Ryder. “He was always OK, but he wasn’t flashy or high speed. But once we started racing him, he got better and better. I’m really more pleased with him this year than last year. We’ve got bigger fish to fry this year — it’s going to be a tough task going into the Meadowlands Pace — but he’s been winning. Tonight was a good run. I’ve been really pleased with him.”

Now an 8-time winner in his career from 15 starts, Bookie J paid $4.40 to win.

Offspring of Perfect Sting proved the best in both New Jersey Sire Stakes Silver Division championships for 3-year-old pacers, with Obliterate and Sting Girl capturing their respective divisions.

Obliterate ($12.40), whom Patrick Ryder drove for trainer Chris Ryder, rode the pocket en route to a mild upset over 1-9 favorite Stingman, lifting through the final eighth of a lifetime-best 1:51.3 mile to win the $40,000 male pace by a widening 2-length margin. In the $32,000 filly pace, Sting Girl ($12.80), whom Mark Herschberger drove for trainer Joe Holloway, mounted a long first-over climb out of fifth through the far turn before overpowering even-money choice Whoa Black Betty at the eighth pole en route to a 1-3/4-length, 1:54.1 score.