Stars Come Out in Meadowlands Qualifiers

Saturday, April 15, 2023

The stars of the 2022 stakes season have begun to emerge from their winter hibernation and appear at The Meadowlands qualifiers. The Q’s got under way on a perfect day with clear skies and a slight helping wind in the stretch temperatures were in the mid-70’s.

Trainer Jim Campbell relived the best day of his life (kinda) by shipping his Hambletonian and Hambo Oaks winners from last year in to go their first mile over the Meadowlands oval this morning.

2022 Hambletonian winner Cool Papa Bell was a easy 1:55, home in 26.4, winner for his Hambo team of trainer Jim Campbell and driver Todd McCarthy. “Cool Papa” was not a “one trick pony” at three, as he also won the NYSS final and was very competitive in the Breeders Crown and KY Futurity while earning nearly $900,000 last year for owner Scott Farber as his nom de course Runthetablestables.

Fashion Schooner (Tim Tetrick) cut the mile through slow early numbers then sprinted home in a 26.3 end to the 1:55.3 mile and looked good doing it. Jules Siegel bred and owns Fashion Schooner under his Fashion Farms banner. GiGi Hanover actually cut into the winner’s margin with a good late rally for Ake Svanstedt.

The day got underway with an eye-catching performance by the sophomore colt trotter Tactical Approach (Josert Fonseca) who won back in 1:54.3 (26.3 final quarter) after a 1:53.4 qualifier a week ago. The Tactical Landing colt is trained in the Nancy Takter stable for Robert Leblanc, John Fielding, Joe Sbrocco and JAF Racing.

A tight group of 4-year-old pacing mares gathered for race 7 and Niki Hill was an impressive 1:52 (25.4) winner out of the pocket in her second qualifier. Dexy Dunn sat her in behind Don’t Fence Me In through slow fractions, then ripped past that one under no encouragement from the driver in the fast final stanza. Boudoir Hanover (T. McCarthy) flashed good late foot to rally up for second.

Six fast sophomore colt pacers teed it up with PASS champ Fulton (Dunn) edging Voukefalas (Jordan Stratton) and Tip Top Cat (David Miller) in a long uncovered move 1:52.3 / 25.4. Linda Toscano trains the winner for Let It Ride Stables and Bottom Line Racing.

Linda came right back with It’s My Show (Scott Zeron) zipping past his only three rivals in the stretch with relative ease to win in 1:50, the last quarter showing 26.3 on the timer. It’s My Show, despite facing top company at two, is still a maiden for owner/breeders Richard & Joanne Young.

The last race featured an accomplished field of 4-year-olds pacers and All About The Hunt (D. Miller) went along on a loose lead throughout and held safe over the late rally of I Did It Myway (A. McCarthy) in 1:50.2 / 27. The winner is trained in the Ron Burke stable for owners Crawford Farms Racing and Heather Marshall.

Results will be available on the web.

Live racing tonight at The Meadowlands at 6:20. Free programs are available.