An Open Letter To Harness Racing

April 25, 2021

Open letter to the harness racing industry from Steve Stewart and Linda Toscano


April 25 2021

Last month we published an open letter to the harness racing community urging USTA leadership to negotiate in good faith over the details of the new federal law that will govern horse racing in the United States. Over 200 members of the standardbred industry, including many of the sport’s most prominent owners, trainers, and breeders signed that letter (full story here).


Many other people, realizing the new law is a reality and that we ought to have a seat at the table as the new regulations are created, have approached us since then to offer their support, as well.


We wanted to share an important update with those of you who supported the letter and those of you who may have your doubts. This past week, we were part of a small group who met virtually for one hour with Travis Tygan, the head of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), which will be responsible for implementing the medication rules and drug testing under the new law. Tygart will work with and report to members of a federal panel that will soon be announced to help bring uniformity and more results to drug testing in our sport.

Our conversation with Tygart was informative and productive. He is certainly open to the idea of having harness racing “opt in” to the new rules. We discussed funding and medication rules, testing protocols, and other matters of interest to the harness racing community. We believe there is an opportunity under the new law, with the guidance of USADA, for the standardbred community to present its best case for why our medication rules should be different in some ways from the rules governing other breeds.


More importantly, Tygart said he was interested in continuing the dialogue with the harness racing community to see if we can make more progress.

We have two requests:

First, if any of you have specific questions you would like to ask Tygart please send them to us using the form below. We will collect them and try to get them answered at our next meeting.

Second, we urge USTA leadership, which publicly ignored our open letter, to join the next virtual meeting with Tygart so that they, too, can get their questions answered.


Steve Stewart and Linda Toscano


Send Us Your Questions


LONG LIST OF KEY INDUSTRY NAMES SIGN LETTER SUPPORTING HISA

Steve Stewart and Linda Toscano have penned the following letter expressing support for HISA. 135 industry participants have agreed. 


The undersigned are encouraging the standardbred industry to negotiate with the thoroughbred industry about how to best structure the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act to be inclusive of harness racing's unique needs. 

We (the undersigned) support the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) recently passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump. 


We know that there are details about funding and other matters that will have to be worked out in good faith between regulators and members of the horse racing community. And we know that the new law is not perfect. But we believe that the new law is a legitimate and important step in the right direction toward universal medication rules for our sport, increased enforcement of drug rules to make the sport more honest and a greater public acceptance of horse racing as a safe, humane sport. 

Steve Stewart and Linda Toscano have penned the following letter expressing support for HISA. 135 industry participants have agreed. 


The undersigned are encouraging the standardbred industry to negotiate with the thoroughbred industry about how to best structure the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act to be inclusive of harness racing's unique needs. 

We (the undersigned) support the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) recently passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump. 


We know that there are details about funding and other matters that will have to be worked out in good faith between regulators and members of the horse racing community. And we know that the new law is not perfect. But we believe that the new law is a legitimate and important step in the right direction toward universal medication rules for our sport, increased enforcement of drug rules to make the sport more honest and a greater public acceptance of horse racing as a safe, humane sport. 


We need all of these things to protect our sport's future. And we need to work within the broader racing community to make the law work for us, especially since it requires regulators to consider the "unique characteristics" of each breed. We believe that representatives of the standardbred industry should work with those who support the new law, and who will be enforcing it, to help establish the rules and policies that will likely govern our sport for years to come.

We need all of these things to protect our sport's future. And we need to work within the broader racing community to make the law work for us, especially since it requires regulators to consider the "unique characteristics" of each breed. We believe that representatives of the standardbred industry should work with those who support the new law, and who will be enforcing it, to help establish the rules and policies that will likely govern our sport for years to come.

Breeders

Adam Bowden (Diamond Creek) 

Bruce Trogden (Emerald Highlands) 

Steve Jones (Cameo Hills) 

George Segal (Brittany) 

Mike Gulotta (Deo Volente) 

Senena & Jeff Esty (Spring Haven) 

Frank Antonacci (Lindy) 

Bob Brady (Kentuckiana)

Al & Michelle Crawford (Crawford Farms) 

Ken Jackson (Kentuckiana) 

Mario Zuanetti (Atlantic Trot) 

Massimo Bianchi 

Margareta W.Kleberg (Menhammer St) 

Tom Hill 

Art Zubrod (Brittany) 

Jim & Gibson Wilhite 

Knutsson Trotting 

Tristan Sjoberg 

Bernie Noren 

Al Libfeld 

Sam Goldband 

Charles& Julie Nash 

Jon Wiesman 

Pond A Acres 

Andrew Cohen (Bays Stable) 

Leah Cheverie 

David Heffering (Tara Hills) 

Frank Lomangino 

Johan Arneng (Brixton Medical) 

John Donato 

Ernny Gerbaulet 

Richard Gutnick 

Peter Martinson 

Robert Mondillo 

Victor Zehr 

Ed Telle 

James Daut 

Robert Hechoff 

Richard Arnold (Willow Oak) 

John Schmucker (Black Creek) 

Dan Baer (South Mountain) 

John Lengacher 

John Bootsman (Boko ) 

Dan Lengacher 

Duncan Taylor (Taylor Made) 

Jeff Ruch (Pinestone) 

Anders Strom (Courant) 

Maumee River 

Jeff Gural (Allerage) 

All American Harnessbreds 

Mike Andrew 

Maurizio & Marina Biasuzzi 

John Carver 

Joe Mendelson 

Jim Glass (Walco) 

Stephanie Rothaug (Rails End) 

Jim Avritt Sr (Meadow Creek) 

Stewart Goldberg (Mini Sinks) 

Randy & Kim Haines (Cool Winds) 

Steve & Cindy Stewart (Hunterton) 

Elmer Miller 

Lorne Polger (Polger Holdings) 

Trainers and Drivers

Ron Burke 

Brian Brown 

Virgil Morgan Jr. 

Jimmy Takter (Hall Of Fame) 

Ben Wallace 

Casie Coleman 

Nifty Norman 

Jeff Fout 

Ed Lohmeyer 

Linda Toscano (Hall Of Fame) 

Paula Wellwood 

Mike Keeling 

Jim Campbell 

Carter Pinske 

Tony Alagna 

Donna Lee Ozment 

Joe Holloway (Hall Of Fame) 

Per Engblom 

Tom Cancelliere 

Enos Weaver 

Donald Dancer 

Blair Burgess (Hall Of Fame) 

Brad Mcninch 

Kevin Mcdermott 

Jean Wellwood 

Bob Stewart 

Murray Brethour 

Jim Arledge 

Greg Peck 

Kelly O'donnell 

Tim Lane 

Scott Mogan 

Brett Bittle 

Scott Zeron 


Vets

Dr. Patty Hogan 

Dr. Terry Ruch 

Dr. Doug Hutchins 

Dr. John Park 

Dr. Lynda Rhodes Stewart 

Dr.Nathaniel Newton 

Dr.Ted Mazorisi 

Owners

Mark Weaver 

Howard Taylor

Herb Liverman 

John Fodera 

Murray Brown 

Brad Grant 

Fred Hertrick III 

Carl Howard 

Martin Sternberg 

Bo Lofvander 

Doug Millard 

Ernie Gaskin 

Robert Burgess 

Fred Hudson 

Bryan Montgomery (Regency Ins.) 

Frank Chick 

Myron & Stephanie Bell (Riverview) 

Harvey Nagner (Radio Racing) 

Marc Guilfoil (Ky.RacingComm.)

Richard Young 

Martti Ala Seppala 

Harvey Fried 

Robert Lindstrom 

Perry Soderberg 

Tommy B Anderson 

Jack Remey ( P. Judge) 

Lynn Jones 

Randy Manges 

Bob Marks 

Joyce & Richard Mcclelland 

Bill Vit (Cool Cat) 

Craig Henderson 

Ray Baynes 

Gary Corona 

Allan Schott 

Howard Perlmutter 

Gorden Banks 

Dan Kazmaier (P.Judge) 

Bob & Jeanne Stewart 

Mark Hanover 

Ed Biddle 

Kimmo Kempi 

Nick Salvi 

Mike & Don Robinson 

Joe Sbrocco 

Virginia Berkner 

Steven Wienick 

MarthaFrank 

Robert Leblanc 

John Balzer 

Geoffrey Dubrowsky 

Bill Reepmayer 

Frank Cannon 

Jason Settlemoir

Tim Konkle (Midwest Harness Report)

Chuck Sylvester (Hall Of Fame)

Wanda Polissini (Purple Haze)

Trond Smedshammer

Paul Kelley

Nancy Takter

Scott Alberg

Seth Cohen

George DeRocker

Mike Kimmelman Sr

Paul Huber

Jorgen Jahre

Carter & Helen Duer (Peninsula)

Ted Macdonnell

Bob McIntosh

Randy Taft

Todd Scadel

Mickey McGivern

Dr Arnie Chusid

Jason Bartlett

Taylor Gower

Dana Parham (Odds On Racing)

Joe Bongiorno

Jennifer Bongiorno

Todd Shadel

July 1, 2026
Hollywood Casino at The Meadows welcomed the start of three Stallion Series divisions for 2-year-old trotting fillies. Sitting third through a pedestrian three-quarters in 1:30.4, Dunn moved Honky Tonk Baby to the outside, avoided confusion in the stretch, and the Julie Miller trainee trotted home in :28.4 to capture the third Stallion Series division. Willow Oak Racing LLC of Tennessee bred and owns the daughter of Greenshoe .
June 27, 2026
Washington, PA — The Friday (June 26) harness racing card at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows gave racing fans a featured attraction in the Currier & Ives Trot for 3-year-old colts and geldings, along with a glimpse of the future in two Pop-Up Series divisions for 2-year-old pacing fillies. Hunterton Bred, Born & Sold Endurance lived up to his name in the $90,675 Currier & Ives for 3-year-old colt trotters, overcoming post 9 in the 10-horse field to establish a stakes record with a 1:52.4 victory.  Unhurried early, Endurance and regular driver Andy McCarthy avoided the brisk early fractions and settled mid-pack. When Hamlet Hall moved first-over, McCarthy followed at the three-eighths, but stalled cover left Endurance three-wide approaching the five-eighths. As the leaders began to tire, Endurance and McCarthy found room along the rail and held off Hamlet Hall to secure the victory. Endurance overcame a wide draw and an overland trip en route to his stakes-record 1:52.4 performance in Friday’s Currier & Ives for sophomore male trotters. Chris Gooden photo. A 3-year-old son of Captain Corey , Endurance now owns nine wins in 12 starts and has earned more than $750,000 for trainer Chris Beaver and owners Super Endurance Stable, Bill Manes, Leo Fleming and Mark Moger.
June 26, 2026
Yonkers, NY – Add an extra quarter of a mile to the $250,000 Grade 2 MGM Yonkers Trot, and you have a recipe for a wild finish. That proved to be the case on Friday night (June 26) when Inexpressable and driver Tim Tetrick rallied off of a third-over cover trip and charged by the field to capture the opening leg of Trotting’s Triple Crown at MGM Yonkers Raceway. With favored Spencer Hanover starting from the second tier, Requiem, with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. was the first to the front but yielded quickly to AI with Yannick Gingras. Second choice Silverstein then advanced rapidly and secured the front before the :29.1 opening quarter had been reached. The complexion of the race changed on the second turn when Spencer Hanover made a break. With little movement on the outside, Matt Kakaley slowed the fractions, with Silverstein hitting the half and three-quarters in :58.1 and 1:27.2, respectively. With about a half-mile remaining in the mile and one-quarter contest, Dexter Dunn moved Kingmen to the outside and flushed Requiem to gain cover. Tetrick advanced third-over with Inexpressable as the pace picked up. The field hit the 1:56 mile marker with Silverstein still in control and looking strong, and he had control into the stretch. However, he was slowing down noticeably at that point, opening the door for the closers. AI looked to the inside but couldn’t advance. However, Kingmen rallied wide and had plenty of trot to overtake the leader but not enough to stall the Lucas Wallin-trained Inexpressable, who motored on past to a neck victory. Kingmen held second with Silverstein third, followed by AI and fifth-place finisher Nordic Dancer S. The mile and one quarter time was 2:25.3. It was just the third race of the year and second win for Inexpressable, an impeccably-bred son of Walner from the same immediate family as Maryland . Owned by Wallin Racing Stable and Karin Walter-Mommert and a 7-1 offering, Inexpressable paid $16.68 to win. He keyed a $136.32 exacta and a $493.88 trifecta. “Last thing I wanted to do was make a break early,” said Tetrick. “He’s a big, strong colt, and he seems like he’s got big lungs.” Trainer Wallin suggested that Inexpressable would be pointed towards the Stanley Dancer next (July 11 at the Meadowlands). A $325,000 Lexington Selected yearling, Inexpressable is the first foal from the Cantab Hall-sired Ineffable, she a half-sister to 2021 Mohawk Million winner Venerable. In the first of two $55,000 divisions of the Grade 3 New York New York Mile for 3-year-old trotting fillies, the Ake Svanstedt-trained and Jonathan Ahle-driven Busy Miss Lissy S scored impressively, winning virtually wire-to-wire in 1:54.1. A daughter of Calgary Games bred in Sweden, Busy Miss Lissy S won for the first time in three starts as the 9-5 second choice in the field of five. Owned by breeder Panamera Racing, Busy Miss Lissy S returned $5.88 to win with Myths And Legends second and Wishuponastar Deo third. Favored R Ro broke at the outset and was never in contention. Emmas Mystery CCL and Todd McCarthy needed every inch of the stretch but finally went past pace-setter Sparks on the wire to capture the second $55,000 New York New York division. A Muscle Hill -sired filly, Emmas Mystery CCL raced from off-the-pace in third as Sparks led from the outset for Ake Svanstedt. With three-eighths of a mile remaining, McCarthy gave Emmas Mystery CCL her cue, and she forced the action through the final turn and right to the wire, prevailing in a 1:56.3 mile. Sparks was second and Atlantic Summer third.  Winning Key Inc. owns Emmas Mystery CCL and Noel Daley trains the filly who returned $3.14 as the public choice.
June 26, 2026
Yonkers, NY – Hunterton Bred, Born & Sold Fragment , who was last year’s New York Sire Stakes, Big Apple and Matron winner, rebounded off a third-place finish in the sire stakes most recently at Buffalo to capture the Grade 2 $200,000 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes final for 3-year-old male pacers on Friday night (June 26) at MGM Yonkers Raceway. The Messenger, which was conducted at the distance of a mile and a quarter this year, is the first leg of the Pacing Triple Crown. Driven by Jason Bartlett, Fragment showed speed from post two but allowed a two-wide Al Papi (Yannick Gingras) to clear him going to the :28.1 opening quarter. Al Papi would be unchallenged to the half in :57.1, but an outer tier that included Frantic Hanover (Tim Tetrick), Melillo (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and Hunt Off The Press (Scott Zeron) formed up as Al Papi raced toward three-quarters in 1:26.2. Al Papi staved off fellow Ron Burke trainee Frantic Hanover to the mile marker in 1:54.1, but Frantic Hanover began to tire on the last turn, and that gave Bartlett and Fragment a path to the outside they needed. Al Papi was game to the wire, but he couldn’t withstand the charge of Fragment, who got up to tally by half a length in 2:21.4. Mighty Matt (Braxten Boyd) held off Melillo for third and Apocalypsebluechip (Todd McCarthy) got up for fifth. “It’s good for the horse. He’s been very special to us the last two years,” Bartlett remarked. “For him to bounce back like that and to beat those type of horses, we’re not surprised. I’m happy that he’s back on track. For him to race like that in Buffalo was really not like him. “This race went kind of went the way we wanted it to. I was going to re-move him, but the pace was enough, so I just kind of sat there. I know he’s a little horse, but for me, on the front, he can get away from me a little bit because he floats over the ground. I was better off in the two-hole, to be honest.” Per Engblom trains Fragment, a Huntsville colt bred by Steve Stewart, Black Creek Farm, Michael Robinson, and South Mountain Stables, for the ownership group of Engblom Farm LLC., Douglas Sipple and Peaceful Acre Farm. He has 11 wins and three seconds from 19 lifetime starts, has earned $758,057 and paid $4.40 to win as the favorite. He keyed a $7.24 exacta and a $35.90 trifecta. “He bled a little bit at Buffalo, so we had to skip the next leg of the sire stakes to get him right. I think we did right by him,” Engblom said. “I didn’t stake him to any of the races this summer on the bigger tracks. I tried to stick on the smaller tracks and hope to have a good fall with him. “He’s got the New York Sire Stakes and the Empire Breeders, and then we’ll aim for the Little Brown Jug and the Breeders Crown.” The companion Grade 3 Park MGM Pace for 3-year-old fillies was split into a pair of $50,000 divisions. In the first flight, Two Twenty Swift (Bartlett), the 4-5 favorite, led through fractions of :27.2, :55 and 1:23.2 while she parked out Existential (Matt Kakaley). The swift tempo and battle made Two Twenty Swift vulnerable in the lane, and pocket-sitter Ideal Beauty Queen (Scott Zeron) took advantage, rallying past Two Twenty Swift to prevail half a length in 1:53.2 at odds of 22-1. Two Twenty Swift held on for the runner-up spot and Bettor Be A Star (Dexter Dunn) had pace in the stretch from second-over to get up for third. A daughter of American Ideal bred by co-owner Rosalia Huff with Jean Durnye, Ideal Beauty Queen is trained by Jake Huff. Ideal Beauty Queen, who is co-owned by Beauty Bridle Rac Stb Inc., won for the fourth time from 16 starts, has now earned $103,566 and paid $47.70 to win. She led a $133.88 exacta and a $231.98 trifecta. The second Park MGM Pace split saw 2-5 choice I’m A Lou Lou (Tim Tetrick) leave from post four and clear Tall Dark Tequila (Tyler Buter) for command before the :27.3 quarter. From there, I’m A Lou Lou kept the top spot to the half in :57 seconds and the three-quarters in 1:25.1 before she closed in :27.3 to prevail by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:52.4. Napalm (Dunn) was second from first-over and Tall Dark Tequila wound up third. By Sweet Lou and bred by Add Inc., I’m A Lou Lou is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC. Knox Services Inc., Larry Karr and Phil Collura. She has a summary of 5-5-2 from 17 tries, has pocketed $328,860 and returned $2.84 to win. She was atop a $6.28 exacta and a $9.76 trifecta.
June 24, 2026
Oak Grove, KY – One race after the track record for 3-year-old pacing colts at Oak Grove was bested, Chris Ryder trainee Hunterton Born & Sold Show Me Your Ace snatched the title with a 1:49 win going pillar to post in the fourth of four $40,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS) divisions for his cohort on the Wednesday (June 24) card.  Leaving from post 6, driver Dexter Dunn dashed Show Me Your Ace for the lead into a :26.1 first quarter to pocket Thiago Hanover (driven by Yannick Gingras) heading for the stretch the first time. Show Me Your Ace then glided through the remainder of the race with a :54 half and 1:21.2 three-quarters to coast in a comfortable winner by 6-3/4 lengths. Vizcaya (Marvin Luna) rallied for second while Thiago Hanover broke stride around the last turn and recovered to hold third. A Bit Of Spirits (Wyatt Avenatti) finished fourth. Ryder co-owns Show Me Your Ace, a colt by American Ideal-Trip Aces Hanover, with partners Anne Demers, Lawrence Minowtiz and Ake Svanstedt. He won his third race from four starts this season and his fifth race from 16 starts in his career, earning $153,272, and paid $4.10 to win.
June 23, 2026
Oak Grove, KY — Driver Dexter Dunn and trainer Marcus Melander flourished on the 16-race card of racing at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Tuesday (June 23) with five wins each on the card stacked with all trotting events and 15 divisions of Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS). Top honors on the day’s KYSS action went to the team of Dunn and Melander with Hunterton Born & Sold Zephyr Kemp , who posted the fastest mile of the afternoon’s KYSS action with a 1:53.1 victory in the second of three divisions for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Dunn had an easy time crossing from post 7 to the lead through a :28 first quarter over pocket Maga Hill (driven by Yannick Gingras) and coasted through fractions of :56.3 and 1:25.2 to register an easy win by 2-1/4 lengths. Maga Hill settled for second with Stormy Seas (Marvin Luna) third and Castro (Atlee Bender) another 5 lengths behind in fourth. A colt by Calgary Games-Southwind Adele, Zephyr Kemp competes for owners Kemppi Stables Oy Inc., Suojalampi Stable Inc., PCW Racing LLC and Sjoeblom Racing Inc. The colt won his first race from four starts this season and his fourth race from 14 starts in his career, earning $132,150. He paid $11.88 to win. Dunn and Melander also tied for the fastest win of the four KYSS divisions for 3-year-old trotting fillies when Crossover (1:53.1 winning mile; $10.20 to win) pulled pocket to upset 1-9 favorite Naked And Famous. Crossover converted from a stalking trip off splits of :28.2, :56.2 and 1:25.1 to pounce and score by 1-1/2 lengths over Naked And Famous with Panzee Party (Yannick Gingras) chasing another 6 lengths behind in third and Vicenza (Jason Bartlett) giving pursuit in fourth. The daughter of Gimpanzee -Piranha Fury is owned by S R F Stable and won her fourth race from 11 starts, pushing her career bankroll to $70,418.
June 23, 2026
Erv Miller trainee Hunterton Born & Sold Redice (Atlee Bender) uncorked the quickest mile among the 2-year-old trotting fillies with a 1:56.3 jog in the first division for their cohort at Oak Grove June 23. Bender eased to the top out of post 6 and held a steady lead through sensible fractions of :29.4, :59.3 and 1:28.4 in progress to a 7-length romp over Shanavalley (Dexter Dunn) and Solo Santa Maria (Junior Guelpa). The daughter of Rebuff -Fuzzy Dice competes for owners Ervin Miller Stable Inc., Anthony Lombardi and Stepbystep Racing. She paid $3.20 to win.
June 22, 2026
Oak Grove, KY — Brett Pelling pupil Three Times Bettor defended their Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS) title at Oak Grove with winning in their respective $150,000 final on Monday (June 22), a card featuring nearly $1 million in purses. Hunterton Bred, Born & Sold Three Times Bettor (driven by Dexter Dunn) maintained control late from a tough first half to score a neck victory in the KYSS final for 4-year-old pacing mares in a 1:49.4 mile. Dunn found himself in a tight spot early as Rose (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) barreled from the center of the gate to swoop after leader Aintnothingucando (Yannick Gingras) marching to a :26.3 first quarter. Three Times Bettor tracked Rose up the rim until Wrenn cleared command, at which point Dunn ground his charge forward and reached the lead approaching a :54.3 half. Champagne Room (Tim Tetrick) soon angled off the pylons from fourth for an attack up the backside while Three Times Bettor cruised comfortably to clock three-quarters in 1:22.3. Dunn asked Three Times Bettor to accelerate rounding the last turn and got the jump on her peers as Unreasonable (Jason Bartlett) lifted off a second-over trip and gathered menacing momentum late. Three Times Bettor held her ground and kept a neck up on hard-charging Unreasonable at the beam with Rose left in third and Caviart Delight (Todd McCarthy) emerging from off the speed for fourth. A daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Three Times A Lady, Three Times Bettor competes for owner Thaddeus Wier and has now won six races from seven starts this season and 15 races from 24 starts in her career, good for $392,814 in earnings. She paid $2.96 to win.
June 22, 2026
Oak Grove hosted seven total $40,000 divisions of KYSS for pacing 2-year-olds with four splits for the males and three splits for the fillies on Monday (June 22). On the male pacing side, Midnight Drive (Dexter Dunn, 1:53.2; $4.24) posted the top performance with a front-stepping victory by four lengths. Jamie Sullivan trains the colt by Stay Hungry -Turnoffthelights for owners David Hamm, Glenn Phillips and Frank Chick. The other dashes for pacing males were won by I’m Toohot For You (Marcus Miller, 1:54.1; $13.64), Atlantic Ivey (Atlee Bender, 1:53.3; $4.90) and Ballarddrgoldfngr (Archie Buford, 1:54.3; $7.10).
June 21, 2026
East Rutherford, NJ – Trainer Chris Ryder took both $60,000 New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund finals for 3-year-olds on the pace Saturday night at The Meadowlands. His win in the colts and geldings division impressed, but did not come with the horse the betting public expected. Obliterate , a 10-1 outsider despite having won his NJSDF preliminary a week ago in 1:48.3, worked out a good trip after an aggressive drive from Chris’ son, Patrick, to score his fourth career win from just 10 tries. Bookie J, Obliterate’s headline-grabbing stablemate who was a perfect five-for-five in 2026 heading into the race, worked out an ideal second-over trip, but the 1-9 public choice couldn’t deal with Obliterate late, who closed with a rush after leaving the gate in a lightning-quick :26.3. He raced in the pocket until mid-stretch, when the colt by Perfect Sting -Triple V Hanover vacated the rail while in tight quarters, before a late burst of speed got him to the finish three-quarters-of-a-length in front of Bookie J. Corvette Stingray raced bravely first-over and hung in there to claim the show dough. “We really liked this horse all along and it’s taken a few starts to get him right where we want him,” said Patrick. “My dad’s always had so much faith in him and he’s always believed in me driving him. “I wasn’t real happy putting him in the two-hole. I just kind of took my chances. I was hoping I’d get room (late), and it was really tight. When I snuck my way out, he gave me a really good run. I couldn’t believe how well he responded.” Obliterate completed the mile in 1:49.4 and returned $22.40 to his backers.
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