Apex on top in NJSS

East Rutherford, NJ – Royally bred Hunterton
Apex notched a hard-fought win as the second betting choice while Emmas Mystery CCL ripped to victory at long odds in their respective $225,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes finals, for trotting 2-year-olds, on Saturday (Aug. 2) at The Meadowlands.
Apex seized the lead late and kept his head in front to the finish of a 1:53.2 mile to win the New Jersey Sire Stakes Final for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings.
Driver Dexter Dunn landed in fourth out of post 2, directly behind 3-5 favorite Diabolic Hill, and bided his time as Ardonne cleared the front in a :28 first quarter. Pocket-sitter Maga Hill soon tipped outside to challenge and then took over the lead before a :56.4 half, all while Dunn pressured Diabolic Hill to flush outside moving for the final turn.
Diabolic Hill obliged out of third and lunged uncovered to blitz Maga Hill to three-quarters in 1:25 with Apex in tow on the turn for home. Dunn fanned off cover in the stretch and overhauled Diabolic Hill in mid-stretch but had more competition coming with Ardonne zipping off a ground-saving trip and after the leader late. Apex reached for the finish and staved off Ardonne by a head while Diabolic Hill settled for third and Kingmen took fourth.
Apex, a colt by Walner out of the world champion trotting mare and 2015 Hambletonian runner-up Mission Brief, scored his second win from three starts and did so in a lifetime-best time.
“We’ve spent about $2 million on Mission Brief’s offspring so far – and this is the third, fourth one we’ve got – and he definitely showed right away that he was the best one,” trainer Marcus Melander said. “He had such a bound in his gait and was training down great, but you never really know until you start racing them.”
Jeff Snyder, S R F Stable and Steve Stewart share ownership on Apex, who has now banked $131,250 in his career. He paid $5.40 to win.


