Stacks O’ Stakes Headlining In New Jersey, Pennsylvania

The Meadowlands and Harrahs’ Philadelphia are hosting sires stakes events this week, with both sexes going in their respective $100,000 finals of the New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS) on Saturday, June 4, and colts going in four divisions of the $165,708 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes (PASS) on Thursday, June 2.

The NJSS filly final gathers Hambletonian Oaks hopefuls All The Time, Wildflower, Southwind Pearl, Batoutahill, Southwind Hope and Glad All Over, and All The Time will be the presumptive favorite off a strong debut in the opening prelim of the NJSS. However, on the far outside, Glad All Over has shown rapid improvement coming into this race. She can storm home off a stalking trip, but will have to show speed from post 10.

Southwind Frank highlights a field of eight for the NJSS colt final. He competes with seven other trotters, the only one not Hambo bound is Double L Lindy. The dominant force in the glamour boy division, Southwind Frank will receive heavy public support, though may be vulnerable to Jack Vernon, who was tremendous in his second-place effort in leg two of the NJSS. He may fight hoof and nail with Southwind Frank down to the wire given the right trip.

PASS action on Thursday kicks off with a division of six colt trotters, the only non-eligible being Hanks Tank. Money will likely concentrate towards Sliding Home and Hollywood Highway but Taco Tuesday should provide value while he makes his second start of the season off a sharp debut.

Division two matches up Lagerfeld against Hambo-hopefuls Dupree, Hititoutofthepark and Marion Gondolier. While Lagerfeld is poised to get an easy trip at a short price, don’t discount Marion Gondolier either on top or behind in exotics. He has sharpened over six starts this season, displaying an improving stalking ability.

Round three collects seven trotters, five of them eligible to the Hambo: Make Or Miss, Milligan’s School, Reigning Moni, Iron Mine Bucky, and Desert Runner. Favoritism will head towards Milligan’s School, while Make Or Miss and Reigning Moni should also take money off good qualifiers. Iron Mine Bucky should once again be value off a dominant performance over an off going at The Meadows in his debut.

Pocket-riding master Cufflink Hanover headlines the final split of PASS action, competing against Hambo eligibles Love Matters, Tight Lines, Southern Cross and Alexander Hanover. The field he’s up against should provide a grander challenge than he has faced in previous starts. Southern Cross should have a better performance off a mile in the slop at The Meadows, where he visibly struggled to get over the goo. If dismissed on the tote board, Alexander Hanover cannot be neglected, especially off a sharp win in a conditioned race at Pocono. 

The racing of classic divisions—soph-colt-and-filly trotters—on their quest to the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks finals continues its exclusive, extended coverage from TwinSpires and the Hambletonian Society. Recaps of races covered in this blog can be found at the archive section of the web’s home for the Hambletonian Society.