Wall Of Fame stamps Hambletonian Day claims

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Wall Of Fame (Walner) and Wrong Sounds Right (Tactical Landing) were the winners of two of the nine leg three divisions harness racing of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for 2-year-olds of each sex and gait Friday night at The Meadowlands.

Platinum division races went for a purse of $25,000 while Silver dashes were contested for $10,000.

Wall Of Fame, a product of Walner-Saadet, remained perfect in three Platinum-level filly trots (race three) for the driver-trainer, husband and wife team of Andy and Julie Miller, and stamped herself as one of the major players in the $225,000 final, which takes place on Hambletonian Day, Aug. 8.

Racing in the four-hole down the backstretch, Wall Of Fame vacated the rail at the five-eighths, made up ground on leader Love’s Passion nearing the far turn, had to swerve into the three-lane when Dandelion Wine popped out of the pocket for the stretch drive, but continued to gain through the lane – after a slight stall – before going on to half-length win over Dandelion Wine.

“We’re just taking it race-by-race for now,” said Andy. “She was kind of staying alongside (Dandelion Wine through the stretch), but when I hollered at her, she got going again. She’ll be in the sire stakes final next week and then we’ll decide from there (what we are going to do).”

As the 1-9 favorite, Wall Of Fame returned $2.20 to win after completing the mile in 1:52.3.

WALL OF FAME REPLAY

In race seven, Wrong Sounds Right recorded his second victory in three tries after taking a split for Platinum-level colts and geldings on the trot for driver Todd McCarthy and trainer Jim Campbell.

The colt by Tactical Landing-Broadway Jo Ell used a wicked brush onto and around the far turn to challenge leader Lifetime Dreamer and was strong through the stretch to record a 1-length score over Presidente in a lifetime-best 1:53.

“He’s come along very nicely,” said McCarthy. “We’re really happy with him. He was pretty quiet in his qualifiers but now we’ve been able to kind of open him up a little bit and now he’s coming along quite nicely. Jim’s doing a great job with him. He’s showing a lot of talent right now and we’re just looking forward to next week and hopefully he comes out of tonight happy and healthy and we are hoping for a good draw next week (in the final).”

Sent off as the 12-1 fourth choice, Wrong Sounds Right returned $26 to win.

WRONG SOUNDS RIGHT REPLAY

AND THE WINNERS ARE: The other seven NJSS winners on the card were:

·         Race 2: Platinum filly pace – Perfect Hope Deo (Perfect Sting-Machnhope), Andy McCarthy was the driver, Noel Daley is the trainer, winning time 1:52 (first win in three career outings), paid $12.60 as the 5-1 fourth choice in the betting

·         Race 4: Silver filly trot – Day One Dandy (Walner-Delilah Hanover), Scott Zeron, Nifty Norman, 1:54 (first win in three lifetime tries), $9 as the 7-2 third choice

·         Race 6: Silver filly pace – Perfect Kiss (Perfect Sting-Dr J’s Kiss), Todd McCarthy, Linda Toscano, 1:53.4 (first win in four starts), $4.40 as the 6-5 favorite

·         Race 9: Silver colt and gelding trot – Maxman (Walner-Lovely Lindy), Tim Tetrick, Toscano, lifetime-best 1:55.2 (two-for-three lifetime), $16.40 as the 7-1 third choice

·         Race 10: Silver colt and gelding trot – Wyoming (Walner-Wahoo Broline S), Yannick Gingras, Ake Svanstedt, 1:55.2 (first win in two tries), $7.60 as the 5-2 second choice

·         Race 12: Silver filly trot – Declan Shea (Tactical Landing-Mymomsablizzard), Tetrick, Richard Johnson, 1:56 (first win in three career starts), $41 as the 19-1 sixth choice

·         Race 13: Platinum filly trot – Nevis Peak (Walner-Ramona Hill), Gingras, Ron Burke, lifetime-best 1:53.4 (two-for-two lifetime), $5.80 as the 9-5 second choice

BEFORE THE BETTING CARD: A pair of non-wagering NJSS dashes were held before the start of the 15-race betting program, those races were won by:

·         NB1: Platinum colt and gelding pace – Aintmyfirstro Deo (a gelded son of Perfect Sting-Some Renditions), Zeron, Megan Scran, lifetime-best 1:52 (now three-for-three in his career)

·         NB2: Silver colt and gelding pace – Jerzy George (Lazarus N-Holy Trinity), Andy McCarthy, Chris Freck, lifetime-best 1:53.3 (now two-for-three lifetime)

A LITTLE MORE: Tim Tetrick gave his fans’ bankrolls a jolt with his four wins, none that went off as the favorite. He led the driver colony in victories for the night, scoring at 7-1, 19-1, 13-1 and 3-1. … Daley and Toscano topped the trainers with a pair of victories apiece. … All-source betting on the 15-race program totaled $2,500,176. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m. with a 14-race card that features eliminations for the $1-million Hambletonian and $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Dave Little, for The Meadowlands