STANDARDBRED BREEDERS & OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY

Representing the drivers, trainers, caretakers, breeders and owners of New Jersey

64 Business Route 33

Manalapan, NJ 07726

Phone: 732-462-2357

Fax: 732-409-0741

STANDARDBRED BREEDERS & OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY

Representing the drivers, trainers, caretakers, breeders and owners of New Jersey

64 Business Route 33, Manalapan, NJ 07726 

Phone: 732-462-2357 | Fax: 732-409-0741

BACK

AHLE SWEEPS CO-FEATURES; PICK-8 HIT AT BIG M

Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations • December 24, 2023

For someone who won only three races during 2021, things have certainly taken a remarkably meteoric rise for driver Johnathan Ahle ...

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- December 23, 2023 -- For someone who won only three races during 2021, things have certainly taken a remarkably meteoric rise for driver Johnathan Ahle.


The 26-year-old pilot, who still raced in amateur events as recently as 16 months ago, steered the winners of both co-featured $27,500 high-end conditioned events for pacers at The Meadowlands Saturday night, scoring with Queen Of Success in the fillies and mares dash before hitting victory lane with the red-hot Soaring Now in the event for males.


One week after taking down 1-9 favorite Talk Curdy To Me, round two of the matchup saw Queen Of Success bet down to 3-5 after scoring seven days ago at 9-1. The 4-year-old daughter of Captaintreacherous-Cashaway lived up to the public’s confidence, displaying two big moves to record her 13th lifetime win from 42 starts.


Leaving alertly from post six in the six-horse field (there was one scratch), Ahle had Queen Of Success on the point out of the first turn but was forced to yield to Hot Mess Express, who reached the opening quarter in :27.1. Ahle then moved back to the top before the half with a burst of speed and had little in the way of trouble from there, scoring in 1:50.3 by 1½ lengths over a fast-closing Tony’s Mom. Talk Curdy To Me challenged the eventual winner at the three-quarter mark, but weakened from there, finishing fifth.


Queen Of Success, a Tony Alagna trainee, lifted her lifetime earnings to just over $430,000. She returned $3.20 to win.

“Queen is just an all-around professional,” said Ahle. “Handy and a true pleasure to drive. You feel like you never run out of horse with her.”


Soaring Now is the hottest horse at The Big M – and quite possibly, the sport – right now after racking up his fourth straight win while continuing to climb the class ladder.


The 4-year-old son of Jk Endofanera-Sunflower used his high speed to grab the lead at the half in :54.2 and went on to a rather easy, never-in-doubt 1¼-length win over Jack’s Legend N in 1:50.4.


“He’s a nice horse that is plenty handy,” said Ahle, who won four times on The Big M card after scoring five times at Freehold during daylight. “You can do whatever you want with him. He felt like he had plenty left in the tank if I needed it.”


Soaring Now, who is trained by Noel Daley, returned $4.20 to his backers as the even-money public choice. He’s won 16-of-37 lifetime outings, good for earnings just shy of $500,000.


So, which of the two did you think was more solid heading into the night?


“I was more confident in Queen because of post position (six, as compared to Soaring Now’s eight),” said Ahle. “But I thought they could both get the job done.”


Ahle’s 2023 is one he probably didn’t think would go as well as it has. After recording 45 victories a year ago in his second year as a driver, he’s won 308 races this year and with his performance at The Big M Saturday, pushed his money earnings past the $3-million mark.


PICK-8 HIT: After eight consecutive race cards saw no winning tickets in the 20-cent Pick-8, the multi-leg puzzle was finally taken down.


A carryover of $84,673 led to over $66,000 in “new money” being pumped into the pot, for a grand total of $151,285. After a sequence that saw winner’s odds of 1-2, 6-5, 3-5, 5-2, 3-5, 9-2/8-1 dead heat and 1-1 hit paydirt in the first seven legs, Ahle guided 20-1 outsider Revolver N to close out the wager. Those with winning tickets collected a handsome $12,377.42.


The opportunity for bettors was of the outstanding variety, as the carryover set the wager up to return 212 percent to those who cashed, instead of the usual 85.


A LITTLE MORE: Ahle’s four-bagger led the driver colony. … Andy Miller guided three to victory lane. … Michael Meza and Daley led the trainers with a pair of winners apiece. … All-source wagering totaled $3,104,396, the 59thtime during 2023 from 87 programs that betting busted the $3-million barrier. … Live racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations July 29, 2025
Imagine your prom is in a few days and two of the prettiest girls in school want you to put the corsage on her wrist and slow dance the night away in the gymnasium under the basketball hoop. Tough decision ...
By Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager July 29, 2025
Super Chapter, who won one of last week’s three Hambletonian Stakes eliminations, drew post two for Saturday’s $1 million final at The Meadowlands and was made the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the 100th edition of the sport’s premier event for 3-year-old trotters ...
By Meadowlands Racetrack July 28, 2025
On Saturday, August 2, the Meadowlands Racetrack showcases the 100th Hambletonian, presented by FanDuel ...
By Hambletonian Society July 28, 2025
From award-winning author, researcher, and equine professional, Cheryl L. Eriksen comes Greyhound, the most complete biographical portrait of the greatest racehorse history (nearly) forgot ...
By Courtney Stafford July 28, 2025
The recipients have been named for the 2025 scholarships awarded by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey (SBOANJ) and the Backstretch Community Assistance Program (BCAP) ...
By Ray Cotolo, for The Meadowlands July 27, 2025
The picture for the Grade 1 Hambletonian Oaks shifted greatly from expectations with some surprise performances from both ends of the spectrum in the three $50,000 eliminations at The Meadowlands on Saturday night (July 26) ...
More Posts