‘BG’ STAYS PERFECT AFTER NJSS WIN AT BIG M

 EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- July 18, 2025 -- Be Perfect BG made good on her name Friday night at The Meadowlands, remaining unbeaten in four lifetime starts after taking the lone filly pace when seven $25,000 divisions of the second leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for 2-year-olds were contested for horses of each sex and gait.

The daughter of Perfect Sting-Jk Mardi Says impressed winning last week after leaving from post 11, and driver Dexter Dunn said it was more of the same this time around.

“She felt just as good [as last week],” said Dunn. “The trip was a little better for her tonight [leaving from post five]. She seems to be learning all the time and she was really good tonight.”

Sitting just behind leader Perfect Thought through an opening quarter of :27.1 and half of :56.1, Dunn opted to pop out of the pocket at the five-eighths, made steady progress on the leader while still less than a length behind at three-quarters (which went in 1:25.2), roared to the point at the head of the stretch before going on to a convincing 2½-length win in a snappy lifetime-best of 1:51.4. Perfect Thought held second with Beautiful Memory third.

“She was on the front last week and was good off the helmet tonight,” said Dunn. “She came off [her cover] and sprinted home. For sure, at this stage, there are a lot of positive signs [that point to her having a big year].”

A Tony Beaton trainee who is owned by Ecurie CSL, Be Perfect BG, who has gone off as the favorite in each of her career outings, returned $2.60 to her backers after going off at odds of 1-5.

AND THE WINNERS WERE: Here are the other six New Jersey Sire Stakes winners:

·         Race 3 – Filly Trot: Days Away (Muscle Hill-Danae), driver Jason Bartlett, trainer Per Engblom, time for the mile 1:54.4, returned $23.20 to win as the 10-1 fifth choice in the wagering

·         Race 6 – Filly Trot: Royal Patti (Walner-Serenity Joy), Jeff Gregory, Jeff Gregory, 1:56, $4.80 as the 7-5 favorite

·         Race 8 – Colt and Gelding Pace: Sonofanutcracker (Nutcracker Sweet-Rob Them Blind), Andy McCarthy, Tom Cancelliere, 1:52.3, $14.20 as the 6-1 fourth choice

·         Race 9 – Filly Trot: Emmas Mystery CCL (Muscle Hill-Mistery Woman), Andy McCarthy, Noel Daley, 1:55.2, $8.60 as the 3-1 third choice

·         Race 10 – Colt and Gelding Trot: Apex (Walner-Mission Brief), Dexter Dunn, Marcus Melander, 1:54.3, $2.40 as the 1-5 favorite

·         Race 12 – Colt and Gelding Trot: Kingmen (Walner-Pats Inspiration), Trond Smedshammer, Trond Smedshammer, 1:56, $40.60 as the 19-1 fourth choice

FOSSLI FABULOUS: Karen Fossli was on target once again in the 2025 Meadowlands Monthly Handicapping Contest, taking first place for a second time this year, again walking away with the top nightly prize of $500.

A 20-cent Pick-5 hit of $477 set Fossli up well, as she finished the night with a bankroll of $722.26, so not only did Fossli take home the top cash prize, but also – as per contest rules – took home her profits of $622.26 as well.

Finishing second with a bankroll of $604.50 was Nick Montemurro, who took down the $250 second prize. For Montemurro, it was his third top-two finish this year, so he will have three entries (at least) for the end-of-the-year, invitation-only contest on Dec. 13, which offers prize money totaling $10,000. Fossli and Gary Scogna will have two entries (as of now) apiece in the big-money test, which will be limited to 22 entries.

The next edition of the contest takes place on Aug. 30.

A LITTLE MORE: Andy McCarthy led the driver colony with three winners on the night while Chris Height and Noel Daley topped the trainers with a pair of walks down victory lane apiece. … All-source handle on the 14-race card totaled $2,687,812. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.