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

BIG M LOVER OAKWOOD ARDAN IR TAKES FEATURE

Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations • June 8, 2025

It’s safe to say that Oakwood Ardan IR loves The Meadowlands ..

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- June 7, 2025 -- It’s safe to say that Oakwood Ardan IR loves The Meadowlands.



During 2024, the now 6-year-old son of Sweet Lou-Trend Setter won nine times from 16 starts. Great stats, but at The Meadowlands, they were off the charts, as all nine of his victories came at the mile oval in just 11 tries. Five of those were in 1:49 or faster.


He flexed those I-love-this-track muscles in the $27,500 Saturday night feature, an Open Handicap for pacers, by gunning down 1-5 favorite Ruthless Hanover with ease in a sizzling 1:48.4.


“He likes The Big M because it’s a long straight,” said winning driver Andy McCarthy. “His attitude is his biggest asset. He’s got an incredible will to win. It’s a lot of fun [to drive this horse].”


After the select field of six was sent on their way, Spring Inhis Step A stepped fastest of all around the first turn. Oakwood Ardan IR also left the gate while Ruthless Hanover raced in fifth as they straightened up down the backside. Spring Inhis Step A reached the quarter in :26.2 before Oakwood Ardan IR grabbed the lead at the three-eighths. Ruthless Hanover was now in gear and reached the point before hitting the half in :54.


The top two were unchanged to three-quarters, which went in 1:21.1, but off the turn, when the field straightened away for the final three-sixteenths, Oakwood Ardan IR popped out of the pocket, looking like he meant business.


“I was traveling pretty good going into the last turn,” said McCarthy, who was also the winning pilot last week in the pacing feature with Maximus Miki. “When I moved him over [out of the pocket], I saw him change gears.”


Just after reaching mid-stretch, Oakwood Ardan IR got past the tiring Ruthless Hanover on the way to reporting home a half-length winner over a fast-closing Mac’s Delight. Voukefalas rallied for third with Ruthless Hanover fourth.


“[Winning trainer Robert] Cleary has done a great job getting him back,” said McCarthy. “He needed a good race. I was trying to teach him to get out of the gate a little better because we are getting him ready for the big boys.”


As the 5-1 third choice, Oakwood Ardan IR returned $12.80 to his backers. He now has 21 career wins from 48 starts, good for earnings of $231,177 for owners Royal Wire Products Inc.


A LITTLE MORE: When Blue Collar Man lit up the board at odds of 53-1 in the 13th race, a 20-cent Pick-6 carryover was the result. A total of $6,630 will be sitting in the pool when the Pick-6 gets underway in race eight on Friday night. Those who had five correct selections collected $1,105.14. … Joe Bongiorno led the driver colony with three victories. … All-source handle on the 14-race program totaled $3,314,111. … Racing resumes Friday night at 6:20 p.m.


By By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations June 7, 2025
One week ago, Ari Ferrari J had no chance to catch Lexus Kody in the weekly feature at The Meadowlands, lacking room until very late after sitting a pocket trip ...
By Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager June 6, 2025
At this time of year, there are few places trainer Sam DePinto would rather be than Campbellville, Ont. ...
By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations June 5, 2025
For the last two years, Brett Beckwith has been one of a handful of drivers under the age of 30 to perform consistently at The Meadowlands ...
By Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager June 5, 2025
Seven Colors has raced only once at MGM Northfield Park during his career, but it produced a pretty good memory for his connections ...
By Courtney Stafford June 5, 2025
The Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey and the Backstretch Community Assistance Program of New Jersey will award scholarships to qualified students currently enrolled in or plan to attend a two- or four-year college or university ...
By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations June 1, 2025
In what could be characterized as the most dominant performance of the year in the weekly pacing feature, Maximus Miki destroyed his foes with a wicked front-end speed mile at The Meadowlands Saturday night in the marquee $27,500 event for open pacers ...
More Posts