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

BONGIORNO GUIDES TWO CRAWFORD FARMS KINDERGARTEN WINNERS AT BIG M

Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations • October 28, 2023

Driver Joe Bongiorno had some power Friday night at The Meadowlands, and the 30-year-old pilot put it to good use, taking two of the seven $20,000 leg-five divisions of the Crawford Farms Kindergarten Series for 2-year-olds of each sex and gait ...

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- October 27, 2023 -- Driver Joe Bongiorno had some power Friday night at The Meadowlands, and the 30-year-old pilot put it to good use, taking two of the seven $20,000 leg-five divisions of the Crawford Farms Kindergarten Series for 2-year-olds of each sex and gait.


The Kindergarten finals and consolations will be contested at The Big M on Saturday, Nov. 4 with total purses estimated at $1 million.


Bongiorno guided Miss I La to victory lane in the first of two splits for filly trotters in 1:54.2 for trainer Noel Daley. After leaving the gate quickly, the daughter of Walner-Southwind Venus settled into the pocket behind Sambuca Hanover, vacated that spot to challenge that foe at three-quarters before going on to a 1¾-length win. Sambuca Hanover held second with Go For Gaagaa No third.


“She’s a very talented filly who did everything right,” said Bongiorno. “She settled into the hole nicely and when I moved her out, she did what she had to do.”


Miss I La returned $4.40 to win as the 6-5 favorite.


Lou Vuitton was equally as impressive, scoring in the second of three colt and gelding paces in a sparkling lifetime-best of 1:50.4 for trainer Ron Burke.


After sitting behind Fasnacht Hanover at the quarter, Bongiorno moved Lou Vuitton to the top, and after reaching the half in :55.3, had a 55.1 back half in his gas tank to record a 1¼-length victory. Fasnacht Hanover finished second with Crush Kill Destroy third.


“He was very good, but he’s a little lazy,” said Bongiorno. “You have to keep his attention, keep his mind on business. I was pleased with his effort.”


Lou Vuitton, a son of Sweet Lou-Shark Lightning, returned $2.80 to his backers as the heavy 2-5 public choice.

In the first of the three colt and gelding paces, Caviart Justice (Lazarus N-Caviart Jane) prevailed for driver Jordan Stratton and trainer Nancy Takter in a lifetime-best 1:52.1 as the 9-5 second choice before Courtship (Betting Line-Midnight Romance) took the third split for Matt Kakaley and Travis Alexander in a lifetime-best 1:51 as the 3-5 chalk.

In the evening’s lone event for colt and gelding trotters, Mosquito (Muscle Hill-Amour Heiress) clicked for Stratton and Lucas Wallin in a lifetime-best 1:54.2 as the 5-2 second choice.


Pressure Cooker (Heston Blue Chip-Bettor Be Steamin) won the only filly pace of the night for Corey Callahan and Linda Toscano, hitting the wire in a lifetime-best-equaling 1:51.4 as the 5-2 third choice.

The other filly trot was taken by Honey’s Sweet (Chapter Seven-Corazon Blue Chip) in 1:54.2 as a 15-1 outsider for Steve Smith and Tony Alagna.


A LITTLE MORE: Kakaley, Stratton and Bongiorno all recorded driving doubles. … Daley and Shane Tritton led the trainers with two winners each. … Peter Kleinhans served as co-host on set for the evening and picked Premier Joy A as his value play of the night in the fifth race, who came in and paid $39.80. … Dave Little was on target with the Early Pick-4 (cashing in for $138), the Trifecta box ($229) in the seventh race and an Exacta box ($89) in the eighth. … All-source handle on the 13-race card totaled $1,942,647. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.

By Courtney Stafford July 2, 2025
Harness Racing Community Celebrates Major Legislative Win as State Renews Full Commitment to Industry Support…
By cstafford June 30, 2025
The U.S. Supreme Court announced today that it has granted certiorari in the challenge brought by the United States Trotting Association (USTA), the States of Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Louisiana, and a group of racetracks, racing associations, and breeders against the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA), and has vacated the decision and remanded the case for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit to reconsider its decision upholding HISA ...
By Ray Cotolo, for The Meadowlands June 29, 2025
The doll of her class as a 2- and 3-year-old, Sylvia Hanover endured many defeats as Twin B Joe Fresh claimed the crown in the 4-year-old campaign in progress to a Horse of the Year title ...
By Frank Cotolo, for The Meadowlands June 29, 2025
Periculum, with Scott Zeron at the reins, fired midstretch from off the pace to carve a 1:50 score in the $164,000 Crawford Farms Open Trot on Saturday (June 28) at The Meadowlands ...
By Ray Cotolo, for The Meadowlands June 29, 2025
Saturday (June 28) saw speedy returning victories by Ken Hanover, a winner once last year from 12 starts in a lifetime-best mile over this track, and 2024 Breeders Crown Open Pace champion Coach Stefanos in their respective $86,500 divisions of the Dave Brower Memorial at The Meadowlands ...
By Frank Cotolo, for Meadowlands Media Relations June 29, 2025
Call Me Goo fought confidently when making two moves in her 1:51.2 winning effort in the $114,500 Six Pack Mare Trot on Saturday (June 28) at The Meadowlands and thrusted herself over the seven-figure earnings plateau in the process ...
More Posts