DALEY HAPPY WITH PROGRESS OF FRESHMEN AT MAGICAL ACRES
Noel Daley watched six of his 2-year-olds pick up wins and Chris Ryder notched three victories – including with Ebony Hill, the debuting full sister to Party Girl Hill – as Magical Acres hosted its second session of qualifiers for freshman pacers and trotters on Thursday ...
CHESTERFIELD, NJ -- June 26, 2025 -- Noel Daley watched six of his 2-year-olds pick up wins and Chris Ryder notched three victories – including with Ebony Hill, the debuting full sister to Party Girl Hill – as Magical Acres hosted its second session of qualifiers for freshman pacers and trotters on Thursday.
Daley, who had 32 freshmen in action last week at Magical Acres, had 17 travel around the training center’s five-eighths-mile track on Thursday.
“It was like a breeze,” Daley said with a laugh. “Like a walk in the park today compared to last week.”
Pacing colt Callmebigpapi and trotting colt Highball Hanover were repeat winners for Daley. Callmebigpapi (Papi Rob Hanover-Dancethenightaway) won in 2:00.3 with Todd McCarthy in the sulky and Highball Hanover (Bar Hopping-Hall Of A Dream) triumphed in 2:01.4 with Andrew McCarthy at the lines.
Toast Of The Town (Sweet Lou-New Year) had the fastest mile of the day, 1:57.3, for Daley. The homebred pacing colt is owned by Let It Ride Stables, Odds On Racing, and Magnificent Seven Stable. His second dam is millionaire Drop The Ball. Daley also saw his pacing colt Good Lookin (Papi Rob Hanover-Miss Babe Delight) score in 1:58. He was bred by Let It Ride Stables, which shares ownership with Richard Jack, Lawrence Rosen, and Enviro Stables.
Good Lookin and Toast Of The Town were driven by Andrew McCarthy.
Rounding out the list of Daley’s winners were trotting colt Twin B Seven Sins (Chapter Seven-Affair Hall) and trotting filly Night French Girl (Muscle Hill-Golden Girl FR), who both were driven by Todd McCarthy and stopped the timer in 2:03.1.
Twin B Seven Sins was purchased for $200,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale and is owned by Patricia Stable, Caviart Farms, Allister Stables, and L.A. Express Stable. He is a half-brother to 2022 O’Brien Award-winner Twin B Archie out of the family of Hall of Fame broodmare Amour Angus. Night French Girl is owned by breeder Jean Pierre Barjon of France.
“It was a pretty good day,” Daley said. “I was happy with most of them. I don’t know if there is a superstar there. I never go very quick before I get there, so each week is a learning process. I’ve got six in at The Meadowlands (to qualify) tomorrow. We get to know once we have to go a little faster how much bottom they’ve got.
“I’m happy with some of mine just to see the progress from last week to this week. That’s always nice. Some of them just take a little time. We hope for them to have a reasonably decent experience their first couple of times out before they have to go the faster miles.”
Daley has more than 40 2-year-olds this season.
“The more you get, the more chances you’ve got, but the more money doesn’t mean they’re going to be the better ones,” Daley said. “It’s nice when you can buy the ones with breeding and the looks. For many years, we had to choose. It’s nice when you’ve got more money to spend and get the ones, but it doesn’t mean they’re the best ones. It’s a bit of a numbers game. We’ve certainly got the numbers. Now, we’ll just see. You never know.”
Dexter Dunn drove all three Chris Ryder winners. Ebony Hill (Captaintreacherous-Look Cheap) split rivals approaching the finish line to win by a head in 1:58.2, the fastest of three pacing events for freshman fillies. She is owned by breeder Tom Hill.
She B Minnie (Always B Miki-Shebesailin), another pacing filly for Ryder, was a dead-heat winner with Nik Drennan-trained Feisty Hanover in 2:01. She B Minnie was purchased for $100,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale and is owned by Ryder Henderson Mondillo, Anne Demers, and Bill Donovan. Bred by Thaddeus Wier, the filly’s family includes two-time Dan Patch Award-winner Perfect Sting.
Ryder’s remaining winner was trotting filly Woodside Jasmine (Muscle Hill-Qiss Me Blue Chip). She won in 1:59.1, the fastest freshman trot of the day.
Drennan had two winners, with Feisty Hanover (Papi Rob Hanover-Fit To Frame) being joined by repeat winner Napalm (Perfect Sting-Fiery Beauty). Both pacing fillies were driven by David Miller. Feisty Hanover is a half-sister to 2020 Dan Patch Award-winner Fire Start Hanover out of the family of Hall of Fame broodmare Grand Lady. She was a $57,000 Standardbred Horse Sale purchase and is owned by Joseph Davino, Brad Shackman, and Drennan Stable.
Napalm, whose family includes Hall of Fame broodmare Precious Beauty, won in 1:59.1.
Completing the list of 2-year-old winners Thursday were pacing colt Sonofanutcracker (Nutcracker Sweet-Rob Them Blind) in 1:58 for driver Andrew McCarthy and trainer Tom Cancelliere, and trotting filly Kickan (Walner-You Ato Dream) in 1:59.4 for driver Dunn and trainer Nifty Norman.
Sonofanutcracker, a John Cancelliere homebred, is from the family of Hall of Fame broodmare Stienam’s Place. Kickan, a $400,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase owned by David McDuffee, Melvin Hartman, and Paul Bordogna, counts millionaire Ari Ferrari J among her relatives.
For Thursday’s complete charts, click here. To watch a replay of Thursday’s Magical Acres qualifiers, courtesy of The First Mile, click here.
