DEVILISH 'DIABOLIC' DOMINANT IN NJSS AT BIG M

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- July 26, 2025 -- The definition of diabolical is “of, relating to, or characteristic of the devil”.

Friday night at The Meadowlands, the Annie Stoebe-trained Diabolic Hill gave his foes a devil of a time, shrugging off post 10 in just his third lifetime start -- all victories -- to win easily in 1:54 on a program that featured five $25,000 leg three dashes of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for 2-year-olds of each sex and gait.

The four $240,000 (est.) finals will take place on Aug. 1st and 2nd during Hambletonian Weekend.

In the lone colt and gelding trot, Diabolic Hill got roughed up a bit from the outside post, and ranged up to take on leader Mega Shark, who led at the quarter in :29. Soon thereafter, Diabolic Hill took over.

Turn out the lights, the party’s over.

Leading by 1¾ lengths at the half (in :57.2) and 3 lengths at three-quarters (1:26.2), Stoebe’s superstar finished things off with a :27.3 kicker to win by 2¾ lengths in a lifetime-best. Ardonne was second with I’m Kronos S third.

“I purposely have been training him on the front the last few weeks,” said Stoebe. “He handled it fantastic tonight.

“I think [driver] Andy [McCarthy] is just happy with how much he’s matured. The talent has been there all along. It’s channeling that naughtiness that he has.”

Going off at the longest odds yet in his career, Diabolic Hill (Muscle Hill-Crysti Dream) paid $4.60 as the 6-5 public choice.

Stoebe is going to go easy on her student.

“He’s pretty much staked to everything but we will be conservative with him because it’s a long year for a 2-year-old,” said Stoebe. “We’ll race next week [in the NJSS final] and go from there.”

The first of two filly trots was taken by the Nancy Takter-trained Leading Lady (Walner-Muscle Dolly), who impressed in her first lifetime outing.

Driver Yannick Gingras popped Leading Lady out of the three-hole on the far turn, following Sugar Packet, and had little trouble getting past that foe to record a 1¾-length win in 1:55.1. Sugar Packet finished second with Emmas Mystery CCL third.

“I’m really happy with the way she started her racing career tonight,” said Takter. “She’s been one of my favorite fillies all along and I think she could be very special going forward.”

As the even-money favorite, Leading Lady returned $4.20 to win.

The other filly trot went to Southwind Chaska, who left the gate hard, tripped out in the pocket behind 1-2 favorite Waldon Fashion, then closed along the inside to blow past the post-time choice by 2¾ lengths in a lifetime-best 1:55.1. Sparks was third.

After winning her lifetime debut two weeks ago, it upped the daughter of Tactical Landing-Southwind Chai’s record to two wins in as many tries for trainer Jim Oscarsson.

“[Last week] I just drove her like it was her first lifetime start, which it was,” said winning driver Tim Tetrick. “She really surprised me. She showed me a lot of versatility. Went down the lane, went right after them and got the win.

“[Last night] She went left [to the inside in deep stretch] like she had done it a hundred times. She was perfect. I was super happy with her. She shot right through there.”

As the 5-2 second choice, Southwind Chaska returned $7.80 to her backers.

NON-BETTORS: A pair of NJSS dashes were contested as non-wagering races before the start of the betting card.

Those winners were:

·         NB1 – Filly Pace: Perfect Thought (Perfect Sting-Think Pink), driver Scott Zeron, trainer Megan Scran, time for the mile was 1:54.1 as she recorded her first lifetime win in two starts

·         NB2 – Colt and Gelding Pace: Bookie J (Perfect Sting-Skyy), Dexter Dunn, Chris Ryder, 1:54 winning for the first time in four outings

THAT’S A HALF-DOZEN, COUSIN: Starting the night with five wins in his first five drives, it’s not shocking that Yannick Gingras finished the program with six victories on the night, becoming just the second pilot this year (Jason Bartlett was the other) to win a half-dozen dashes on a single Meadowlands card.

A LITTLE MORE: Victoria D’Alessandro and Mike Russo led the trainer colony with two winners apiece. … Despite no horse in the sequence going off at odds greater than 3-1, the 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 paid $5,058.38, and it only took six correct selections to cash in. … All-source handle on the 14-race card totaled $2,459,290. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m., featuring three eliminations for both the $1-million Hambletonian and $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks.