HIGH-PRICED TALENT HIGHLIGHTS BREAKFAST WITH THE BABIES

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- June 11, 2026 -- After an 11-dash session in the first week, Breakfast With The Babies returned to Meadowlands Racetrack in a special midweek appearance on Thursday, June 11 featuring 16 dashes and some of the Standardbred industry's most sought-after yearlings of 2025 in action for the first time.

The Meadowlands carded 16 baby races for Thursday, a warm morning with a light breeze, temperatures in the mid 80's and warming into an afternoon heat advisory. Contrary to rumour, that heat advisory did not stem from the New York Knicks' thrilling Game 4 comeback victory at home over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA finals on Wednesday night.

Breakfast With The Babies, however, was definitely presented by the Tactical Landing Syndicate, Ecurie D Syndicate, and Karl Syndicate, with those trotters standing at Southwind Farms of New Jersey.

Trainer Petter Engblom swept the proverbial early daily double, sending out the winners of the session's first two dashes. Both trotters were guided to victory by driver Jason Bartlett.

In the first baby race, Little By Little tracked Sweetest Of All (driven by Scott Zeron) through fractions of :31, 1:00.2 and 1:30.1 before angling out in the stretch. Little By Little gradually wore down the tempo-setter and hit the wire a half length the best, with the mile timed in 1:58. Sweetest Of All was a solid second, with Winning Addiction (Ake Svanstedt) next across the wire.

A $22,000 Goshen Yearling Sale purchase by Engblom Farm LLC of Wrightstown, N.J., Evans Nation of Seaford, N.Y. and Hickory Hollow Stables of Spencerville, Ind., Little By Little is a filly from the first crop of Back Of The Neck out of Chambers Cove. She was bred by Andrew Lapp of Gordonville, Pa, and she's the first foal of Back Of The Neck with a race record.

The second qualifier played out in a similar manner. Engblom pupil Secret Lover found herself in third down the backside as Zaneyatta (Svanstedt) hit the quarter poles in moderate splits of :31.4, 1:03.1 and 1:33.1. Bartlett right-lined Secret Lover just before that third station, and closed strongly with a :26.4 final quarter to win in 2:00.2. Special Orchid (Zeron) also flashed late trot to finish second, three-quarters of a length back of the winner, with Zaneyatta rounding out the top trio.

While seemingly sold at the 2025 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale for $115,000, Secret Lover (Chapter Seven-Elegant Touch) is a homebred owned by Diamond Creek Racing LLC of Lexington, Ky.

One of the session's few wire-to-wire winners, Yankee Boss delivered decisively on debut in the third baby race for trainer and driver Ake Svanstedt. Clearing his rivals from post five to front the field early, Yankee Boss managed fractions of :31, 1:01 and 1:30.4 and then trotted home in :27.2 for the 1:58.1 decision. Oscar Papa Bravo (Bartlett) finished three lengths back of the winner, followed by Reverance (Zeron).

Purchased through an online mixed sale in early 2025 for $6,500, Yankee Boss (Captain Corey-Brigit Of Kildare) is a colt owned by Kiwi Stables LLC of La Plata, Md. and Graham Grace Stables LLC of Clifton, Va. Yankeeland Partners LLP of Frederick, Md. is the breeder of record.

In the session's fourth dash, Andrew McCarthy angled Grandiflora through trotters in the stretch and the daughter of Muscle Hill - Floribunda S got up in time to best tempo-setter Olbia (Dexter Dunn) in 1:58. Olbia set fractions of :30.2, :59.4 and 1:29.1, but fell just a neck short at the wire. Globalpac Hanover (Svanstedt) bested Jula Shining Queen (Zeron) for third.

Bred by Menhammar Stuteri Ab of Paris, Ky. and purchased in Lexington for $40,000, Grandiflora is a Noel Daley pupil owned by Sjoblom Racing & M Dolan of Chesterfield, N.J., FAC Racing LLC of Scarsdale, N.Y. and Niko Karna of Allentown, N.J. 

Fifth race victor Lifetime Dreamer provided Svanstedt with his second winner of the morning and sire Ecurie D with his first male record performer. Following Knotts (Tyler Buter) through fractions of :30.3 and 1:01.2, Svanstedt right-lined Lifetime Dreamer before the 1:30.3 third station and the rookie roared home in :28.2 to prevail in 1:59.1. Morethanenough (Zeron) came up short but looked solid in a runner-up effort, with Run For You (Andy McCarthy) completing the top trio.

A $65,000 Lexington Selected yearling, Lifetime Dreamer (Ecurie D Dk - Lifetime Gift) is owned by Svanstedt (as Ake Svanstedt Inc. of Wrightstown, N.J.), breeder Brittany Farms LLC of Versailles, Ky., Bruni Racing Team Inc. and Suleyman Yuksel Stables Inc. of Delray Beach, Fl.

Two-year-olds from Ecurie D Dk scored victories in three of the morning's dashes, as Internal Dialog flew home in :28.1 for driver Scott Zeron to best A Million Reasons (Dunn) by a nose in 2:01.1. A Million Reasons inherited the lead after stablemate Count The Tears (Mattias Melander) broke after the :30.4 opening quarter, set middle fractions of 1:02.2 and 1:32.2, but was picked off in the final strides. Oh Goodi (Anibal Borjas) was next best in that sixth qualifier.

Trained by Megan Scran, Internal Dialog (Ecurie D Dk - Livininthefastlane) was bred by Concord Stud Farm LLC and Julie Meirs of Cream Ridge, N.J. Ontario-based owers Stephen Palermo of Etobicoke, Todd Coleman of Paris, Jeff Ruch of Innisfil and Dean Lockhart of Collingwood purchased the filly in Lexington for $32,000.

As the highest priced yearling of 2025, and the highest priced yearling filly sold at auction in North America, Dejeuner comes to the track with high expectations. The daughter of Walner - French Cafe passed her first test with flying colors. Sitting third in the session's seventh baby race for driver Andy McCarthy as an amped-up Hammer Clinched (Cory Stratton) set fractions of :30, :59.4 and 1:30.2, Dejeuner outsprinted Orchestra (Dunn) to the wire in a 1:59 mile. Orchestra wasn't winded but finished a neck back of the winner, with Loveagain Volo (Zeron) in third.

The sister to 2024 Elegantimage champ and half millionaire French Champagne, Dejeuner topped the 2025 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale after Winning Key Inc. of Leechburg, Pa. doled out $1 million to secure the filly and place her in the hands of trainer Noel Daley. Dejeuner was bred by Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld of Toronto and Pickering, Ont,

Seven Pledges garnered a substantial amount of interest as a yearling in Harrisburg, a son of Chapter Seven and the first foal from Clockwork Orange — a sister to Allegiant, now the world's fastest trotter after her 1:48 stunner in the 2026 Elitloppet. Selling for $700,000 with New Jersey-based William Pollock, Bruce Areman and trainer Andrew Harris as the owners, Seven Pledges sat in the pocket for driver Jason Bartlett during his first test in the eighth qualifier as Top Reacher (Dunn) doled out fractions of :30.4, 1:00 and 1:28.4. Bartlett asked Seven Pledges in the stretch, and the colt delivered a 1:57 winning effort on debut. Top Reacher was just short of the wire, a head back in second, with Wyoming (Svanstedt) the next to cross the finish line.

Jonas Schlabach of Apple Creek, Oh. is the breeder of record for Seven Pledges.

No slouch on the pedigree side, Love's Passion sold on the first day in Harrisburg for $300,000 and she showed signs of being a solid investment. Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms and now owned by Jeffrey Snyder of New York, N.Y. and Arthur Pronti of Jersey City, N.J., the three-quarter sister to 2025 Breeders Crown winner Spencer Hanover sprinted past rivals in the stretch for a 1:59 victory in the morning's ninth qualifier. Sitting comfortably in third for driver Dunn as Pure Luxury (Svanstedt) set fractions of :30.4, 1:01.2 and 1:31, Love's Passion got her cue in the lane and she responded assertively to best her foes by 2-1/2 lengths, closing in :27.2. Pure Luxury stayed for second, with Mystique Landing (Tyler Buter) in for third.

Marcus Melander, the trainer of 2026 Hambletonian hopeful Spencer Hanover, also trains Love's Passion (Walner - Secret Passion).

Melander trainees made it back-to-back baby race winners as Pul Biber went coast-to-coast for driver Scott Zeron in the morning's 10th qualifier. The Muscle Hill - Aleppo Pine S colt posted the session's largest win margin — 5-1/2 lengths — after setting fractions of :32, 1:01.1 and 1:30.3 then sprinting away for a spicy 1:59 speed badge. Orpheus (Svanstedt) and Mackinac Isle (Borjas) completed the top trio.

S R F Stable of Del Ray Beach, Fl. S R F Stable owns Pul Biber, who was bred Ab Svensk Reklamfinans of Del Ray Beach.

Hook N Reel duplicated those winning tactics in the 11th baby race to give Team Svanstedt its third winner of the morning. Sent to the front from post three, Hook N Reel set sail and didn't look back. After fractions of :31.4, 1:02 and 1:32.1, Hook N Reel rambled home in :27.3 for the 1:59.4 score. Charge The Hill (Bartlett) was second throughout and just over four lengths back of the winner, with Muscleaid (Trond Smedshammer) next best.

Bred by Concord Stud Farm LLC, Hook N Reel (Captain Corey - Flos Conch Shack) was a $170,000 Lexington Selected yearling and is now owned by Svanstedt along with Brochart Stable Inc. of Delray Beach, Fl. and S R F Stable.

With a name like Free Scottie, it's fitting to see 'The Money Man' Scott Zeron get the call to drive the son of Walner - You Ato Dream, and the tandem connected successfully in the 12th baby race. Sitting second to stablemate Lebron Bi (Dunn) through a :28.4 opening panel, Free Scottie inherited the lead when Lebron Bi put in steps down the backstretch and rolled offstride. Free Scottie found himself free on the front end and floored it from there. After a :59.3 half and 1:29.1 third quarter, Free Scottie flew home in :28.3 for the sharp 1:57.4 victory. Boozay Cowboy (Andy McCarthy) closed well to wrangle second with Jameson Deo (Svanstedt) in third.

Giving trainer Marcus Melander his third win of the day, Free Scottie is owned by Holly Lane Stud East Ltd. of Vero Beach, Fl. with Daniel & Jean-Christophe Plouffe of Bromont, Que. Bred by Steve Jones of Montgomery, N.Y., Free Scottie was a $95,000 Lexington yearling.

Petter Engblom also conditioned three of the session's winners, achieving the hat trick in the 13th qualifier courtesy pacer Positive Process. The daughter of Captaintreacherous-Ideation Hanover fronted the field through opening panels of :30.4 and :59.1, yielded to Ranch Water (Zeron) through the 1:27.2 third station, and then mowed down that rival in the stretch for a 1:55.3 mark. Cowboy Candy (Aaron Lambert) finished 2-1/2 lengths back in second with Sweet As Silk (Todd McCarthy) a strong-closing third.

Fair Winds Farm Inc. of Cream Ridge, N.J. bred Positve Process, now owned by by Engblom Farm LLC and Douglas Sipple of Georgetown, De. after a $65,000 sale in Harrisburg last fall.

Training triples numbered four during the BWTB session, as Andrew Harris sent out two of 2025's highest priced pacing yearlings to victory in back-to-back baby races.

The most expensive pacing-bred yearling from last year's sales, Seaside Ubeaut unleashed a :55 back half on debut in the 14th baby race for a 1:56.4 mark. The regally-bred daughter of Downbytheseaside - Warrawee Ubeaut sat third for driver Dunn as Downtown Blvd (Todd McCarthy) set fractions of :32.1 and 1:01.1. Dunn angled Seaside Ubeaut out from third before the 1:30 third quarter, and the pacing filly powered home with a final quarter of :26.2 to best Downtown Blvd by a pair of lengths. Nzinga (Bartlett) completed the top trio.

Harris co-owns Seaside Ubeaut, a $500,000 Lexington Selected yearling, with William Pollock and Bruce Areman. She was bred by Burke Racing Stable LLC of Fredericktown, Pa., Crawford Farms Racing of Syracuse, N.Y., J And T Silva Purnel And Libby of Ocean Ridge, Fl. and Phil Collura of Mountain Top, Pa.

Vainqueur was the highest-priced male pacing-bred yearling of 2025 at $375,000, was also obtained by Pollock, Areman and Harris, and was also victorious (as his name would predict) during the Thursday baby race session. Dunn engineered this victory as well, a wire-to-wire win in 1:56.3 after fractions of :30, 1:00 and 1:29.2. American Lou (Bartlett) made the winning colt earn that victory, closing rapidly to his outside but finishing a neck short at the wire. Beatle Blue Chip (Todd McCarthy) finished third.

A son of Bulldog Hanover and the first foal of Dan Patch Award-winning millionaire Fire Start Hanover, Vainqueur was sold at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale with Steve Stewart of Paris, Ky., Urie Byler of Middlefield, Oh., Black Creek Farm of Grabill, Ind. and Maumee River Stables of New Haven, Ind. listed as the breeders.

Lone Cypress closed out the 16-dash baby session impressively, an off-the-pace winner in 1:57.2. Todd McCarthy sat third with the son of Pebble Beach-Three Times A Lady as Bona Fide Bluechip (Dunn) paced on top through panels of :30.4, :59.4 and 1:29.1. On the move from third before that third station, Lone Cypress stretched out and pulled clear of the pacesetter in the stretch through a :28.1 final quarter to win in 1:57.2. Bona Fide Bluechip stayed for second, a length back of the winner, with Big Mac Dylan (Borjas) in for third.

Tony Alagna trains Lone Cypress, a $20,000 Lexington Selected yearling now owned by Robert Leblanc of New York, N.Y., Pryde Stables Inc. of North York, Ont., Steven Head of Edgewater, Md. and William Beattie of Toronto, Ont. The colt, from the first crop of his accomplished sire, was bred by Steve Stewart, Conquest Acres LP of Grabill, Ind. and Michael Robinson of Lewis Center, Oh.

Breakfast With The Babies returns to its regular Saturday time slot next week, with a session slated for Saturday, June 20 and a first post time of 9 a.m.

Due to the World Cup soccer match being played at the NY/NJ Stadium (fka MetLife Stadium) on Saturday, June 13, live harness racing at the Big M takes place this week on Thursday, June 11, and Friday, June 12 with a 6:35 p.m. first post time.