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

MARYLAND, ASCENDANCE SCORE IN BIG M’S KINDERGARTEN

Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations • June 29, 2024

Maryland and Ascendance were two of the more impressive-looking -- and high-priced -- winners as the Kindergarten Series for 2-year-olds of each sex and gait kicked off Friday night with six $20,000 divisions of the opening leg at The Meadowlands as every horse in the event made their respective parimutuel debuts ...

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- June 28, 2024 -- Maryland and Ascendance were two of the more impressive-looking -- and high-priced -- winners as the Kindergarten Series for 2-year-olds of each sex and gait kicked off Friday night with six $20,000 divisions of the opening leg at The Meadowlands as every horse in the event made their respective parimutuel debuts.


The Marcus Melander-trained Maryland (a colt by Chapter Seven-Crucial) took the second of two colt and gelding trots in 1:56.4 with Dexter Dunn at the controls. The $475,000 Lexington Select Sale purchase made the lead at the quarter while parked in :30 and never relinquished the point through fractions of 1:00.2 and 1:30.2 on the way to a head win over a late-closing Mr Walner Fashion.


“He’s done everything right from the start and has been great training down,” said Melander. “Tonight, he dug in like a good horse the last eighth when [trainer Jim] Campbell’s horse [Mr Walner Fashion] came up on the outside. I couldn’t be happier with him in his first start.”


As the 3-5 favorite, Maryland paid $3.40 to win.


Hall of Fame trainer Linda Toscano looks like she has a good one in Ascendance, who overcame post seven to win with Scott Zeron driving in 1:53 as the even-money public choice, paying $4.20 to win in the lone filly pace.


“She had pedigree (a daughter of Captaintreacherous-Higher And Higher) and size. [My owners] stepped up for me,” said Toscano of the $260,000 Lexington purchase. “She showed last week she’s as good off a helmet (when fourth in her second baby race, closing in :26.1) as on the lead. “I don’t know if she was running in in the stretch, but I do think she’s really green. It’s just so new to all of them.”


Ascendance grabbed the lead at the half in :57.4 and remained on top at three-quarters in 1:26.3 before an easy jaunt through the stretch led to a 1½-length win over Shes A Streaker.


FOUR MORE: The other Kindergarten winners included Margareta Hanover (Maharajah-Hot Mess Hanover) in 1:56.1 in the lone filly trot before the betting card began, giving the team of Dunn and Melander their first of two winners on the night.


The first colt and gelding trot went to 4-5 favorite ($3.80) Hidalgo, a son of Muscle Hill-Brooklyn, for Yannick Gingras and Ron Burke in 1:56.2 while the two colt and gelding paces were taken by Papis Pistol (Papi Rob Hanover-Bang Bang), the 7-2 second choice who returned $9.20, for Brett Beckwith and Sam De Pinto in 1:53.3; and 3-2 second choice ($5.00) Namaste Hanover (Papi Rob Hanover-Naughty Marietta) for Jordan Stratton and Christopher Choate in 1:54.3.


THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT: The Early 20-cent Pick-5, which saw four winning favorites score at even-money or less, returned a mere $36.14, while the Late P5, which included 9-1, 15-1 and 14-1 shots, returned a whopping $5,488.16.


A LITTLE MORE: Brett Beckwith, 21, currently the second-leading dash-winning driver in North America, the red-hot Yogi Sheridan, Dunn and Dave Miller tied atop the driver-colony leaderboard with two winners each on the card. … All-source handle on the 14-race program totaled $2,532,714. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations July 29, 2025
Imagine your prom is in a few days and two of the prettiest girls in school want you to put the corsage on her wrist and slow dance the night away in the gymnasium under the basketball hoop. Tough decision ...
By Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager July 29, 2025
Super Chapter, who won one of last week’s three Hambletonian Stakes eliminations, drew post two for Saturday’s $1 million final at The Meadowlands and was made the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the 100th edition of the sport’s premier event for 3-year-old trotters ...
By Meadowlands Racetrack July 28, 2025
On Saturday, August 2, the Meadowlands Racetrack showcases the 100th Hambletonian, presented by FanDuel ...
By Hambletonian Society July 28, 2025
From award-winning author, researcher, and equine professional, Cheryl L. Eriksen comes Greyhound, the most complete biographical portrait of the greatest racehorse history (nearly) forgot ...
By Courtney Stafford July 28, 2025
The recipients have been named for the 2025 scholarships awarded by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey (SBOANJ) and the Backstretch Community Assistance Program (BCAP) ...
By Ray Cotolo, for The Meadowlands July 27, 2025
The picture for the Grade 1 Hambletonian Oaks shifted greatly from expectations with some surprise performances from both ends of the spectrum in the three $50,000 eliminations at The Meadowlands on Saturday night (July 26) ...
More Posts