Last season’s Hambletonian Oaks winner Warrawee Michelle, one of three mares in the field and a rank outsider in the wagering, won the $230,000 Stan Bergstein Graduate Series 4-Year-Old Open Trot on Saturday night (July 5) at The Meadowlands ...
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- July 5, 2025 -- Last season’s Hambletonian Oaks winner Warrawee Michelle, one of three mares in the field and a rank outsider in the wagering, won the $230,000 Stan Bergstein Graduate Series 4-Year-Old Open Trot on Saturday night (July 5) at The Meadowlands.
Trainer and co-owner Ake Svanstedt was in the bike to guide the daughter of Walner-Sound Check to a personal-best 1:50.2 effort.
It was a flashy mile with a lot of movement as Warrawee Michelle left swiftly off the gate along with Gruesome Twosome, 7-5 favorite Private Access and Amazing Catch. Scrambling for control, the early leavers cut the first quarter in a scorching :26.3.
The shuffling began and Warrawee Michelle took back to race wide towards the middle of the pack when Gruesome Twosome pressed by Sir Pinocchio for the lead. Private Access then pushed forward for the front with Highland Kismet catching his cover and the half remained fiery to a :54.3 clocking. Warrawee Michelle meanwhile caught a perch second over and Private Access took over the lead to the turn. Highland Kismet continued to pressure outside, but began to waver as Private Access strode through three-quarters in 1:22.3.
As the early muscle weakened, Svanstedt's mare powered off cover full of trot going into the stretch while Elista Hanover flew from the rear to make a late bid. Warrawee Michelle was too much for Elista Hanover's charge and won handily by a neck. On the pylons, Private Access held third and Security Protected rallied for fourth.
This was the fourth start in 2025 for Ake's mare – and her first win since August of 2024 – while she collected her eighth victory from 23 starts in her career.
"She was out the entire way," Svanstedt said, "and she was really good." He said he was confident coming into the race. "She had bad post positions several times but was good enough to beat the boys. She can compete against the best."
The lifetime-mark win sent the 4-year-old's earnings to the millionaire level, having now made $1,076,990 for owners Ake Svanstedt Inc., Santandrea Inc. and Young Guns. Sent at odds of 13-1, she paid $28 to win.
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PACE PREP: With only 10 horses having dropped into the entry box for the Meadowlands Pace, there was no need for eliminations, so The Big M carded a 3-year-old Open, aka the Meadowlands Pace Prep.
Papis Pistol (Papi Rob Hanover-Bang Bang), off a qualifier in which he was an uninspiring fourth coming back sick, charged up the inside to gun down 4-5 favorite Captain Optimistic in 1:49.1.
“I didn’t know how he would race, but I knew he was feeling good,” said winning trainer Sam DePinto about his student who was on antibiotics after the qualifier. “He showed he was OK.”
For the prep, Papis Pistol had a new pilot. “Dave’s [Miller] a great driver, and the owners and the partnership wanted a Hall of Famer. I was a little nervous coming into the race but he beat some good horses tonight. [His versatility] It’s huge. When you win the Meadowlands Pace, you’re pretty much set for the rest of the year.”
Manolete raced from the rear in the field of six and rallied well along the inside to get second over Captain Optimistic in what was a good-looking tightener for next week’s $656,000 Pace.
A LITTLE MORE: Scott Zeron drove the winners of both ends of the Early Daily Double (paying $39.60) and Jordan Stratton swept the Late Double ($46.20). They led the driver colony with two winners apiece. … All-source handle on the abbreviated 10-race program totaled $2,479,707. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.
