WORKLIFEBALANCE HOLDS, PERFECT THOUGHT STRIKES FOR NEW JERSEY CLASSIC WINS

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- September 5, 2025 -- Worklifebalance and Perfect Thought both uncorked strong stretch bursts to claim their respective $150,000 New Jersey Classic Finals for pacing fillies on Friday night (Sept. 5) at The Meadowlands.

Driver Andy McCarthy ripped off cover with Worklifebalance and withstood an intensifying push from 3-5 favorite Asphalt to win the 3-Year-Old Filly Pace in a lifetime-best 1:49.4.

McCarthy settled into fourth through a :27 first quarter while 17-1 shot Shesgotthejack hurried to the lead. Despite the field rolling single file, Shesgotthejack maintained steady speed to a :55.4 half and prepared for the challengers looming in the last turn.

Asphalt edged outside and flushed cover from Worklifebalance, who in turn caught cover from pocket-popping Beach Babe as they moved for three-quarters in 1:23.2. Shesgotthejack clung to a diminishing lead as McCarthy launched his charge off cover with Asphalt gathering steam to her outside. Worklifebalance quickened enough with Asphalt creeping nearer and reached the finish in time for the win by a head while Shesgotthejack held her ground to snag the photo for third from Beach Babe in fourth.

“That’s a very good filly, Asphalt. I figured if she was on my helmet turning for home I’d have a lot to deal with,” Andy McCarthy said after the race. “But first time Lasix I guess helped her out a little bit – she really fought hard to the wire. The trip worked out really good for me. I got to just move her in the last turn there, picked up cover for a bit and got to sprint home from there.”

Noel Daley trains Worklifebalance, a daughter of Cattlewash-Ubettergo Go, and co-owns alongside KDP Stable LLC. She won her fifth race from 12 starts this season and her sixth race from 20 starts in her career, earning $309,771. She paid $6.60 to win.

Perfect Thought chased steady speed from a pocket and sprinted home best in a strung-out field to win the $150,000 New Jersey Classic Final for 2-year-old pacing fillies in a 1:51.1 mile.

Driver Scott Zeron floated forward with Perfect Thought, the 4-5 favorite, and secured a snug spot behind pacesetter Car Keys into a :27.1 first quarter. No movement came after Car Keys up the backstretch, leaving the leader to gallivant to a :56.1 half. Perfect Thought continued to follow intently as the field hit the far turn.

Car Keys readied for the pounce rolling to three-quarters in 1:24.3 since Perfect Thought remained the last foe in contention coming for home. Zeron tipped his charge outside and faced little struggle sliding to the top in the lane. Perfect Thought shrugged by Car Keys and posted a 2-1/4-length win. Pa Perfect gave pursuit another five lengths behind to hold third from the late-charging Napalm in fourth.

“Dex’s filly was exceptional, too, and obviously we turned it into a match race late,” Zeron said after the race. “She trained down exceptionally and [Anthony MacDonald] told me before he sent her that she’s a really special filly, and she has qualified and raced like that. She’s a nice big horse that doesn’t get stressed out, carries her speed really well. Dex kept a good tempo, which was why she was able to maintain that down the lane. So obviously racing against some bigger and better horses that go a little faster, we’ll see [how she does].”

Megan Scran trains Perfect Thought, a daughter of Perfect Sting-Think Pink owned by Thestable Perfect Thought. The filly bagged her fourth win from six tries and propelled her earnings to $147,150. She paid $3.80 to win.