Dial Or Nodial favored in New Jersey Classic

Dial Or Nodial, one of the top earning 2-year-old colts last year, was installed as the prohibitive 6-5 morning line favorite in the $500,000 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

The event for 3-year-old colt pacers headlines a card featuring $1.1 million in stakes for N.J.-sired horses and shares the spotlight with the $175,000 Thomas D'Altrui Miss New Jersey for fillies and a pair of $200,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes championships for 3-year-old trotters. The Miss New Jersey and New Jersey Classic are sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey. The New Jersey Classic is carded as race seven with an estimated post time of 9:11 p.m., while the Miss New Jersey is slated as race five (8:27 p.m.).

Dial Or Nodial will start from the rail in the New Jersey Classic with Brian Sears in the sulky. Trained by Jim Campbell, the son of Western Ideal has won two of three starts this season, including the $200,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final on May 30 and a 1:50.2 score in his New Jersey Classic elimination on June 6. Dial Or Nodial was one of the sport's top colts as a freshman, winning eight of 12 races and $414,124. He was voted the 2008 New Jersey Sire Stakes Horse of the Year. Arlene and Jules Siegel bred and own the gelding, who enters the New Jersey Classic final with career totals of 10 wins in 15 starts and $541,974.

"He was a super nice colt last year and he's showing up again this year and everything seems to be as expected," Sears said. "He was pretty much in hand (in his New Jersey Classic elimination)."

Passmaster Hanover was tabbed as the 5-1 second choice after winning his New Jersey Classic elimination by three lengths in 1:50.3. He will start from post three with Tim Tetrick at the lines. The lightly-raced son of Cam's Card Shark has four wins in six career starts for trainer Blair Burgess and owners Brittany Farms and Jeff Snyder.

Showherthemoney, a winner of three of six starts this season, received the nod as 5-2 favorite in the $175,000 Thomas D'Altrui Miss New Jersey for fillies. She will leave from post two, also with Sears in the pilot's seat. The daughter of Cam's Card Shark lifted her career earnings to $75,191 with a 1:52.2 victory in her Miss New Jersey elimination on June 5. Bjorn "Bernie" Noren trains the filly for Bulletproof Enterprises. Ashley Fairfield of Egg Harbor Township, Miss New Jersey for 2008-2009, will present the trophy to the winner of the race.

The June 13 card at the Meadowlands has also been dubbed Go Red Night at the Races to benefit the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women program. Guests can join in the fundraising efforts by donation through AHA's on-site volunteers or by ordering from a special prix fixe menu in Terraces Restaurant. The three-course menu features two wine pairings for $42 per person (excludes tax, gratuity, admission and program), with $5 from each meal sold donated directly to the AHA. For reservations, call 201-THE-BIGM or e-mail bigmdining@njsea.com.

The draws for the New Jersey Classic and Miss New Jersey (prior to driver changes) on Saturday, June 13:

$500,000 SBOA/Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic
PP, Horse, Driver, Trainer, Odds
1 Dial Or Nodial, Brian Sears, Jim Campbell, 6-5
2 Vintage Master, Daniel Dube, Jimmy Takter, 10-1
3 Passmaster Hanover, Tim Tetrick, Blair Burgess, 5-1
4 Redneck Riviera, Andy Miller, Erv Miller, 10-1
5 Vertical Horizon, TBA, Bernie Noren, 15-1
6 Amazon Art, George Brennan, Ken Rucker, 15-1
7 Riding The Rapids, Jim Morrill, Jr., Ross Croghan, 12-1
8 Sombrero Blue Chip, George Brennan, Bruce Saunders, 6-1
9 Estero Bay, George Brennan, Erv Miller, 10-1
10 Poker Shark, Andrew McCarthy, Joe Holloway, 15-1

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