Trotters step out to NJSS victories

A pair of $200,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Championships for 3-year-old trotters also shared the marquee at the Meadowlands Saturday night. Trainer Jan Johnson netted the lion's share of the jackpot in the fillies division as Glide Power held off her stablemate Springtime Volo by a neck in 1:54.2. Costa Rica was third.

 

Glide Power has now won four of 11 starts for Johnson and owners Elbridge Gerry Jr. of Locust Valley, N.Y. and Diamond Creek of Paris, Ky. Brian Sears replaced Johnson in the sulky behind Glide Power in the final, while George Brennan inherited the drive from Sears on Springtime Volo.

 

"Jan made the decision for me (on which horse to drive) and that was it," Sears said. "I was fortunate to get a spot when I left out of (the starting gate). She's a beautiful filly, has a great way of going and she dug in all the way down the lane."

 

"I thought she had a good shot, so I gave her the best chance she could have (with Brian Sears in the sulky)," Johnson noted.

 

Muscle Massive darted to the lead at the half and rolled on to a three-quarter-length victory over Flex The Muscle in the championship for colts. Driven by Ron Pierce, Muscle Massive trotted the mile in 1:54. The son of Muscles Yankee posted his fourth win in nine career starts for trainer Jimmy Takter and owners Marvin Katz, Sam Goldband, Al Libfeld, Louie Camera, Order By Stable and Brixton Medical Ab.

 

"I was kind of half in and half out of the four hole going around the first turn," Pierce said. "I was just waiting to see what was going to happen, but nobody wanted to do anything so I figured we might as well go for the lead. The colt took me right to the wire. This is a very happy colt. He trots perfectly and he's having fun out there."