Sabonis, an Indiana-sired 4-year-old son of Tellitlikeitis who compiled a record of 16-1-0 from 18 starts last year and won the Milstein and Jenna's Beach Boy, is now with trainer Brett Pelling on the East Coast and emerged as the star of Saturday morning's qualifiers at the Meadowlands with a 1:49 4/5 victory.
Driven by Scott Zeron, Sabonis raced in the pocket behind Dan Patch Award winner Abuckabett Hanover (Dexter Dunn) through fractions of 28 1/5, 56 1/5 and 1:24 1/5, angled out in the lane and went by Abuckabett Hanover in the closing strides to tally by half a length. Oakwood Ardan (Andy McCarthy) also had good pace in the lane and was third, while two-time Dan Patch Award recipient Captain Albano (Todd McCarthy) was unable to mount a bid from fourth in the loaded qualifier.
Trainer Ake Svanstedt sent out three victors, led by 2024 Canadian Trotting Classic champion Amazing Catch. That 4-year-old son of Walner put up panels of 28 2/5, 58 3/5 and 1:26 3/5, then dug in gamely through the lane to repel a closing Usain Hanover (Tim Tetrick) by a nose in 1:53 4/5. Svanstedt's other winners were 3-year-old Walner filly Montmartre (1:57) and 3-year-old Walner colt Renewable (1:58 1/5).
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Andrew Harris had two of his stars out during the session, with Valley Victory champion Monserrate (David Miller, 1:54) and 4-year-old Sweet Lou mare and Dan Patch Award winner My Girl EJ (Todd McCarthy, 1:50 2/5) scoring on the front-end. Monserrate was especially impressive as he was confronted from first-over by Dexter Cup champion Hard Seven past three-quarters but repelled him and went on to tally.
John Butenschoen also bagged a pair of qualifiers off pocket trips with stakes-winning 3-year-old Father Patrick filly R Dutchess (Tim Tetrick, 1:55 4/5) and 4-year-old Chapter Seven mare R Melina (Todd McCarthy, 1:52 4/5). R Melina is coming off a sophomore campaign that saw her take the Kentucky Filly Futurity and New York Sire Stakes finals, in addition to runner-up finishes in the Breeders Crown and Matron.
Captain Optimistic (Dunn), a top contender in this year's 3-year-old pacing colt group, won his second straight qualifier for trainer Nancy Takter, going all the way on the engine in 1:50 3/5. A son of Captaintreacherous, Captain Optimistic's victories at age 2 included the Governor's Cup final.
Rounding out the winners was 5-year-old Resolve gelding Resolve To Win in 1:55 1/5 for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Jeff Cullipher.