Caviart Belle, Its A Love Thing take Jerry Silverman Memorial

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Caviart Belle (Captaintreacherous) won the first division of the $100,000 Jerry Silverman Memorial, for 3-year-old harness racing filly pacers, on Saturday (July 13) at the Meadowlands. Yannick Gingras drove the filly to a career-best 1:49 mile in the stakes event, formerly known as the Mistletoe Shalee.

The first three-quarters were combative with a :26 first panel set by Asweetbeachhere from the outside. Sarasota Hanover took over, and a speed battle ensued when favorite Pass Line stormed to the top for a :53.3 half.

Pass Line led through the 1:22 three-quarters, Lyons Legend charged up the inside and Sarasota Hanover chanced a rally. Early speedsters struggled as Caviart Belle’s third-over position in the final turn opened a winning path six-wide to win by 2-1/2 lengths. Sarasota Hanover finished second with a late-closing Canigetalouploup getting third.

Caviart Belle, from the Well Said dam Eloquent Grace, has now won $609,255 through her second season of racing.

Nancy Takter trains Caviart Belle for owners Caviart Farms. She paid $5.40 to win.

CAVIART BELLE REPLAY

Gingras said he found the early cover he wanted:

“She can pace as fast as any filly,” he said.

Richard Silverman, son of the late Jerry, said the event “is an honor to my father and to all the great fillies he raced [at the Meadowlands].”

In the second $100,000 division, Its A Love Thing (Bettor’s Delight-Love For Sail) faced off against her top foe My Girl EJ and eight others and won it in 1:49.1 with James MacDonald in the bike.

Miraculous Deo’s early lead lasted long enough to mark a :27.1 first quarter with Flawless in line second and My Girl EJ on the move outside third and Its A Love Thing next.

My Girl EJ took over the lead from the other two and was gliding well into a :55.2 half as Its A Love Thing pulled out to chase her and drew alongside to make the final challenge into the stretch after a 1:23.1 three-quarters.

The stretch was a duel in which My Girl EJ worked hard to keep the lead but Its A Love Thing had the momentum at the wire to win by a neck in 1:49.1. Geocentric soared late to capture third.

ITS A LOVE THING REPLAY

Trained by David Menary for Eric Good, Thomas Biederman, Josh Green and Rich Lombardo Racing, Its A Love Thing paid $4.40 to win four the fourth time this season and raise her earnings to $747,751.

“It was a dog fight down the lane,” MacDonald said. “But I know my filly; she’s hardnosed and hard trying.”

MacDonald, who earned his fourth win of the night aboard Its A Love Thing, said he felt great because “I never thought my career would get me here.”

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Frank Cotolo, for The Meadowlands