Grand Circuit stars win NJ Classic elims

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – A pair of harness racing stars shined bright Friday night at The Meadowlands as the New Jersey Classic had nine eliminations for 2- and 3-year-olds of each sex and gait.

The eight event finals take place Friday, Sept. 6, with estimated purses totaling $1.7 million.

Sig Sauer (Muscle Hill-Sigilwig), the Noel Daley trainee who took down Karl on July 13 in the Stanley Dancer, followed up his win in the Beal 13 days ago at Pocono Downs with a strong performance in his Classic elim for 3-year-old male trotters.

Driver Andy McCarthy had the colt in the four-hole past the quarter before using a swift brush to grab the front at the half in :57. From there, Sig Sauer powered clear at three-quarters by 2¾ lengths on the way to a safe 2¼-length score in 1:52. Bella’s Musclehill was second with Mr Bluebird third.

“Yeah, he’s great,” Daley said. “He’s really come along. He’s doing everything very professionally.

“He’s not a front-end horse; he’d rather chase someone down. But, you know, I’m glad that he’s shown that he can do it his last two starts. That’s not his preferred mode, so I’m real happy with him.”

SIG SAUER REPLAY

Now seven-for-11 lifetime, Sig Sauer has a bankroll just short of $600,000. He returned $2.10 to his backers as the 1-20 favorite.

In what was the most impressive rally of the night, Hambletonian Oaks champ Warrawee Michelle (Walner-Sound Check) upped her win streak to three in an NJC elim for 3-year-old fillies on the trot, storming home to score in 1:53 for trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt.

Kept well off the action in the early stages, ‘Michelle’ found herself seventh at three-quarters with seven lengths to make up as 95-1 chance Tandem Hanover hit that station in 1:24.1. Svanstedt tipped the filly wide off the far turn for the stretch drive and got up after a furious rally just in the nick of time to best Tandem Hanover by a head. Miss I La was right there with the top two at the wire, finishing third.

WARRAWEE MICHELLE REPLAY

Warrawee Michelle, who paid $2.20 to win as the 1-9 public choice, upped her lifetime stats to seven wins from 15 starts, good for earnings of just under $900,000. She will undoubtedly be a short price in next week’s $275,000 (est.) NJC final.

A LITTLE MORE: In what was another eye-popping performance, Chaparmbro (Chapter Seven-Armbro Déjà Vu) spotted her foes seven lengths after a tardy start in the other elim for 3-year-old filly trotters, then Yannick Gingras worked his partner back into it with a second-over trip before prevailing by a head over 6-5 favorite Buy A Round as the 4-1 third choice for trainer Ron Burke. The colt stopped the clock in 1:54.4. … Gingras and Scott Zeron led the driver colony with three victories apiece on the program while Svanstedt, Burke and Linda Toscano all trained a pair to victory lane. … All-source handle on the 14-race card totaled $2,692,999. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Dave Little, for The Meadowlands