Lazarus N foal sizzles in New Jersey Sire Stakes

The fastest two-year-old so far in 2022 is Lifes A Puzzle after the gelded son of Lazarus N posted sensational fractions in winning his $30,000 harness racing opening leg division of the New Jersey Sire Stakes Friday (June 24) at The Meadowlands.

The 3^rd race co-feature got underway with Country Courtesy (Montrell Teague) first out and on the lead with Bettoruptheante (Jack Pelling) in the two-hole spot to the opening quarter mile in :27.3.

After racing way wide from post nine at the start of the race, driver Dexter Dunn got Handlelikeaporsche straighten out and they came first-over to take the lead away from Country Courtesty.

Then it was Lifes A Puzzle and driver Tim Tetrick, the 3/5 race favorite, coming first-over and taking over the lead from Handlelikeaporsche right after the half mile marker in :57.2.

Lifes A Puzzle and Tetrick then dictated the fractions, going to the three-quarters in 1:24.3 and then kicked in a :26.1 last quarter mile to win by two lengths in 1:50.4. Handlelikeaporsche was second with Voukefalas (Jordan Stratton) third.

LIFES A PUZZLE REPLAY

All eleven of the starters in the race were sired by Lazarus N. Lifes A Puzzle was a $10,000 yearling purchase for owner Richard Humphrey of Cornish, Maine. The bay gelding is trained by Jim King, Jr. and paid $3.40 to win.

There were two $30,000 divisions of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies.

The faster of the two divisions came in the 4^th race where race favorite Ucandoit Blue Chip (Keystone Velocity) and driver Scott Zeron sat third the entire mile and out brushed her opponents in the stretch.

Delvish Dreams (Andy McCarthy) was first on the lead with Ucandoit Blue Chip sitting second after the start and then on the outside came Lisa Lane (Patrick Ryder) after a :27.4 first quarter and she took command of the race.

With no one able to gain on the leaders, Lisa Lane cut fractions of :56 and 1:25.3 before both Delvish Dreams and Ucandoit Blue Chip both came after the race leader.

In the stretch, Ucandoit Blue Chip unleashed a :26.1 last quarter mile and pulled away to win by two lengths in 1:51.4. Devilish Dreams was second with Lisa Lane third.

UCANDOIT BLUE CHIP REPLAY

A $32,000 yearling purchase by Bill Elliott of Woodstock, Ontario, Ucandoit Blue Chip is a Keystone Velocity filly trained by Linda Toscano. She paid just $2.20 to win.

The 1^st race was the first division of the NJSS and saw the Lazarus N filly Fox Valley Adele and driver Marcus Miller lead from start to finish.

The bay filly took the lead right off the starting gate with Canadian Ballet (Yannick Gingras) sitting second to the opening quarter mile in :27.2.

Then Odds On Super Star (Dexter Dunn) started up first-over after a :58.1 half mile and following their outside cover was Wall Of Blue and driver Tim Tetrick.

Fox Valley Adele held the field at bay through the three-quarters in 1:27 and then, like the other two divisional winners, had a :26.1 last quarter mile in the tank and came home to win by one length in 1:53.1. Canadian Ballet was second with Wall Of Blue third.

FOX VALLEY ADELE REPLAY

A $17,000 yearling purchase, Fox Velley Adele was the wagering favorite. She is trained by Erv Miller and is co-owned by the Ervin Miller Stable and Bowie Racing. She paid $5.20 to win.

WARKENTIN AGAIN: Ken Warkentin registered his second consecutive victory on Night 7 of the Meadowlands Battle of the Masterminds handicapping contest, finishing with a mythical bankroll of $368.

On-track patrons who select the winning handicapper on a given night are eligible for a nightly prize of a $200 betting voucher and a $50 gas card. The winner of that drawing is then eligible for a grand prize of $10,000.

Warkentin, Dave Brower, Dave Little, Jessica Otten and Edison Hatter will go at it every night through August 5. The grand prize winner will be chosen on Hambletonian Day, August 6.

A LITTLE MORE: There were no winning tickets sold in the 20-cent Pick-6, meaning there will be a carryover of $4,971 heading into the second Pick-6 offered on the Saturday program (it begins in race nine). Those with five correct Friday collected $414.30. … Free past performances for every race of every Meadowlands card are available by going to playmeadowlands.com. … In the 11^th race, GSY driving club drivers took on the pros, and Johnathan Ahle scored for the club pilots, guiding Midnight Lightning to victory as the 2-1 second choice. … All-source handle totaled $2,765,654. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.

For full race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink, with files from Dave Little