McCarthy first class in Kindergarten Series

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Todd McCarthy took The Meadowlands harness racing driver colony to school Saturday night, as the 29-year-old pilot took three of the eight $20,000 fourth – and final – leg divisions of the Kindergarten Series for 2-year-olds.

Horses were scrambling to earn enough points to qualify for next week’s four big-money finals, with estimated purses totaling just over $1 million. (For the point standings, click here)

‘Hot Toddy’ got rolling in the second race when he guided 1-9 favorite Southwind Admiral, a colt by Tactical Landing-Amber Ella, to an easy 2½-length score in 1:56.3 to up his win streak to six in a division for male trotters for trainer Ron Coyne Jr.

SOUTHWIND ADMIRAL REPLAY

Heart On Fire was win No. 2 for McCarthy in race five, scoring at 8-1 in a division for filly trotters in 1:55.2. A daughter of Father Patrick-Corazon Blue Chip, the Tony Alagna student won by a neck to score for the fourth time from nine starts.

HEART ON FIRE REPLAY

McCarthy’s third victory came behind another Alagna student, Bellisima Hanover, who stopped the clock in 1:53 as the 1-5 public choice in the eighth. A filly pacer by Captaintreacherous-Bedroomconfessions, Bellisima Hanover hit the wire 3½ lengths to the good.

BELLISIMA HANOVER REPLAY

AKE A-OK: Ake Svanstedt had a training-driving double, scoring with Bond ($5.40) in a Kindergarten filly trot in a lifetime-best 1:54. The daughter of Southwind Frank-Boccone Dolce has now won four in a row.

Svanstedt’s second score came in the overnight feature, a high-end conditioned trot, with Southwind Tyrion (Muscle Hill-Taylor Jean) in a lifetime-best equaling 1:51.4 as the 1-5 public choice.

A LITTLE MORE: Yannick Gingras won two of the final three races on the card to equal McCarthy’s driving triple. … Trainer Ron Burke sent four to victory lane. … All-source wagering totaled $2,596,878. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.

For complete race results, click here.

by Dave Little, for The Meadowlands