Voukefalas (Lazarus) stamped himself as a top contender for the North America Cup with a dominating performance in harness racing action from the Meadowlands Saturday night. The Mike Russo-trained sophomore made two early moves and paced away to an effortless lifetime-best 1:49.4 score in the $240,000 New Jersey Sires Stakes Final for sophomore pacing colts and geldings
Sent straight to the front by driver Jordan Stratton, Voukefalas was overtaken by Handlelikeaporsche pacing past the quarter in :27.1. The 1 to 9 favorite wasnāt content to sit the pocket for long though, and he was re-moved to the lead passing the :55.4 half. Longshot Vici was sent first up entering the final turn, but he began to spin his wheels as the leader accelerated past the three-quarters in 1:23.2.
Pacing down the lane it was all Voukefalas, who sprinted away from his rivals, pacing a :26.2 kicker with no urging on his way to a five-length score and a new speed badge. Vici gamely re-rallied to finish a non-threatening second, and Lifeās A Puzzle rallied for third. All eight of the sophomore colts and geldings were sired by Lazarus.
A confident Russo said that Voukefalas would get a week off then prepare for the North America Cup which has eliminations on June 10th and the final on June 17th at Mohawk Park. āIāll give him an easy week then train him next week and ship him up to Canada,ā he said. āThat will be his first big test against a full field of legit top-level horses. Weāll see how that goes. Iām obviously feeling great about it. This is just a really good horse, and the sky is the limit for him.ā
VOUKEFALAS REPLAY
Voukefalas ran his 2023 record to three wins from as many starts, a sweep of the New Jersey Sires Stakes, and he has now earned more then $391,000 for owner Michael Pagonas of New Jersey.
Ucandoit Blue Chip (Keystone Velocity) rode a sharp drive and a perfect trip to victory in the filly division of the New Jersey Sires Stakes final, which also went for $240,000.
Scott Zeron sent the sophomore daughter of Molly Can Do It after early leader Twin B Allure on the first turn and she made front as they passed the opening quarter in :26.3. Even-money favorite Ucandoit Blue Chipās lead would be short lived, though, as second choice Two Pistol Annie immediately overtook her.
Positions were unchanged as the fillies paced past the half in :55.1. As they approached the three-quarter pole, longshot Devilish Dreams was sent first up by Andy McCarthy and Two Pistol Annie repelled that rival as she paced past the three-quarter pole in 1:23.4
Ucandoit Blue Chip stayed glued to the pylons in the stretch as leader Twin B Allure tired and drifted out and she paced away to a comfortable 1 1/4-length 1:51.3 win over closing Get Answers who nosed out Twin B Allure. Fast closing Lisa Lane was another nose back in fourth.
UCANDOIT BLUE CHIP REPLAY
Ucandoit Blue Chip, who also won the New Jersey Sires Stakes final at two, was taking her second win in three starts this year, and she boosted her career earnings to a shade under $325,000 for owner Bill Elliot of Ontario, Canada.
Trainer Linda Toscano indicated that she has a soft spot for her sophomore pacing sensation.
āitās fun for me because her mother was my first Breeders Crown winner and thatās how I ended up with her,ā she said. āItās a fun race to win for me. That was a perfect trip, thatās just what we hoped for. She loves a helmet, and she knows just what to do coming off a helmet.ā
āSheās the most honest filly in the world and she hadnāt been finishing the way she should,ā she explained, regarding the decision to add Lasix. āI think it made a big difference.ā
In other action at The Big M Saturday night, another North America Cup hopeful Confederate (Sweet Lou) looked good powering past some salty aged pacers to score in his sophomore debut in 1:50.1 in his first start out of the Brett Pelling barn. He unleashed a wicked :25.4 kick despite running in during the stretch run.
Abuckabett Hanover (Betting Line) roared home in :25.3 to win his five-year-old debut in a sparkling 1:48.3 announcing himself as a horse to be reckoned with in the aged pacing ranks this summer.
For complete race results, click here.
by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink