Two-year-olds to debut in Big M stakes

Ever since beginning their preparations to start their harness racing careers, 2-year-old trotters Wall Of Moni and Pardon My Lindy impressed trainer Domenico Cecere. As a result, the well-mannered duo will get the opportunity to launch their careers Saturday in divisions of the Arthur Tompkins Memorial at The Meadowlands.

The Meadowlands hosts Tompkins-Geers Stakes for 2-year-old trotters and pacers on Saturday. The Tompkins, for trotters, will have one division each for males and females. The Geers, which is for pacers, drew two seven-horse divisions for colts and geldings.

Wall Of Moni and Pardon My Lindy head to their debuts off single qualifiers, both at The Meadowlands on June 5. Wall Of Moni, a colt, won his in 1:56.3. Pardon My Lindy, a filly, finished third in hers in 1:59.

“Usually we qualify twice, but they are both smart horses and look like they’re ready,” said Cecere, who trains for the Antonacci family’s Lindy Farms and its various racing stables. “At the same time, it’s the first race. Hopefully, they have a nice start, a nice experience, and get some confidence. It’s a very long season.”

Wall Of Moni is by Walner out of All Our Moni, who is a daughter of two-time Horse of the Year and Hall of Famer Moni Maker. He is owned by breeder Moni Maker Stable, which is the Antonacci family and David Reid.

“It looks like he has potential,” Cecere said. “What I like most about him is his mentality. When you have a young horse, they can be excited, but he’s always laidback. He’s not grabby. He’s doing everything right, everything we ask of him. He’s a big horse, but at the same time, he’s athletic. We really like him.”

Pardon My Lindy is by Muscle Hill out of Lindys Crazy Dolly. She is a full sister to 2020 Garden State Trot champ Lindys Dollywood and her family includes Mistery Woman, a Grand Circuit winner who is the dam of Hambletonian hopeful Sonofamistery.

“She’s a really nice filly,” Cecere said. “She qualified great. I’m very happy with her. She hasn’t done anything wrong from day one. Hopefully, she never will.”

In addition to Pardon My Lindy, the 10-horse filly division of the Tompkins includes $400,000 Standardbred Horse Sale purchase Peyton Hanover (Muscle Hill-Pennies From Above) from the family of Dan Patch and O’Brien award winner Wheeling N Dealin. She won her only qualifier in 1:58.4 on June 5 for trainer Marcus Melander.

The field also features Pink Gypsy (Father Patrick-Margarita Momma), who is a full sister to Dan Patch Award recipient Amigo Volo and Grand Circuit winner Reign Of Honor, as well as American Beauty (Walner-All The Time). All The Time won the 2016 Hambletonian Oaks and is a full sister to multiple Dan Patch Award honoree Ariana G.

Pink Gypsy is trained by Ron Burke. American Beauty is from the stable of Nancy Takter.

In addition to Wall Of Moni, the eight-horse Tompkins division for colts and geldings includes Global Pandemic (Cantab Hall-Nicole’s Promise), who won his only qualifier in 1:55.4 on June 7 at Gaitway Farm for Burke.

Of the total 18 trotters entered in the Tompkins stakes Saturday, only two — filly Perfect Destiny and gelding Chelios — qualified more than once.

In the Geers, the first-division field of seven male pacers includes Atlas Hanover (Captaintreacherous-Ameraway), who is from the family of millionaire Western Fame. The Tony Alagna-trained colt qualified twice, winning both at The Meadowlands.

The second group includes Last Witch Hunt (Huntsville-Wichita Hanover), who is a half-brother to multi-millionaire A Rocknroll Dance. He is from the stable of Jennifer Bongiorno and won his lone qualifier on June 7 at Gaitway.

Racing begins at 6:20 p.m. (EDT) Saturday at The Meadowlands. The Big M and TrackMaster have teamed to regularly provide free past performances for each race card. Past performances can be found here on The Meadowlands website.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA