Well-bred rookies in action at Gaitway

Manalapan, NJ — Female pacer Point Breeze (Sweet Lou-Lovely Laura) was the day’s fastest 2-year-old winner at Gaitway Farm’s harness racing qualifiers on Thursday (June 27), stopping the timer in 1:56.3 for driver David Miller and trainer Joe Holloway.

She is from the family of past Holloway stars She’s A Great Lady and Lady MacBeach and was purchased for $135,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale. The filly, who was fourth in 1:55.1 last week, is owned by Val D’Or Farms and L&L Devisser. She was bred by Wayne Miller.

Driver Joe Bongiorno and trainer Jennifer Bongiorno teamed for three wins in the eight races for the rookies. They won with male pacers Victory Joe and Steamboat Springs as well as with female trotter She’s A Con.

Victory Joe (Roll With Joe-Flibbertigibbet) won in 1:57.2 a week after finishing fourth in 1:58.1. He was purchased for $25,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and is owned by Robert Weinstein. He was bred by Winbak Farm.

Steamboat Springs (Sweet Lou-Hedgie Blue Chip), from the family of millionaire Hypnotic Blue Chip, won in 1:58.1 in his debut. He was purchased for $135,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and is owned by Jennifer Bongiorno Stable, Barbara Urciuoli & Frank, Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing, and Scott Rau. He was bred by Vieux Carre Farms.

She’s A Con, a daughter of Cantab Hall-Jesse’s Con who made a break while on the lead last week, won in 2:02. She is owned by breeder Lee Sitto. Her family includes Grand Circuit winner Phaetosive as well as Dan Patch Award-winner Broadway Hall.

Bongiorno also drove female pacer Beach Babe (Cattlewash-Backstreet Sweetie) to victory for trainer Ron Burke.

Beach Babe, qualifying for the third time, won in 1:57. She was purchased for $85,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale and is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Bill Donovan, and J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby. She was bred by Karen Carroll. The filly is a half-sister to millionaire Backstreet Shadow.

Driver Andy Miller and trainer Julie Miller had two victories with the 2-year-olds, winning with male trotters Century Love (Love You-Century Empress) and Brulee (Walner-Biscotti).

Century Love won in 1:59.3 in his qualifying debut. He was purchased for $85,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and is owned by Patrick Hoopes. He was bred by Robert Miller. His family includes Grand Circuit winners Celebrity Sweedie and Celebrity Speedie, as well as Jolene Jolene, the dam of Dan Patch Award-winner Venerable.

Brulee won in 2:01 in his debut mile. The colt was purchased for $280,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and is owned by Andy Miller Stable, Patrick Hoopes, and Plouffe Racing. He was bred by Brittany Farms and his two siblings are Grand Circuit winners Pizzelle and Espresso.

Completing the list of 2-year-old winners was female trotter Halfadozen, a daughter of Six Pack-Tactical Caviar, who won in 2:02.2 for driver Dan Dube and trainer Pierre Paradis. The filly was purchased for $20,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale and is owned by Dube and Jean Dessureault. She was bred by Sherri Meirs and W. Boyd Henderson. Her family includes Grand Circuit winners Triumphant Caviar, Prayer Session, and Centurion ATM. It also includes 2-year-old filly Baffle, who won a qualifier last week at Gaitway in 2:00.2 for Trond Smedhammer.

To replay Thursday’s action courtesy of The First Mile, presented by onGait, visit the 412 Communications YouTube page.

For complete qualifier results, click here.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA