John Campbell drove both Thatsnotmyname and Hey Mister to victories in the two $20,000 Merrie Annabelle eliminations for two-year-old trotting fillies on Thursday night at Meadowlands Racetrack.
Fresh off a win in the $200,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final last time out, Thatsnotmyname won the first elimination in easy fashion in 1:55.1.
Angelette Hanover (Ron Pierce) was on the front end through splits of :28.1, :58.2, and 1:27, but Thatsnotmyname, who came first-over out of fourth before the half, was only half a length behind at the three-quarter mile marker.
Thatsnotmyname powered her way to the lead in the stretch, and from there, she would draw off to win by three and a half lengths. Fitness Girl (Tim Tetrick), Redwhitenbluestone (Brian Sears), Angelette Hanover, and Medusa Blue Chip (Jim Morrill, Jr.) also advanced to the final.
Thatsnotmyname - Lisa Photo
“She raced up first over but she’s very strong, said Campbell. “Every start she’s been good and she seems to be improving. I think [we can expect more from her], she has room to improve because she hasn’t been extended much in her last few races and she wasn’t tired at all. We certainly have a big advantage picking our post position for next week.”
Jimmy Takter trains Thatsnotmyname, a Windsongs Legacy filly, for owner Order By Stable. This was the second win in three starts for Thatsnotmyname and she has now earned $116,750. She was bred by Perretti Farms and sold for $250,000 at Harrisburg. She is the fourth foal out of the Pine Chip mare Graceful Touch ($192,002), which makes her a half-sister to Muscle Mass ($229,000) and Muscle Massive ($162,692).
In the second elimination, Campbell piloted Hey Mister to a 12-1 upset in 1:56.2.
42-1 shot Woodshopper (Yannick Gingras) chopped out fractions of :28.1, :59, and 1:28.2. Just like he did in the first elimination, Campbell brought Hey Mister first-over out of third, and she got to within a pair of lengths of the pace-setter at three-quarters.
Hey Mister went by Woodshopper in the stretch drive, and with nobody closing from the backfield, Hey Mister was able to hold sway and win by two and three-quarter lengths. Grace Marie (George Brennan) was second, Tango Dancer (Dave Miller) finished third, Creme De Cocoa (D.R. Ackerman) was fourth and Refuse To Lose (Brian Sears) came in fifth.
Hey Mister - Lisa Photo
“She did it on her own and came first over,” said Campbell. “The fractions were very good for first over because I didn’t have to use her the third quarter. When I asked her to trot home she stepped home very nice. She’s a little green and actually wasn’t extended that much.”
Hey Mister, a daughter of Muscles Yankee, won at first asking for trainer Jeff Webster and owners Let It Ride Stables Inc., Mentally Stable Inc., and Jerry Silva. Hey Mister, who was bred by Docs Farm Inc., is the third foal out of the Malabar Man mare Pick Me Up ($529,694), which makes Hey Mister a half-sister to Somebody To Love ($613,728).
The $525,000 (est.) Merrie Annabelle final will be contested on August 7, part of the Hambletonian Day race card. The winners from the two eliminations will be given the opportunity to pick their post position for the race.
(with files from Meadowlands)
