Dewayne Minor told harnessracing.com Saturday morning at the Meadowlands shortly after his filly trotter Levi's Lady and colt trotter Wishing Stone both came up winners in baby races, that the two were the first he had ever paid into either the Merrie Annabelle or the Peter Haughton Memorial. If Minor's faith is rewarded in a few weeks at the Big M, he might look to Saturday when both Levi's Lady and Wishing Stone posted 1:59 efforts.
"Normally I wouldn't even think about those two races (Merrie Annabelle and Peter Haughton) but they showed so much speed early," said Minor, who winter trains at Spring Garden Ranch in Florida. "I only paid these two and they are the first two I've ever paid in."
Minor was in the sulky himself as Levi's Lady led wire to wire to win by 2 1/4 lengths. The daughter of Angus Hall was coming off three straight races in which she made a break, which followed a second-place finish in her June 13 debut at the Meadowlands. Her last two efforts came in purse races in divisions of the Acorn at the Big M and the Reynolds at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
Out of the Baltic Speed mare Baltic Brat, she the winner of divisions of the Helen Smith, Currier & Ives Filly and Hudson in 1995, Levi's Lady was a $35,000 yearlng purchase by Cowboyland Aalborg from breeder Winbak Farm. Levi's Lady is a sibling to the $242,000-winning Winbak Bret and the $156,000-winning Sir Alex.
Wishing Stone also led wire to wire, closing out his mile with a final quarter of :27.4. Minor turned the reins over to Tim Tetrick on Saturday,an effort that followed up a second-place finish in a $30,520 Harriman division at the Meadowlands on July 2.
Wishing Stone was a $100,000 yearling purchase by Cowboyland Aalborg from breeders Brittany Farms and Daisy Acres. A son of Conway Hall, he is out of the Valley Victory mare Meadowbranch Magic, making him a full brother to 2008 Hambletonian third-place finisher and Yonkers Trot runner-up Make It Happen.
Also winning Saturday morning was the Cantab Hall daughter Captivation, the first foal of 2004 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Trot champion Flirtin Miss. With trainer Jimmy Takter driving, Captivation overcame an early break to win in 2:01.4 in her first lifetime appearance on the racetrack. Captivation is bred and owned by Brittany Farms.
Trainer Erv Miller sent out four winners, all with Tetrick driving. The quartet of winners were: the filly trotter Mystery Photo (SJ's Photo-Enchanted Victory) in 1:59.1; the filly pacer Unsolved Mystery (Western Hanover-Summer Mystery) in 1:58.1 (last quarter of :26.3); the colt pacer Code Word (Western Terror-Numberone Treasure) in 1:58.3 (last quarter of :27.2); and the colt pacer Mysoontobe (Western Hanover-Michelle's Revenge) in 1:58.
The fastest mile of the afternoon was saved for the last of the nine races as Brian Sears directed the freshman colt pacer Windfall Blue Chip to an 8 1/2-length victory in 1:54.3. Trained by George Teague Jr., who shares ownership with Ted Gwertz and Kovach Stables, Windfall Blue Chip is a son of Art Major out of the Beach Towel mare Beach Dancer.