Caviart Belle and Its A Love Thing attend the Jerry Silverman Memorial

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — Caviart Belle (Captaintreacherous) won the first division of the $100,000 Jerry Silverman Memorial for 3-year-old harness fillies at the Meadowlands on Saturday (July 13). Yannick Gingras powered the mare to a personal best of 1:49 miles in the stakes race formerly known as Mistletoe Shalee.

The first three quarters were closely contested, with a :26 opening panel given by Asweetbeachhere from the outside. Sarasota Hanover took the lead and a battle of pace ensued as favorite Pass Line stormed to the top with a :53.3 half.

Pass Line led the 1:22 three-quarter course, Lyons Legend charged from the inside and Sarasota Hanover dared to catch up. The first fastest had problems when Caviart Belle opened up a six-metre wide victory lane with his third position on the final bend and won by 2.5 lengths. Sarasota Hanover took second, Canigetalouploup moved into third place shortly before the end.

Caviart Belle out of Well Said’s dam Eloquent Grace has already won $609,255 in her second racing season.

Nancy Takter trains Caviart Belle for owners Caviart Farms. She paid $5.40 for the win.

CAVIART BELLE REPLAY

Gingras said he found the early cover he wanted:

“She can go as fast as any filly,” he said.

Richard Silverman, son of the late Jerry, said the event was “an honor for my father and all the great mares he raced (at the Meadowlands).”

In the second division with 100,000 US dollars, Its A Love Thing (Joy of the weather-Love For Sail) competed against her biggest rival My Girl EJ and eight others and won with James MacDonald on the bike in 1:49.1.

Miraculous Deo’s early lead held long enough to set a first quarter of :27.1, with Flawless in second and My Girl EJ moving up in third and Its A Love Thing next.

My Girl EJ took the lead from the other two and was sliding nicely into a :55.2 half as Its A Love Thing pulled out to chase her and closed alongside her to take the final challenge down the home straight after a 1:23.1 three-quarter time.

A duel ensued in the home stretch with My Girl EJ battling hard for the lead, but Its A Love Thing came out on top and won by a neck in 1:49.1, with Geocentric ultimately taking third place.

IT’S A LOVE MATTER, REPEAT

Trained by David Menary for Eric Good, Thomas Biederman, Josh Green and Rich Lombardo Racing, Its A Love Thing paid $4.40 to win four times for the fourth time this season, bringing his earnings to $747,751.

“It was a tough fight on the road,” said MacDonald. “But I know my filly; she’s tenacious and hardworking.”

MacDonald, who earned his fourth win of the night on Its A Love Thing, said he felt great because “I never thought my career would take me here.”

Click here to view the full race results: Results of the US Trotting Competition

from Frank Cotolofor The Meadowlands