News Story - Scarlet McZara, Dial Or Nodial win at Meadowlands

Scarlet McZara, Dial Or Nodial win at Meadowlands

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Dial Or Nodial wore down pacesetter Drop Red in the final strides and posted a half-length victory in the $200,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship for 3-year-old colt pacers Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

Driven by Brian Sears, Dial Or Nodial paced the mile in a career-best 1:50.1. The Jim Campbell-trained gelding returned $4, $2.80, $2.40 as the favorite.

Long shot Vintage Master closed for second and paid $11.40 and $4.80. Drop Red ($3.40) held on for third.

One of the nation's top freshman colts, Dial Or Nodial won 8 of 12 starts and $414,124 last year. Bred and owned by Arlene and Jules Siegel of New Hope, Pa., Dial Or Nodial will make his next start in the June 6 eliminations for the $500,000 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic.

"We'll just play it by ear," Campbell said, "but the Meadowlands Pace ($1 million on July 18) is the one that he is being aimed for and one that I would really like to win. So far everything's going right on schedule with him."

The co-featured $200,000 championship for New Jersey-sired fillies was won by long shot Scarlet McZara and driver Andy Miller.

Miller angled Scarlet McZara out at the head of the lane and she came down the center of the track to a career-best 1:51.3 victory. The winner paid $40.60, $13.80 and $9.

Jersey Dream ($6.20, $5) shook loose from the pylons to finish a length behind in second, while Amora Hanover ($8.40) rallied from eighth to grab the show spot.

Trained by Bart Dalious, Scarlet McZara has won 6 of 19 career starts. She will face her next major stakes test in the June 5 eliminations for the $200,000 Thomas D'Altrui Miss New Jersey at the Meadowlands.

Updated May 30, 2009