Twin B Joe Fresh sparkled in her career debut on Friday night (June 17) at The Meadowlands, taking the featured $47,975 Tompkins-Geers Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies.

The daughter of Roll With Joe-Fresh Breeze worked out a perfect cover trip and closed well through the stretch before holding off Ucandoit Blue Chip by a neck in 1:52.2. Lioness By The Sea was third.

“She’s robust, like a lot of attractive ladies,” kidded winning trainer Chris Ryder. “She’s got the curves, is very muscular and is on the big side.”

Lioness By The Sea led the field past the quarter in :28.2, half in :57.1 and three-quarters in 1:25.2. At the five-eighths, Hungry For Love was first-over trying to cut into the leader’s edge while providing a live tow for Twin B Joe Fresh, who tipped off that cover mid-stretch before rallying to get the win.

The $65,000 purchase was a bit expensive for Ryder’s taste, but he went ahead and bought the horse nonetheless.

“The main appeal is the family, especially the mother, but Roll With Joe is a sneaky good sire. I did overpay. She should have cost $30,000, maybe $40,000, but sometimes you have to be aggressive.”

Ryder and Barry Spak, one of Ryder’s regular clients, along with winning driver Dexter Dunn and Ryder’s second trainer, Pete Trebotica, own the filly.

“We weren’t looking to race her hard. I was half-hearted about putting her in the race in the first place,” said Ryder. “But I knew she had a good motor.”

As the 6-1 third choice in the betting, Twin B Joe Fresh returned $15.80 to win. Stop The Show, the 3-5 favourite, never threatened and finished seventh in the nine-horse field.

“Twin B Joe Fresh isn’t eligible to a heckuva lot,” said Ryder. “Kentucky sires, New York sires and the Bluegrass. I think that’s good for her.”

Haarlow and Marino Win Meadowlands Sportscaster Charity Derbies

Eight New York sportscasters competed in two non-wagering harness races to benefit their selected charitable organization during the Friday program.

Rebecca Haarlow, sideline reporter on MSG for the NY Knicks, NBA on TNT and NBA TV, took the win in the first charity derby race of the night. Haarlow and driving partner Tim Tetrick made a tremendous stretch move “rallying past Marc Malusis as if he was standing still” to take home the win. Haarlow’s first-place finish gave her charity Rescue Dogs Rock $5,000. 

“I’m thrilled to be able to help out Rescue Dogs Rock with this win,” said Haarlow upon her return to the winner’s circle. “This was a great night, a great experience, our family loved it.”

The second charity derby was won by SNY reporter Maria Marino and her driving partner Corey Callahan. She held off fellow competitor Pat Leonard of the NY Daily News to capture the $5,000 prize for her selected charity, the American Cancer Society. 

Fellow competitors, former NY Jets wide receiver Quincy Enunwa (MDA), Marc Malusis of PIX11, SNY & WFAN (Make-A-Wish Foundation), Don La Greca of ESPN-NY “The Michael Kay Show” (Ronald McDonald House Charities), Wally Szczerbiak of MSG (Croatian American Charitable Foundation), and Pat Leonard of the NY Daily News (Golden Lights Foundation), each earned $1,000 for their charities. 

Brandon Tierney of WFAN was scratched sick for tonight’s derby but Marc Malusis stepped in and drove in Tierney’s race, earning the St. Jude’s Research Hospital $1,000.

“I tried my best to win it for Tierney,” said Malusis in his post-race interview. “This is always a great night, my family loves coming out and visiting the paddock and rooting me on. Thank you to the Meadowlands for putting on this fun event for our great causes.”

In addition to the participating sportscasters, Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment would like to thank Mark Ford and Tony Alagna for assisting with the horses and sulkies for the event. 

Brower Leads Battle of the Masterminds Tournament

Dave Brower had yet another big night in The Big M’s Battle of the Masterminds handicapping tournament, turning his mythical $500 bankroll into $1,090 in winning for the third time through the first five nights of the competition.

If patrons had followed all of Brower’s selections to this point, they would be showing a profit of $2,165.

The contest continues every night through August 5. On-track patrons who select the winning handicapper and then win a random drawing on a given night are eligible for the $10,000 grand prize.

Brower, Dave Little, Jessica Otten, Edison Hatter and Ken Warkentin will go at it every night through August 5. The grand prize winner will be chosen on Hambletonian Day, August 6.

With a carryover of $5,731 driving the machine, the 20-cent Pick-6 ended up with a total pool of $34,675. Those with winning tickets walked away with $1,460.46. Only one horse during the sequence went off at odds greater than 5-2. … Todd McCarthy, Andy McCarthy and Scott Zeron all recorded driving doubles. … Trainer of the Week Edwin Quevedo is gunning for a second straight trophy after schooling a pair to victory lane. Tony Alagna also had a training double. … All-source handle totalled $2,410,213. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.

(With files from The Meadowlands)