Final preps for fillies, penultimate for colts, as Hambletonian and Oaks loom boldly

By Frank and Ray Cotolo

(H) denotes Hambletonian eligible

Colts and fillies were making their final preparations for the Hambletonian Saturday at the Meadowlands, with both sexes battling in separate divisions of both the Arthur Tompkins Memorial and in three-year-old open events.

Feed Your Head (H-Muscle Hill) wired the field in the $49,870 Arthur Tompkins Filly Trot, winning in 1:52 over Overdraft Volo (H-Yankee Glide) and Leet Hanover. Owned by Mellby Gard Inc, trained by Jimmy Takter, and driven by Yannick Gingras, she paid $4.40.

Perfect Spirit (H-Andover Hall) sat the pocket while stable-mate Yes Mickey cut the fractions before popping wide in the stretch and progressing to a 1:51.2 win in the $59,370 Arthur Tompkins Colt and Gelding Trot, with Southwind Hydro (H-Muscle Hill) finishing third. Owned by Srf Stable and trained and driven by Ake Svanstedt, he paid $11.40 to win.

Blocked at the rail until the eighth pole, International Moni (H-Love You) sprinted away from pacesetter Enterprise (H-Chapter Seven) and Meteoric to win the Three-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Open in 1:52. Owned by Moni Maker Stable, trained by Frank Antonacci, and driven by Scott Zeron, he paid $3.40.

Unchallenged on the lead, Fine Tuned Lady (H-Cantab Hall) coasted to a 1:52.2 win in the Three-Year-Old Filly Open over Dream Together (H-Muscle Hill) closing for second and Broadway Idole (H-Broadway Hall) holding onto third. Owned by William Wiswell and M and L of Delaware LLC, trained by John Butenschoen, and driven by Andy Miller, she paid $5.20.