Father Patrick sweeps New Jersey Sire Stakes Finals
The fantastic run for first season trotting sire Father Patrick continued at The Meadowlands on July 13, with his progeny taking out both the $125,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Finals for 2-year-old trotters.
In the Fillies Final, the Jimmy Takter trained Whispering Oaks proved too strong for her rivals.
Powering to the lead by the half way mark, Whispering Oaks was able to fend off the fast finishing French Cafe, also by Father Patrick, to claim a half length victory in a smart 1:55.2 mile rate. (Watch race)
A $100,000 Lexington Select purchase, Whispering Oaks is the winner of two races and $72,500 in stakes-money to date - making her the richest Northern American juvenile trotting filly for the year to date.
In the Colts and Geldings Final, Greenshoe (pictured) was simply in a different league.
After sitting parked outside the leader at the half-way point, Greenshoe swept to the lead by the three-quarter pole and trotted clear of the field to score a comfortable one and three-quarter length win in an impressive 1:53.6. (Watch race)
His time is the fastest recorded by a 2-year-old trotter so far this season.
The regally bred Father Patrick colt Hudson River was a gallant third in the Final, after sitting parked for the entire mile.
Like Whispering Oaks, the Marcus Melander trained Greenshoe is the winner of two races and $72,500 in stakes, and is the richest 2-year-old male trotter to date in 2018.
Greenshoe was the highest priced yearling by Father Patrick sold at auction in 2017, selling for $330,000 at Lexington.
Of interest to breeders is the fact that both the New Jersey Sire Stakes Final winners have trotting's greatest broodmare and full sister to Father Patrick's grand-dam Canne Angus, Amour Angus, in their maternal pedigree, with Greenshoe out of a Donanto Hanover mare and Whispering Oaks' second dam being by Conway Hall.
This cross can be replicated down-under with mares by the likes of Majestic Son, Angus Hall, The Pres, Quite Easy and Monkey Bones.