BG's Folly held off favored All Speed Hanover by a nose in capturing the $500,000 Anthony Abbatiello SBOA New Jersey Classic at the Meadowlands on Saturday night.
Driven by Brian Sears, BG's Folly paced the mile for 3-year-olds in 1:49.1 in matching the stakes record set by Feelin Friskie in 2006. The George Berkner trained colt returned $18.40, $5.40 and $3.60 in getting to the winner's circle for the fourth time in 12 starts.
All Speed Hanover, who won one of the two eliminations last week, paid $2.60 and $2.10. Allthatgltrsisgold, who was a close third, paid $4 for show.
``At the quarter pole, I didn't like my spot, but I started going forward,'' said Sears, who was forced to come first up at the half. ``That's where I landed, and I knew I was going to pull All Speed Hanover right into the head of the lane. It wasn't a pretty journey, but the horse raced great.''
Berkner purchased the son of Rocknroll Hanover for $21,000 as a yearling. Berkner's wife, Ginny, shares ownership of BG's Folly with Martin Goldman of North Caldwell, Chad Aaron of Morgansville, and William Salmeri of Albany, N.Y.
``He looked magnificent tonight,'' Berkner said. ``Yes, I was surprised that with All Speed Hanover on his back, he still dug in to win.''
Valentino, who won the other elimination last weekend, broke stride early and finished last.
Put On A Show ($2.80) delivered a stakes record performance in the companion $175,000 Thomas D'Altrui Miss New Jersey for fillies.
Driven by Tim Tetrick, Put On A Show tracked down the leader Naughtytiltheend in the stretch and drew off to 2 3/4-length victory in 1:50. She supplanted Galleria's 1998 Miss New Jersey clocking by one-fifth of a second.
