Fashion Schooner made quite the statement in capturing the $240,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final for sophomore trotting fillies at the Meadowlands on Friday night. The Fashion Farms LLC.-homebred showed blistering speed at the outset for driver Tim Tetrick, then managed to control the pace and march home powerfully in a career-best 1:51 3/5 clocking over a rapidly drying out track labeled as "good." Sent off as the 6-5 favorite, Fashion Schooner, a daughter of Walner and 2009 Hambletonian Oaks champion Broadway Schooner, took control from second choice Jiggy Jog S at the quarter in 26 3/5 and then was able to throttle down the second quarter in a pedestrian 29 4/5. Stablemate Misswalner Fashion had to come a long way on the outside without cover, but Andrew McCarthy had her motivated and in contention on the flank of the winner through a 1:24 3/5 three-quarter clocking. Misswalner Fashion had Venerable on her back but last year's champion made a break in stride shortly before the field entered the homestretch and lost all chance. Tetrick hardly moved a muscle as Fashion Schooner initially had Jiggy Jog S pinned to the pylons, but even when that filly gained clearance, she was no match in the 27 second final quarter, as Fashion Schooner wrapped up the mile in style. Trained by Jim Campbell, Fashion Schooner has won three of her four starts this year. As the 6-5 favorite, Fashion Schooner returned $4.60 to win. "I was very impressed by her," said Campbell. "I was happy that Timmy was able to use her to get good position. He then backed down the second quarter very well. She did whatever Timmy wanted her to do. She dug in and couldn't have been better. "She got off on the right foot this year. I still really believe that even though she raced only three times last year, it really prepared her for this year. She didn't race much because she got sick in early springtime and took a long time to get over it. The Hambletonian Oaks is definitely something we are aiming for." Pretender, with Yannick Gingras, made a bold move before the half to clear the front and then went on to a solid 1:52 1/5 mile to capture the $240,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters. B A Superhero and Tim Tetrick left alertly for the front and cleared quickly to control. Classic Hill left hard as well but couldn't find a seat behind the pacemaker as Brave By Design, with Joe Bongiorno, worked hard to keep the pocket closed. A brisk 26 4/5 opening fraction was the result, and Gingras moved with purpose three-wide around Classic Hill with Pretender in the second quarter to clear the leader in a 55 second half. Pretender was able to back down the pace as Classic Hill clogged an outer flow that included Looks Like Moni and Temporal Hanover. That gave Pretender some separation from the field at three-quarters in 1:24 flat when Gingras let the son of Muscle Hill sprint off. Pretender had a long lead, but Temporal Hanover made up plenty of ground in the late stages to make it a horserace. Periculum had shook free from an early stretch shuffle and trotted powerfully as well in the late stages but settled for third behind stablemate Temporal Hanover. Trained by Nancy Takter, Pretender is owned by Caviart Farms, John Fielding, Irving Liverman and Joyce McClelland. An 8-5 choice, Pretender paid $5.40 to win. "He's much more mature this year," said Gingras following the victory. "Last year he couldn't have done that." ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter A pair of $100,000 finals of New Jersey Sire Stakes action preceded the wagering program, with Count Mara, a gelded son of Lis Mara, capturing the sophomore division for colts and geldings in 1:58 3/5 over the sloppy surface for driver Tim Tetrick. John Pyott owns and trains. Not So Evil pulled the pocket before the three-quarter pole and gamely held Bee Aware at bay through a torrid stretch- long battle to prevail in the filly division. Driver Pat Berry guided the Great Vintage-sired lass to a 1:56 3/5 effort, with Bee Aware settling for second. Traci Berry trains for owners J. Craparotta and P Berry Racing LLC. Cash Machine Girl, a $300,000 yearling purchase, scored in 1:53 4/5, a lifetime-best, in the $20,000 NJSS consolation for 3-year-old trotting fillies. Julie Miller trains the Muscle Hill-sired filly who was driven by husband Andy. I'm Happy Hanover and Brickhouse Babe were second and third in the mile. Stride The Hill, with Andrew McCarthy, rallied from the pocket to secure the $20,000 NJSS consolation for sophomore colt and gelding trotters in 1:54 1/5 over Frank The Elder, with pacesetter Villain third across the wire. Trained by Jim Campbell, Stride The Hill was a winner for the first time in 2022 in his fourth start. --Jim Campbell quote courtesy of the Meadowlands--