Top sophomores entered in FanDuel Championships

East Rutherford, NJ – When the FanDuel Championships (formerly known as the TVG) were founded in 2013, Jeff Gural’s vision was a year-end race that would provide a stage for the top 3-year-olds to end their harness racing season by facing the best older horses, much as the Breeders Cup has done.

The entries have been taken for the 2023 races and that vision has become reality.

As anticipated, Confederate (Sweet Lou), whose season has seen him win nearly every major sophomore stake while becoming the fastest 3-year-old pacer in history, will face division leaders Bythemissal (Downbytheseaside) and Tattoo Artist (Hes Watching) among the ten horse, $350,000e Open pace, quite possibly the “Race of the Year”.

Tactical Approach (Tactical Landing) dominated this year’s class of sophomore trotters with the Hambletonain and Kentucky Futurity among his 10 wins on the season and will take on a talented field of six veterans led by It’s Academic (Uncle Peter), Alrajah One IT (Maharajah) and Southwind Tyrion (Muscle Hill, Breeders Crown open trot winner by invitation) in the $350,000e Open trot.

Twin B Joe Fresh (Roll With Joe) has accepted an invitation to face her older rivals, led by Breeders Crown winner Max Contract (Huntsville), in an abbreviated five mare field for the $175,000e Open Mare pace.

Bond (Southwind Frank) will use her Breeders Crown golden ticket to gain entry into the $175,000 Mare Open Trot division where she’ll go against Jiggy Jog S (Walner) and M-M’s Dream (Swan For All) in a five mare race.

The $1 million FanDuel Championships will go on a stakes laden Saturday, November 25 card with total purses of more than $2.5 million that includes the Freshman Fall Final Four.

For complete race entries, click here: US Trotting entries.

by Nick Salvi, for The Meadowlands