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Coming up Saturday night (July 6) at The Meadowlands racetrack will be four top-notch harness racing events with the $50,000 elimination divisions of the Meadowlands Pace followed by two $230,000 finals of the Graduate Series.
In the Meadowlands Pace elims for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings, the first five official finishers in each race will return on Saturday, July 13 for the $650,000 final.
The 7th race is the first division headlined by Captain’s Quarters (Captaintreacherous) from post four for driver Jody Jamieson. He has finished first or second in his last four outings including a 1:49.1 lifetime mark and was second to Nijinsky in the $730,000 North America Cup at Mohawk Park.
Trained by Herbert Holland for owner Rich Stiles, Captain’s Quarters was a $235,000 yearling purchase, who now sports $594,456 in lifetime earnings.
Holland was recently quoted in Dave Little’s Road to the Meadowlands Pace, saying “I think we’ll get a good performance Saturday. There are four in there that are very capable of winning the race. The Pace for me is special. I lived [near The Meadowlands] for 20 years. I have family there. It’s a big deal for me.”
He will face some stiff opposition from return winner Mirage Hanover (Bettor’s Delight) with driver Tim Tetrick from the rail, who is coming off a 1:49.1 lifetime mark at the Meadowlands in the three-year-old Open. In that mile his last quarter was an amazing :24.3. Mirage Hanover is trained by Jake Leamon for owner Marvin Rounick.
Better Is Nice (Bettor’s Wish) hails from the Tony Alagna Stable and goes from post seven for driver Andy McCarthy. In his last start he got a perfect two-hole trip and come on in the stretch to win in 1:50. It was his first win of the season and a lifetime mark for homebred who is co-owned by Alagna Racing, the Pryde Stables and Birnam Wood Farms.
Other contenders in the race include Legendary Hanover (post 3) with James MacDonald in the sulky, Gem Quality (post 2) for driver Dexter Dunn and Remember The Alamo (post 9) for driver Todd McCarthy.
In the 8th race second Meadowlands Pace elimination division, all eyes will be on the undefeated Nijinsky (Bettor’s Delight) from post five for driver Louis-Philippe Roy. In their last start they teamed up for a very convincing 1:48.1 lifetime mark in the $730,000 North America Cup Final
Nijinsky is going for his sixth straight victory for trainer Anthony Beaton. He was a $120,000 yearling purchase by West Wins Stable, John Fielding and Mark Dumain.
“We’re losing the home track advantage,” Louis-Philippe Roy explained. “But so do Captain Quarters, Funtime Bayama and Legendary Hanover. Otherwise, the Meadowlands has a nice footing, I feel like every time I drive a horse there, they liked the track. I am as excited for the Meadowlands Pace as I was going into the NA Cup.”
Rival Funtime Bayama (He’s Watching) goes from post six for new driver Dexter Dunn. Third to Nijinsky in the NA Cup Final, Funtime Bayama was recently sold and now races in the Andrew Harris Stable for new owners Bill Pollock, Bruce Areman and Andrew Harris.
So far this season, Funtime Bayama has an impressive record of four wins, a second and a third in just six starts. He took a lifetime mark of 1:49.1 three starts back at Mohawk Park.
Captain Albano (Captaintreacherous) is another standout and goes from post four for driver Todd McCarthy. He has a record of 1:49.4 this year at Harrah’s Philadelphia in the PA Sire Stakes and was fourth in the NA Cup.
Captain Luke (post 8) with Scott Zeron, McCrunch (post 2) for Yannick Gingras and Nuclear (post 1) for driver Andy Miller will all be vying for a spot in next week’s final.
The Graduate Series Finals each race for a purse of $230,000 and the series was only for four-year-old trotters and pacers.
The trotters are up first in the 9th race where Winner’s Bet (Walner) has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite. He starts from post five for driver Dexter Dunn and is undefeated in two starts so far.
But his last start, in a leg of the Graduate at the Meadowlands, Winner’s Bet and Dunn unleashed some major trotting power as they were able to wire the field in 1:49.3 and set a track record.
While the time is very impressive, not so for Winner’s Bet, who in his first start this year he trotted to a 1:50 victory, also in the Graduate. He is trained by Nancy Takter for Lindy Farms of Conn. and Robert Rudolph.
“He came out of his last race great,” Nancy Takter said. “I’m very happy with him and I’m not worried about going fast with him, I am worried more about winning races.”
Hoping to knock-off the race favorite is Hasty Bid (My MVP) from post 3 for driver James MacDonald. He is coming off two straight wins, both in the Graduate, the fastest a 1:50.2 career lifetime best mile in his last start. This will be the first time he has gone against Winners Bet for trainer Nancy Takter.
One of two million dollar winners in the race is Special Way (post 9) for driver Tim Tetrick. Second in the Breeders Crown last year, Special Way has two starts for trainer Ake Svanstedt, both a second-place finish against rival Hasty Bid.
Other contenders include Ponda Jet (post 10) for driver David Miller, $1.2 million winner Oh Well (post 8) with Todd McCarthy and Chapercraz (post 2) for driver Yannick Gingras, who was second last week to Winner’s Bet.
The 10th race is the $230,000 Graduate Final for the horses, and it is going to be a wide-open affair.
Early favorite is Ken Hanover (Captaintreacherous), but he is starting from post nine for driver David Miller. While sporting just one win so far in 2024 after five starts, that one was very impressive, a 1:47.4 lifetime mark two starts back in a $50,000 leg of the Graduate.
Trained by Roland Mallar, Ken Hanover is co-owned by Mallar with Patrick Leavitt, William Jordan and Dennis Osterholt.
“Yeah, getting post 9 always makes it an issue in these races,” said David Miller. “There’s going to be a lot of action and it’s tough to get into the race. I would like to have seen him draw somewhere in the middle, but I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
Voukefalas (Lazarus N) has been a game performer this year for trainer Michael Russo and owner-breeder Michael Pagonas. He has been in the money in seven of his eight starts with a record of 1:48.4 in the Graduate Series. He will be driven by regular pilot Jordan Stratton from post six.
Huntinthelastdolar (Huntsville) goes from the rail for driver Yannick Gingras. Earlier this season he won the $191,990 Charles Juravinski Final in 1:50 at Flamboro Downs and then came back the next start with a 1:49.2 triumph in a leg of the Graduate Series. He is trained by Per Engblom for owners E Five Racing and John Fielding.
Other standouts include Coach Stefanos (post 5) for driver James MacDonald, No Control (post 7) who two starts back ripped off a 1:47.3 lifetime best mile in the Graduate Series at The Big M and Act Fast (post 8) who in his last start scored a lifetime best 1:47.3 victory in the Graduate.
For a free race program, visit here.
by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink
