The Meadowlands Racetrack’s upcoming weekend of live action will feature eliminations for the $1.8 million ‘Freshman Fall Final Four’ and aged performers that will be prepping for upcoming stakes.

The aged performers will be readying for the $1 million Grand Circuit TVG Championships, which will serve as a hearty appetizer to nearly $3 million worth of finals on the ‘Big M’s Saturday, November 24 card.

The Meadowlands’ headliners this Friday will be a pair of $20,000 Open Handicap dashes, both of which will contain TVG eligibles that will be looking to tighten up before the final.

The Open Mare Pace will be led by Pure Country (who is to be driven by Yannick Gingras). The TVG Final will be the swan song for the great mare whose retirement following the TVG has already been announced. The triple Dan Patch award winner will race sans hopples for the first time on Friday as she closes in on $2.5 million in career purse earnings for owner/breeder Diamond Creek Racing and trainer Jimmy Takter.

The Open Trot will see the points leader in both the TVG Open and Mare division square off for the lion’s share of a $20,000.

After a sparkling beginning to his season that placed him atop the TVG leaderboard, Will Take Charge (Tim Tetrick) has not had his finest form for the past few months. He will be looking to reclaim the top position in these late stages for owner Mac Nichol.

Ice Attraction’s campaign took an opposite course, as she dealt with early-season struggles. Those struggles have given way to a successful fall, which included both a world-record-equalling performance at the Red Mile and a remarkable trip to fininsh second in her Breeders Crown final. Andy Miller will be driving the mare on Friday for owner/trainer Ake Svanstedt and partners Sipple, Burroughs and Little E, LLC.

The Big M’s Saturday evening card will feature a few elimination races for the Grand Circuit’s seasonal curtain call for juveniles.

Fifteen trotting colts have been entered for the Valley Victory, and, after a pair of elimination races, the top finishers will advance to next week’s $435,900 final.

The Governor’s Cup drew 13 pacing colts. Three colts accepted a bye into the $469,300 final, therefore ten are left to battle over the seven remaining berths. Breeders Crown winner Captain Crunch (Scott Zeron) has the strongest resume of the bunch. He is trained by Nancy Johansson for the partnership of 3 Brothers Stable, Christina Takter, Rojan Stable and Caviart Farms.

Both the $490,000 Goldsmith Maid and $391,250 Three Diamonds for two-year-old trotting and pacing fillies, respectively, did not require eliminations, therefore the two groups will head directly to next week’s finals.

The Meadowlands’ Saturday card will also see TVG Open Pace point leader (and likely final favourite) McWicked square off against four foes in an overnight Open Handicap.

Post time for both nights will be at 7:15 p.m.

(With files from the Meadowlands Racetrack)