It’s not often that claiming races are the featured events at The Meadowlands, but that will be the case this Saturday, Jan. 24, when a pair of competitive dashes will comprise half of the early 50-cent Pick-4.

The seventh race – which is leg two of the Pick-4 – sports a $17,000 USD purse and is for pacers who are in for a tag of no less than $25,000 USD and no more than $30,000 USD. The horses in for a higher price draw outside in this handicap event.

There are three horses who are all in search of a second consecutive trip to the winner’s circle, starting with Mayhem Hanover, who is off an upset score at odds of 12-1 with this kind last Saturday, Jan. 17 for trainer Rico Robinson. He’ll leave from post four with driver Austin Siegelman and start out at 5-1 on the morning line.

Caviart Camden swung four-wide at three-quarters before closing like a shot to upset in a softer spot last week as a 14-1 outsider. Colin Kelly, who won 10 races last weekend to end Brett Beckwith’s six-week reign as the track’s “Driver of the Week,” will guide the Maria Alvarez student, who is the 3-1 morning line favourite from post five.

Betting On Caesar (post 10, 8-1 odds) is another bumping up in class, as the Joe Bongiorno trainee crushed weaker on the front end when last seen on Dec. 27. Beckwith will be in the bike.

In the eighth race, $19,000 USD will be on the line in a $40,000 USD to $60,000 USD claiming handicap pace, where all eyes will be on Boston Bound, the 3-1 morning line favourite from post 10. The Chris Height student went a brutal trip a week ago on the way to seventh-place finish as the 1-5 public choice as the speedball never got near the front end. Beckwith will drive.

Sun Of A Show and Mamba are both looking for a second straight score. The Tee Wine-trained Sun Of A Show (post six, 7-2 odds), who will be driven by Braxten Boyd, emerged from the pocket to win at odds of 10-1 last week, while Mamba (post seven, 4-1 odds), who is trained by Bongiorno, went a gigantic parked-out effort to score as the 4-5 public choice back on Dec. 13. The question is can he overcome the layoff? Kelly is listed to drive.

During the month of January, live racing will be conducted on a Friday-Saturday-Sunday basis. Post time on Friday and Saturday is 6:20 p.m., while Sunday racing will begin at 12:30 p.m. 

The Meadowlands will offer simulcasting on Saturday afternoon for horseplayers to watch and wager on the 10th running of the $3 million USD Pegasus World Cup Invitational (Grade 1) at Gulfstream Park.

With the threat of inclement weather early Sunday morning, guests are advised to check the status of the live racing program before heading out to the track for the afternoon program.

This weekend marks the return of Meadow Twaddle to the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set. Twaddle, who currently works with the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Association and is the co-host of the podcast Hot 2 Trot, will serve as co-host for all three race cards. Dave Little will host the show on Friday and Sunday, while his wife, Debbie, the associate editor and columnist from Harness Racing Update, will sit in that chair on Saturday. Ken Warkentin will be in his usual spot calling all of the races, while Joe Romanelli will handle back-paddock interviews and FanDuel Television (FDTV) coverage on Friday and Saturday with Gary DiLeo handling those chores on Sunday.

The NFL’s championship game takes place on Sunday, Feb. 8, and The Meadowlands will be hosting a Gallery Watch Party. For event details and tickets, visit playmeadowlands.com.

(With files from The Meadowlands)