“I think we’re in for a nice little ride tomorrow. He worked very strong for me this week and did everything right. I think the old Eli is going to show up.”

Deshawn Minor expects Smilin Eli to put grins on his connection’s faces Saturday night. The three-year-old colt trotter will look to rebound from his first career loss – a fifth-place finish in the Beal Memorial on June 29 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs – when he faces 11 rivals in the $294,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

Smilin Eli started the Beal final from post nine, but got the lead with a :57.1 opening half-mile (he went :55.1 to get the lead a week earlier in his Beal elim) and appeared poised to pick up his fifth win in as many starts. However, he trotted his final quarter in :29.3, which was slower than all but one of the other horses in the race.

“I was wondering how many lengths he was going to win by when he got to the half,” said Minor, who trains Smilin Eli for breeder/owner Nick Cimino. “It turns out he had a little throat sickness and wasn’t able to breathe well enough to get to the wire. Up to that point, he was doing his usual wonderful job.

“It goes like that sometimes in racing. You just have to get ready for the next episode. And I think he’s ready for it tomorrow night.”

Smilin Eli, who will start from post seven in the 12-horse field, is the 3-1 morning line favorite in the Dancer, which is one of the final stakes races for three-year-old trotters as they prepare for the Aug. 3 Hambletonian at the Meadowlands. Corky, who won the Beal by a length over Picture This in 1:54.3 over a sloppy track, is the 7-2 second choice despite drawing post 10.

Minor decided against racing Smilin Eli as a two-year-old to give the colt a chance to mature into his large body. The move paid off as Smilin Eli won his first four starts this year, including the New Jersey Sire Stakes championship, by no less than one length.

A son of Muscles Yankee out of the stakes-winning mare Gerris Joy, Smilin Eli is named after one of Cimino’s grandchildren. So Smilin Eli could lead to a smiling Eli in the winner’s circle if all goes well.

Following is the Stanley Dancer Memorial field with listed drivers and trainers:

1. Spider Blue Chip, Ron Pierce, Chuck Sylvester;
2. Six Gun Hall, John Campbell, Robert Shahan;
3. Dewycolorintheline, Ray Schnittker, Schnittker;
4. Fico, Jim Morrill Jr., Staffan Lind;
5. Dreams Of Thunder, Corey Callahan, Jonas Czernyson;
6. Banco Solo, George Brennan, Kenneth Oscarsson;
7. Smilin Eli, Tim Tetrick, Deshawn Minor;
8. Your So Vain, Andy Miller, Julie Miller;
9. Royalty For Life, Brian Sears, George Ducharme;
10. Corky, David Miller, Jimmy Takter;
11. Celebrity Maserati, Tom Jackson, Susanne Strandqvist;
12. Raven Victory, Yannick Gingras, Linda Toscano

Saturday’s card also features the $265,500 Delvin Miller Memorial for three-year-old filly trotters (not to mention the Meadowlands Pace, William R. Haughton Memorial and New Jersey Sire Stakes finals for two-year-old trotters and pacers). Bee A Magician, unbeaten in six races this year, is the 3-2 morning line favourite. Her victories include the Elegantimage Stakes in June at Mohawk Ractrack. She has won 16 of 19 lifetime starts and $1.13 million.

Following is the Delvin Miller Memorial field with listed drivers and trainers:
1. Bee A Magician, Brian Sears, Nifty Norman;
2. Time To Kill, Ron Pierce, Ross Croghan;
3. Ma Chere Hall, Corey Callahan, Jonas Czernyson;
4. Fashion Athena, John Campbell, Jim Campbell;
5. Frau Blucher, Jim Morrill Jr., Chris Oakes;
6. Handover Belle, Mike Lachance, Tony Alagna;
7. To Dream On, Yannick Gingras, Jimmy Takter;
8. Mistery Woman, David Miller, Czernyson;
9. Cupcake, Jody Jamieson, Don Swick;
10. Tonato Of Love, Ray Schnittker, Schnittker;
11. Miss Steele, Andy Miller, Julie Miller.

To view entries for Saturday night's star-studded card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Meadowlands Racetrack.

This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.