Saturday's weather forecast is for warmer conditions and the racing action is set to heat up in kind as three winter series finals and the opening leg of the William ‘Buddy’ Gilmour late-closers highlight the Meadowlands Racetrack’s 13-dash card.

The $49,000 final of the Charles Singer Series will kick off the stakes action in Race 2 where Super Bowl Series champ JL Cruze (to be driven by John Campbell) will take on six rivals. A model of consistency throughout the winter racing, JL Cruze has won four of his last six starts and banked $52,500 for trainer Eric Ell and owners Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar Jr. and Steve Iaquinta.

The $59,000 final of the Sonsam Series (Race 6) for three and four-year-old pacing males pits the speedy Rockeyed Optimist against potential series sweeper Major Uptrend.

Rockeyed Optimist closed out his 1:50.3 Leg 2 win with a searing :25.4 final panel last week, which was his first start with the Meadowlands’ hottest reinsman, Brett Miller, aboard. Steve Elliott trains the talented four-year-old for Anthony Perretti, Ginny Berkner, A&B Stable and Joe Battaglia.

Major Uptrend has captured both of his series starts in forwardly-placed fashion for the Meadowlands’ leading trainer/driver combo, Ron Burke and Yannick Gingras, and owner Howard Taylor.

A very competitive field of six pacing mares will contest the $50,600 final of the Burning Point Series (Race 11) with Empress Deo seeking the series sweep and finally earning the respect of the oddsmaker and horseplayer alike. After having returned a $30 mutuel in Leg 1, then $12 last week, she goes into the final as the morning line choice. Brett Miller drives for trainer Wayne Givens and owner Legacy Racing of Delaware.

The Buddy Gilmour Series is restricted to sophomore pacing colts and geldings and offers a look at two of the more exciting prospects we've seen thus far in 2015. They drew apart for the opening $17,500 Gilmour divisions, heightening the anticipation of an eventual match-up down the road.

National Seelster was unraced at age two, but has certainly caught the eye of racing fans this winter with an impressive pair of wins against overnight company. He will start from the rail in Race 5 with Andy Miller at the lines for trainer Chris Ryder and owners Bob Mondillo and Oompa's Farm.

The lightly-raced Wiggle It Jiggleit came to the Meadowlands for a leg of the Sonsam two weeks ago with some pretty imposing lines on his card and left with the respect of his peers after a crushing first-over 1:49.4 win against older horses.

Owner George Teague Jr. skipped Leg 2 of the Sonsam and bypasses the final of that series to race against his age group in this late-closer. That is good news for those racing in the Sonsam final, but not such good news for his rivals in the Gilmour. Montrell Teague drives and Clyde Francis trains the Mr Wiggles gelding.

On the wagering front, Saturday offers a qualifier for the World Harness Handicapping Championship along with the Jackpot Hi-5 carryovers and various guaranteed wagers available for horseplayers seeking value.

First-race post time for the Meadowlands’ Saturday card is 7:15 p.m.

(Meadowlands)