The Meadowlands Racetrack’s card of live racing this Saturday night (April 11) offers 13 ‘pari-mutuel puzzles’ aching to be solved by the horseplayer, and the timing could not be better. Saturday is also the date for the ‘Last Chance’ qualifying event for the $50,000 World Harness Handicapping Championship contest hosted by the Meadowlands.

The estimated prize pool for the April 11 qualifier is $20,000 (based on 100 entries) with the winner taking 40 per cent, the top four earning seats in the WHHC final and the balance of the prize pool distributed in descending order. Entries will be accepted until 7 p.m. on the day of the contest and the cost to enter is $200 which goes right into the prize pool.

The player must also provide a separate wagering bankroll of $200 which will be used to play exactly 10 Meadowlands races, as required by contest rules and will keep that entire bankroll at contest end. Further details are available on the Meadowlands’ website.

The estimated prize pool for the April 25 WHHC final is $50,000 (based on 100 entries) with the top prize again 40 per cent of that pool. More information on that contest is available here.

On the racetrack, the feature is a $22,500 preview for the upcoming Whata Baron Series, which begins next Saturday. A solid group of eight drew into the race, with the quickly-maturing four-year-old Rock Out among the contenders.

Rock Out has had a solid if unspectacular season thus far for owners David Van Dusen and Michael Cimaglio. His chances improve dramatically in the Whata Baron with his barnmate from the Steve Elliott stable, Clyde Hirt Series sweeper Rockeyed Optimist, absent from the race. Andy Miller is the regular driver for Rock Out and has the mount on Saturday.

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

(With files from the Meadowlands)