Star-Studded Saturday Qualifiers
With a collection of talent that's tantamount to a tease of stakes season, Saturday morning's sixteen qualifiers at The Meadowlands could garner as much -- if not more -- attention than any card of harness racing this weekend.
Trot Insider has previewed the qualifiers with the more recognizable names.
Race 1: World record holder Wild Honey (2,1:54.2f, $439,703) faces stablemate Smexi (2,1:54.4, $404,808) and speedster Livininthefastlane (2,1:53.4, $272,063).
Race 5: NYSS standout Crazy Wow (2, 1:54s, $232,928) is entered against fellow three-year-olds The Bank (2, 1:53.4, $111,648), Kindergarten winner French Laundry (2,1:54.4s, $313,119) and Walter White (2, 1:56, $130,783).
Race 7: Breeders Crown and Dan Patch Award winner Pinkman (2, 1:53.2, $566,960) meets familiar foes Cruzado Dela Noche (2, 1:53.4, $164,040), Muscle Diamond (2,1:53.4, $301,994) and Uncle Lasse (2,1:54.1, $351,297).
Race 9: Older trotters take the stage with seasonal sensation Meladys Monet facing a debuting trio that require no introduction: triple millionaire Market Share, fresh from stud duty Father Patrick and 2013 Horse of the Year Bee A Magician.
Race 10: Pacing fillies Well Hello There (p,3,Q1:53, $214,132) and Mosquito Blue Chip (p,2,1:52.1f, $240,551) each take part in their second seasonal qualifier.
Race 11: A second group of sophomore pacing fillies will lock horns: The Show Returns (p,2,1:52s, $125,908), Shakai Hanover (p,2,1:52.4s, $167,526), Bedroomconfessions (p,2,1:52s, $206,069), Ideal Nuggets (p,2,1:50.4, $187,917), Southwind Roulette (p,2,1:51.4f, $300,595) and Band Of Angels (p,2,1:51.3s, $181,261).
Race 12: A mixed bag of pacing fillies and mares, featuring speedy mare Jerseylicious, two mares new to the older pacing mare division: Weeper and Katie Said, and impressive Delaware-bred three-year-old pacing filly Totally Rusty.
Race 13: 2014 North America Cup winner JK Endofanera makes his four-year-old debut against Messenger-winning stablemate All Bets Off.
Race 15: All eyes will be on the three-year-old debut of Dan Patch and O'Brien Award winner Artspeak, facing off against fellow North America Cup eligibles Dealt A Winner, Hurrikane Ali and Trading Up.
First qualifier is set for 9:30 a.m. and all qualifiers are streamed live on the Meadowlands' website. To view program proofs for Saturday's qualifiers, scroll through the embedded PDF below or click the following link: Saturday Program Proofs - Meadowlands Qualifiers.