In recent weeks, local standouts Dovuto Hanover and Rockeyed Optimist made their seasonal debuts at the Meadowlands Racetrack and showed no lack of late-staying power in upper-level events. On Saturday night, they will not only rise to Open company, but they will square off against a pair of Ron Burke trainees.

The Burke trainees in question – Dynamic Youth and Take It Back Terry – will both come off the bench to kick off their 2016 seasons in the evening's $25,000 feature.

Millionaire Dynamic Youth, a 29-time winner, will return off of a lone qualifying mile after having spent last fall racing in Open events throughout the mid-Atlantic with varying success. Andy Miller will steer the seen-year-old Bettors Delight gelding from Post 5.

Burke stablemate Take It Back Terry will start right alongside his stablemate in Post 6. He is also coming back off of a lone qualifier after having won five of his last seven Open attempts at Yonkers Raceway last fall. Joe Bongiorno will handle the driving duties aboard the seven-year-old Western Terror gelding, as he did in last week's qualifier.

The Burke duo is not likely to have an easy time of it on Saturday, though, as the 5-2 morning line favourite, Rockeyed Optimist (Post 7), is heading into the tilt off of a powerful four-length win in an upper-level event two weeks ago. In both his seasonal starts – that win and a near miss on debut two weeks prior – the five-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding sprinted home with final quarters faster than :27. Andy McCarthy will drive for trainer Steve Elliott.

Dovuto Hanover (Post 2, 5-1) is also sharpening up – he made up significant on the inside through the stretch during his seasonal debut last week. Scott Zeron has opted to drive the Nifty Norman-trained six-year-old over two other nominations in the field.

Lucrative opportunities await punters throughout the 13-race card, including the usual Pick 5 (which will begin in Race 3) and Pick 4s (Races 5 and 9) with their combined $105,000 in guaranteed pools. Additionally, a pair of 20-cent Jackpot High 5 wagers await players in the seventh and final races – the latter of which currently boasts a carryover in excess of $116,000 in advance of Friday's card.

First-race post time is slated for 6:35 p.m. Eastern.

(Meadowlands Racetrack)