The Meadowlands' Championship Meet takes flight this weekend with the first leg of both the New Jersey Sire Stakes (NJSS) for sophomores and the Graduate Series for four-year-olds.

The NJSS (all purses $25,000) trotters race on Friday with Hambletonian winter book favourite Southwind Frank making his debut amid a bulky field of twelve colts (race six) and freshman Breeders Crown winner All The Time coming out in the first of two filly divisions (race two).

Saturday night's card is heavy with talent. Boston Red Rocks makes his seasonal bow in the NJSS colt pace (race eleven) and Blue Moon Stride is back to defend her NJSS tiara in the filly competition (race five).

The Graduate trot split into a pair of $50,000 divisions with Wings Of Royalty coming in off last week's 1:51.4 upset win in an overnight race leading race two from the rail. 2015 Trotter of the Year Pinkman catches a tough field (race six) that includes red-hot Musical Rhythm and Maestro Blue Chip, a duo that had modest sophomore campaigns but have morphed into unbeaten early season sensations. Something's gotta give in what promises to be a slugfest.

Nine pacers were declared for the $75,000 Graduate pace (race eight) with another emerging star in Confederation Cup winner Rockin Ron looking to extend his ten race seasonal unbeaten streak heading up that field.

Saturday is Preakness Day and a large crowd is expected to watch Nyquist attempt to advance to possible Triple Crown winner status. Make your reservations early via The Meadowlands website.

First race post time is 7:15 p.m.

(with files from The Meadowlands)