The box for the freshman Fall Four stakes, last of the two-year-old Grand Circuit stakes of the season, closed on Tuesday morning (Nov. 14) and the number of entries will necessitate eliminations on Saturday for all divisions to advance to next week's finals.
The Governor's Cup colt & gelding pace drew 16 entries. Per race conditions, Kindergarten final winner Lou Vuitton goes directly to the $440,000 (estimated) final while the remaining colts will battle to determine the nine other finalists.
Entries for the $415,000 (est.) Goldsmith Maid filly trot numbered 18 with Sambuca Hanover riding her Kindergarten pass directly to the final while the other girls skirmish over the remaining nine berths.
Both the $410,000 (est.) Valley Victory colt trot and $360,000 (est.) Three Diamonds filly pace drew a dozen entrants, each requiring a single elimination.
Karl and Caviart Belle go straight to the finals on their Kindergarten merit. Security Protected accepted a free Valley Victory pass and Peace Talks will get a bye to the Three Diamonds, both based on seasonal earnings. That leaves a 10-horse elimination to be pared down to eight that will join the aforementioned in each of those finals.
All finals will be drawn employing the Meadowlands "Elimination to Final Draw Formula" with the Kindergarten winners drawing with elimination winners.
The elimination survivors shall return on Saturday, Nov. 25 to participate on a stakes-laden $2.5 million (est.) card that will include the exciting FanDuel Championship events.
To view Saturday's complete Fall Four stakes elimination entries, click here.
(With files from The Meadowlands)