Live racing at the Meadowlands Racetrack is one week away, thus the initial qualifying races for the track’s fall meet took place Friday morning (November 6) under overcast skies with no discernable wind during what was an unseasonably warm morning.
A number of the sport's top performers were on display, as they make their final preparations for upcoming stakes that will open the fall meet.
Explosive Man has raced only a handful of times and displayed unusual talent on those few occasions for his owner/trainer/driver Bob Krivelin. The three-year-old Explosive Matter gelding opened the day with a front-end 155 effort. He used a :27.4 final quarter to hold off a closing effort from freshman trotting filly Double Exposure.
A few top trotters that were prepping for the upcoming TVG stakes lined up for Race 2. Classic Martine vacated her three-hole position past the opening half-mile marker and scooted to the front. Having utilized a :27.4 final quarter, she held the late-charging Obrigado at bay in what was a 1:54.3 victory. Tim Tetrick drove the accomplished five-year-old mare for Steve Elliott, who conditions her for the partnership of Conrad Zurich, Ed Gold and Hauser Brothers Racing, LLC.
TVG-type pacers were next on the bill, and 2015 Graduate champ Doo Wop Hanover was the winner in 1:51.3. He stormed out of the pocket in the stretch and closed in :26.3 to track down Bushwacker, who was the pacesetter. Steve Elliott trains Doo Wop Hanover for Peter Blood and Rick Berks. Jet Airway had good late pace into the speedy final quarter in what was his first public appearance in a year.
Race 4 saw driver Jim Marohn Jr. steer four-year-old Village Jove gelding Prince Palani to a last-to-first win in 1:55.1 for trainer Rob Harmon and owner Marvin Fuchs.
Preparing for the upcoming Tarport Hap stakes, several sophomore filly pacers gathered for Race 5. Bedroomconfessions inherited the lead at the :57 half-mile marker when Wicked Little Minx broke stride. Bedroomconfessions held sway in a :26.2 final panel to win in 1:51.3. Stacia Hanover raced well and was gaining late (she was defeated by a neck). Artistic Major rallied well from the back of the pack to finish third. Tetrick drove Bedroomconfessions for trainer Tony Alagna, who owns her in partnership with Riverview Farms.
Freshman pacers were next to get some work in anticipation of the Governor’s Cup. Breeders Crown winner Boston Red Rocks looked sharp in Race 6, as he tracked down the lightly-raced-but-impressive Tap Into Power in 1:52.2. Talk Show rallied mildly for third. Tetrick again had the winning drive for Steve Elliott for Blood and Berks.
Live racing begins at the Meadowlands on Friday, November 13 with a first-race post time of 7:00 p.m.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)