Fresh off his world record one and one-eighth-mile victory, Doo Wop Hanover seeks a series sweep in the $250,000 Graduate final, the highlight of a stakes-filled card on Friday (July 3) at the Meadowlands.
In victories in the first three legs of the series for four-year-old pacers, Doo Wop Hanover set two different track records, one at Tioga Downs when he won in 1:47.4, and two weeks ago at The Meadowlands when he set a world record of 2:02.3 for the little used 1-1/8-mile distance.
The Steve Elliott-trained son of Rocknroll Hanover drew post two in Friday’s race and faces eight other foes including fellow Elliott-trainee Rockeyed Optimist, who saw his seven-race winning streak come to an end when finishing second to Doo Wop Hanover in his world record victory.
Doo Wop Hanover is the 6-5 morning line favourite. Rockeyed Optimist is the second choice at 8-5.
Ron Burke sends out the uncoupled duo of All Bets Off and Limelight Beach.
All Bets Off adds Lasix for the first time on Friday. Burke said the career earner of more than $1.2 million bled in his previous two starts.
The Graduate Final is race 10 on Friday’s 12-race card that also features six divisions of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for two-year-old trotters and pacers.
Burke sends out a pair of two-year-old trotters that drew in separate six-horse divisions.
In race two, Southwind Frank makes his pari-mutuel debut for Burke off a sparkling win in a baby race at Gaitway in 1:55.3.
“He was not impressive starting out,” explained Burke of the $100,000 Lexington Select yearling, “but he’s got really good upside and we have plenty of reasons to believe he’s a top colt.”
Burke sends out morning line favourite Southwind Flash in race four, the other division for male freshman trotters. Southwind Flash won both of his baby races at Gaitway. He was an $85,000 Lexington Select yearling and the first foal out of Friendly Amigo, an earner of more than $557,000 during her racing career.
“He actually trained down better than ‘Frank,” said Burke. “No one else could go with him in both of his qualifiers, but we actually think he’ll be even better following horses when he races the better ones.”
Handicappers will also have the opportunity to wager into a pair of large carryover pools in the Jackpot Super High 5. The race five carryover is $170,877 and the race 12 carryover is $154,332.
Post time is 7:15 p.m.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)