The 2014 edition of the Meadowlands Pace has a number of Canadian connections that look play a prominent role in the outcome of Saturday's lucrative and prestigious race.
Eliminations were held last Saturday, July 5 at the Meadowlands.
Here are the horses with Canadian connections, in post position order.
1 - National Debt. The Kelly Hoerdt-developed Allamerican Native colt looked unbeatable earlier this year and returned to New Jersey after a disappointing showing in The Diplomat Series. A month off and three qualifiers later, the Ron Coyne pupil uncorked a :26.2 final quarter to nab fifth in his his elim, race timed in 1:49.1. Owned by Hoerdt along with Blair & Erna Corbeil of Beaumont, Alta., National Debt will be driven by a Meadowlands Pace-debuting Scott Zeron, who was driving on the WEG circuit this time last year.
3. Hes Watching. The U.S. Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year for 2013 is loaded with Canadian connections. Trained by David Menary, who co-owns the colt along with Ontario's Brad Gray and Michael Guerriero, Hes Watching won his elim in 1:48.1 - his lifetime best and the fastest elim. His driver, Tim Tetrick, has won this race three times since 2007.
4. Tellitlikeitis. The homebred owned by Lothlorien of Cheltenham, Ont. was the beaten favourite in his Meadowlands Pace elim, finishing fifth -- his first off the board finish of the season. He is a son of 2009 Pace winner Well Said, who was also co-owned by Lothlorien.
5. Luck Be With You. American Ideal colt, owned by Toronto's John Craig and campaigned by Milton's Bill Cass but stabled with trainer Chris Oakes while in New Jersey. A winner of three of four lifetime starts in the U.S., first stateside loss came last Saturday in his Pace elim while pacing his fastest individual mile to date.
6. Lyonssomewhere. Owned by Geoffrey Lyons Mound of Brantford, Ont., the son of Somebeachsomewhere will look to win the one race his sire couldn't. Driver Yannick Gingras won this race in 2012.
7. Jet Airway. The only Canadian-sired Meadowlands Pace finalist, this son of Ontario's Jeremes Jet closed from eighth at the top of the stretch to finish fourth in his elim last week for trainer Erv Miller and driver Marcus Miller.
The Meadowlands Pace field also boasts North America Cup winner JK Endofanera, Sometimes Said, Always B Miki and Doo Wop Hanover. Sporting a purse of $776,000, the Meadowlands Pace is the feature race on a card that also features four $100,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Finals for two-year-olds (Races 1, 2, 11, 13), the $178,450 Golden Girls for older pacing mares (Race 7), the $212,150 Mistletoe Shalee for three-year-old pacing fillies (Race 6), the $213,500 Del Miller Memorial Trot for three-year-old trotting fillies (Race 5), the $317,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial for three-year-old trotting colts (Race 4) and the $463,300 William R. Haughton Memorial for older pacing horses (Race 8).
The race will be broadcast to a North American audience on CBS Sports Network, with post time set for 9:39 p.m. First race post time is 6:30 p.m.
To view the full card of entries for Saturday's Meadowlands Pace card, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Meadowlands.