The Meadowlands live harness racing programs this weekend offer diversity both to the participants and players.
Friday night's race card is filled with the hopes and dreams that come with two-year-olds in the beginning stages of their careers spread over seven divisions of the Kindergarten Classic series.
Saturday night features the Arthur Tompkins Memorial Grand Circuit stakes for sophomore trotters as their connections endeavor to separate the prospects from the suspects, still dreaming the Hambletonian dream.
A special post time of 8:00 pm is in place for both Friday and Saturday's races.
Trainer Tony Alagna brings no fewer than eleven two-year-old pacers from his armada of Captaintreacherous progeny, representing well over $1 million in yearling sales dollars, to race in the Kindergarten races on Friday including returning winners Captain Ahab, Odds On Boca Raton and Treacherous Reign.
Hall of Fame trainer Jimmy Takter has an interesting group of entries as well with six trotters in the Kindergarten including the top priced yearling of 2017 at $480,000, the unbeaten filly Beautiful Sin.
Takter will also send out 2016's most expensive purchase ($800,000) when Tactical Landing continues to navigate the Hambletonian trail in an overnight class (race two) where he'll meet a leading contender in Southwind Chrome.
On Saturday it's a largely overnight offering spiced up by two divisions of the Tompkins-Geers stake for Hambo hopefuls who are making their closing statements toward the decision to enter or not to enter the big dance.
Of the eight colts in the $61,900 sixth race, Mets Hall accomplished the most at two by finishing second in the Breeders Crown for Andy and Julie Miller and is working his way back into contention after getting a late start on his sophomore campaign.
Evaluate didn't race much last year for Marcus Melander but is proving to be fast and tough thus far at three while Zephyr Kronos accomplished nothing at two yet has flashed such promise that Takter is still battling the calendar, trying to teach the Ready Cash colt manners and tractability to go with his remarkable turn of foot.
In the $68,900 filly division of the stake both Top Expectations and Hey Blondie are looking for the form that made them contenders in the division last season. Top Expectations won the KY Sire Stakes final last season for Erv and Marcus Miller while Hey Blondie took the Kindergarten final for her Hall of Fame trainer Chuck Sylvester. Both are winless thus far in 2018.
Off the track the weather forecast is ideal for Corntastic where free grilled corn will be offered to all and the top huskers, luggers and eaters of the cereal grain will compete for cash and accolades.
(with files from The Meadowlands)