The much-anticipated North American pari-mutuel debut for downunder sensation Lazarus gets one step closer to reality this Saturday at The Meadowlands Racetrack. The six-year-old son of Bettors Delight is slated to compete in the first qualifier on Saturday morning, drawing post one for trainer Jimmy Takter and owner Taylor Made Stallions of Nicholasville, Ky. Yannick Gingras is listed to drive.
Takter schooled Lazarus after the qualifiers at The Meadowlands this past Saturday and the pair went a dazzling mile in 1:51 flat. Reported fractions for the training mile: :29.2; :57; 1:25.3; 1:51.
If fans of harness racing wanted a measuring stick for Lazarus in Saturday's qualifying mile, the 2018 North America Cup champion certainly fits the bill. After being entered and not qualifying this past weekend, talented sophomore Lather Up is back in for a tightener. The son of Im Gorgeous - Pocket Comb hasn't raced since June 30, when he made a costly and rare break in the final of the Max C. Hempt at Pocono.
Prior to the Hempt, Lather Up was unbeaten on the season winning all six of his sophomore starts for trainer Clyde Francis and owners Gary & Barbara Iles. Regular pilot Montrell Teague will be back in the bike behind Lather Up, who will line up from post seven in the seven-horse field. Lather Up is slated to make his next starts in Ohio Sires Stakes action in early August.
The pacing powerhouses will kick off the Saturday morning action in the first of nine carded qualifiers. First post is set for 9:00 a.m., with two-year-olds entered in six baby races following. Among those frosh entered is the undefeated trotting colt Greenshoe, who has won both of his starts thus far despite making early breaks in each. A $330,000 yearling, Greenshoe (Father Patrick - Designed To Be) lines up in the fourth qualifier of the morning for trainer Marcus Melander and owner Courant Inc. of Delray Beach, Fla. Brian Sears is listed to drive.
Full entries for the qualifying session is available at the following link: Saturday Qualifiers - Meadowlands. The program proof pages for the qualifying races are available below.
Document not loading below? Please refresh your page or click the link to open in a new window.
Meadowlands Qualifiers - July 28 -- Open in new window