Derick Giwner

North America Cup night (June 16) is one of the biggest events in all of harness racing. Four rich stakes finals for 3-year-olds and a couple of other stakes will highlight a stellar card at Mohawk Racetrack. For the next four days, I will review the elimination efforts of all the 3yo finals and chime in with my thoughts on each horse’s chance on Saturday. Below is my horse-by-horse lowdown for the C$642,000 Fan Hanover along with my morning line.

The argument of quality versus quantity has long been debated in history. When it comes to racing, a case can be made for both sides. In wagering it is clearly better to have full fields and contentious races. This weekend, many of the best standardbreds in North America will on display at Mohawk Racetrack vying for spots in next week’s rich finals for 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits. While my interest in watching these elimination races is high, wagering on races where at least half the field in each split makes the final is hardly a prime opportunity.

When I read the news this Monday morning that driver George Brennan would no longer be allowed to race at the Meadowlands, I was beside myself. Did he commit a crime? No! He simply spoke his mind. The ban was said to be the result of comments Brennan made in a NY Times story about the suspension of trainer Lou Pena on 1,719 illegal incidents of administering legal medications too close to race time. Brennan, one of the top drivers in the country, had this to say in the story:

There were no screaming temper tantrums at the Meadowlands on Saturday morning (June 2) even though the babies were on the East Rutherford track for their first official action of the year. Let’s take a look at the more notable performers with some added commentary from our man at the track P.J. Iovino.

In case you have been in a remote part of the world, trainer Lou Pena was hit with 1,719 violations by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board on Thursday, May 24.