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Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 3/21
Derick Giwner's analysis of the Saturday 3/21 card at The Meadowlands.
Derick GiwnerMar 19, 2026
Derick Giwner's analysis of the Saturday 3/21 card at The Meadowlands.
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The $1 million Louisiana Derby – and its implications on the Kentucky Derby six weeks hence – is the marquee event on Saturday's 14-race Fair Grounds card. For the fans of Louisiana racing, however, it is far from the only highlight on the program. The Louisiana-bred Touchuponastar, who last year on this day upset the 2024 3-year-old champion Sierra Leone in the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic, seeks a repeat victory in the $500,000 race for older males at 1 1/8 miles.
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Program Trading drew the outside post and faces six rivals Saturday in the Grade 2, $300,000 Muniz Memorial Classic at Fair Grounds. And in this case, being on the outside looking in probably is a good thing.
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Kevin Plowcha's analysis of the Saturday 3/21 card at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
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IGrand Slam Smile won for the second time in three starts on the hillside in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Classic for statebreds at about 6 1/2 furlongs on Jan. 17. She is back on the same course in Saturday's $100,000 Irish O'Brien Stakes for statebred fillies and mares.
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Two come from California, three from Florida, but the horses front and center in the Louisiana Derby have been in New Orleans all winter. Chip Honcho was second in the Risen Star last month behind Paladin, one of the top contenders for the Kentucky Derby. Golden Tempo, racing against the grain of the track, closed for third in the Risen Star.
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Fulleffort is looking to defend his home court against the likes of California Grade 3 winner Stark Contrast; Black Hornet, coming off a stakes win at Fair Grounds; and new stablemate Argos, a Grade 1 winner at Woodbine last year who is a recent arrival to Kentucky, as the racing version of March Madness tips off with the Grade 3, $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks on Saturday at Turfway Park.
Leg 3 of The Meadowlands’ popular $1,000 Monthly Handicapping Contest takes place Saturday (March 21) with a pair of seats for the competition’s $10,000 year-end, invitation-only final up for grabs.
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Owner Vincent To Wai Keung will make his second bid for BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) glory this Sunday, 22 March, with his promising runner Top Dragon.
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Mark Newnham could scarcely have hoped for a better lead-in to the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) and was in buoyant mood after Invincible Ibis was handed the plum draw at Thursday’s (19 March) barrier draw.