Hall of Fame trainer Chris Ryder sounded excited about the possibilities for his stable in 2026. Ryder's enthusiasm pointed directly towards the return of the 2024 Horse of the Year Twin B Joe Fresh to the races. "We've started some slow jogging," Ryder said when asked about the progress of the mare that suffered an injury at the conclusion of her 2025 campaign, one that was concerning enough for Ryder and company to shut her down. "It's not a week-to-week thing," said Ryder when asked about the nature of the injury and whether it would hamper Twin B Joe Fresh's racing career immediate or long-term. Ryder continued on to hint that expectations of racing fans should remain high for the mare. "We wouldn't have brought her back if that was a concern." Spurring Ryder's confidence in Twin B Joe Fresh's return to the track is a stakes schedule that differs somewhat from his plans over the last couple of years. Primarily that Twin B Joe Fresh has been nominated for a few races that historically have only had male competition. "We've picked out a few races that don't conflict with the top mare races," Ryder said. "I don't think it makes sense to double stake her." Ryder is hopeful to have Twin B Joe Fresh ready to qualify late in May if she remains on schedule but isn't certain about where she'll make her 6-year-old stakes debut. "I don't think she'll be ready for the Betsy Ross (May 24)," Ryder said of the Harrah's Philadelphia stakes race. A few weeks later comes the Roses Are Red at Woodbine Mohawk Park. "It's possible she could go in the Roses Are Red or maybe the Mohawk Gold Cup," Ryder said, giving fans a first potential crossroad between the sport's leading pacing mare and the best male older pacers on June 13. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter A key to the equation that Ryder must balance this year depends in some ways on having a plethora of talent in one division. Miki And Minnie, the 2025 Dan Patch Award winner as the top sophomore filly pacer in North America, likely will be looking to make a mark against older mares in some of the same races Twin B Joe Fresh could be entered in. "Miki And Minnie is coming back very well," said Ryder. "She's filled out some. She's not the same build as Twin B Joe Fresh but she's grown." With Twin B Joe Fresh currently behind her stablemate in preparation for the coming season, Ryder is hopeful that Miki And Minnie can get the ball rolling. "I'm hoping to have her ready for the Betsy Ross," said Ryder of the 4-year-old by Always B Miki that earned $1.1 million as a sophomore, winning 13 times in her 15 trips to post. The option will be open to race Twin B Joe Fresh against the boys while keeping Miki And Minnie against the girls, but much will depend on just how well Twin B Joe Fresh stacks up against the male competition. "It's probably something I should have done last year," said Ryder in hindsight about not giving Twin B Joe Fresh the opportunity to race for more money against horses she very well may be able to contend with. That's not going to be the case in 2026, as in addition to the Mohawk Invitational (Gold Cup), Ryder has nominated her for the Sam McKee at The Meadowlands, the Hoosier Park Pacing Derby as well as the Dayton Derby, Fan Duel and Breeders Crown. "In the Dayton races, the Fan Duel and the Breeders Crown, she's eligible to race in the male division for an additional fee," said Ryder, expanding the options available should Twin B Joe Fresh prove up to the task. With 36 wins in 49 starts throughout her four years on the racetrack, Twin B Joe Fresh has shown improvement with each year, and Ryder is optimistic she can continue that trajectory in her 6-year-old campaign. While Ryder's mare pacing powerhouses work their way closer to action, he'll send out a pair on Saturday night at the Meadowlands in the tenth race $25,000 feature, a smorgasbord of eligibility. Ryder will send two of his horses in the 10-horse field, with the 4-year-old World Of Wishes (post five) and 5-year-old T H Tyson (post one) facing a mixed bag. "I was very happy with World Of Wishes' first start," said Ryder of the 1:49 2/5 career-best taken at the Meadowlands in his season's debut on February 28. "He was a nice 3-year-old, but we left some money on the table." A six-time winner in 24 starts in 2025, World Of Wishes, a son of Ryder's Bettor's Wish, earned $111K. In his seasonal debut he worked out a perfect trip and sprinted home in 27 1/5 with Patrick Ryder in the bike. It's only March but Ryder is hopeful that World Of Wishes can continue to improve. "We've paid him into the Graduate," said Ryder. T H Tyson has been battling a quarter crack and Ryder believes he's mended, but the winner in two of his five starts this year has not raced in four weeks and may need a start. Much of the power in Saturday's feature is on the outside of the starting gate, with the Per Engblom-trained Copperfield (post six) making his 5-year-old debut following a wicked 1:51 qualifier on March 7 at the Meadowlands. DA Delightful (post seven) returns to the Meadowlands following a victory at Pocono on March 7 and trainer Enrico Robinson has a pair in Captain Crusader A (post eight) and Sport Secret (post nine) with 61 lifetime wins between them. The Meadowlands hosts a 14-race program on Saturday night with first post scheduled at 6:00 p.m. (EDT).