Meadowlands: Alexander sends out large contingent Saturday

Trainer Travis Alexander has a full plate of entries on Saturday's Meadowlands racing program but don't expect him to be on hand in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

"I've got 60 horses training in Florida," Alexander said on Wednesday, indicating he'll be enjoying much warmer conditions than his entourage will be this weekend while racing though temperatures expected to be in the teens and 20s Fahrenheit.

Alexander sends out Restaurant Bully (post four) in Saturday's opener, a claiming handicap with the 4-year-old going for a $31,250 price tag.

"He's a very fast horse," said Alexander "But I've got horses coming up from Florida and I need to make room for them."

The claiming price is nearly half what Restaurant Bully was in for just a month ago at the Meadowlands, and it should make him a contender on Saturday.

Alexander also has Thanos in a claimer with a price of $20,000 in the evening's third race, and the 5-year-old is a horse he believes is finally getting over some aches and pains that have kept him from producing on the racetrack.

"He had a suspensory issue at 3, and he's a horse that's had four quarter cracks, so it's taken some time to get to where he is right now," Alexander said. Thanos was a brave front-end winner against this type and enters the race in fine condition.

With combined conditions on Saturday, two of Alexander's more high-profile trotters found the same race, with Eurobond (post six) and Dee's Red Delicous (post seven) next to each other behind the starting gate in race four, a conditioned event.

"I was very happy with Eurobond's qualifier," said Alexander. "He's a funny horse that you have to change his routine a lot to keep him happy. I think he might need a race."

As for Dee's Red Delicous, the 5-year-old son of Credit Winner is in it for the long haul and has been racing consistently.

Joining Alexander's duo is Harry Knows, an Irish import making his North American debut with owner Patrick Kane in the bike. A 23-time winner overseas, Harry Knows drew the pole position following a 1:53 4/5 qualifier at the Meadowlands on January 21.

Alexander likes the condition of Always Better (post 10) in Saturday's fifth race.

"He's not the bravest horse, so I thought his race last Sunday [January 29] was very good. Post 10 is going to make it tough," Alexander said.

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The 5-year-old High Baller is an interesting prospect in race six, a $20,000 purse event entitled 'The Big Game Trackmaster Series for horses with a rating of 89.55.'

"He's a very fast horse but the type that will just keep pacing with the others," said Alexander. "He went a big trip for Tyler [Buter] but then last week he was just well back and not going anywhere, and then late in the mile was charging."

Dexter Dunn picks up the driving assignment, and Alexander is hopeful he'll get High Baller in gear at the right time.

Alexander has another entrant in the second $20,000 'Big Game Trackmaster Series event,' with Seriously Hanover (post one) facing a solid group in the eighth race.

"He's a horse that can crossfire," Alexander said while referring to the break in stride on January 21 at the Meadowlands. "I think that's why Jordan [Stratton] just let him roll when he was on the front last time and he was very strong."

Seriously Hanover was an open-lengths winner on January 28 with a season's best 1:49 3/5 clocking. While the 6-year-old by Western Ideal can be a handful, Alexander felt he found the right driver. "I think Jordan gets along with him very well."

Alexander's 60 head at Sunshine Meadows includes 35 babies, but the trainer has a trio of top-quality older pacers just weeks away from getting behind the starting gate.

"American Courage is about ready to ship north," said Alexander. "He's entered in the Levy [Borgata] series, and he'll also be doing stallion duty."

American Courage finished third last fall in the $250,000 Aria Invitational on International Trot Day at Yonkers behind stablemate None Bettor A. Alexander will have a trio in the Borgata with Jacks Legend N on the comeback trail as well.

On the sophomore front, the homebred Downrightdelicious is a colt Alexander is very high on. "He won the Springfield at Yonkers last year," Alexander said of the son of Downbytheseaside. "He also finished second in the Ohio Sires Stakes final."

The late-season acquisition Momba, a gelded son of Sweet Lou, captured a Grand Circuit event at The Red Mile, upsetting the heavily-favored Save America at 27-1 in a career-best 1:51 mile in his third start for Alexander. As a dual eligible Momba could see action again this year in Pennsylvania, Kentucky and, of course, the Grand Circuit.