Meadowlands: Big racing and a big anniversary on a big weekend
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The final weekend of harness racing at The Meadowlands before a four-week break will go out with a bang this Friday (Sept. 11) and Saturday (Sept. 12), as $1.78 million in purses will be on the line Friday on New Jersey Classic Finals Night before the track’s 50th anniversary is celebrated Saturday, with the fans reaping all of the rewards.
First up on Friday are the NJC dashes for 2- and 3-year-olds of each sex and gait. The four events for trotters go for $250,000 each, while the four paces have $150,000 purses. Also on the menu is the $188,200 Girl Power for mare trotters.
Four of the more notable NJC stories of the night are:
· Race 3 (3-year-old filly pace) – One of the division’s top players, Be Perfect B G (8-5 on the morning line), is the one to beat. The Anthony Beaton trainee is five-for-nine this year, and her four losses came to a pair of top-notch competitors. Earlier in the season ‘BPBG’ was beaten twice by Loua Dipa, the defending divisional champion, and more recently, was taken down by the red-hot Sangria Summer, in the Lynch at Pocono Downs and Shady Daisy at The Big M.
· Race 6 (2-year-old filly trot) – The remarkable Wall Of Fame (9-5) will be looking for her eighth win in as many starts for trainer Julie Miller and her husband-driver Andy. Last week in her elimination, the daughter of Walner-Saadet put forth another virtuoso performance, scoring by a never-an-anxious-moment 3 lengths in 1:53 4/5.
· Race 9 (3-year-old colt and gelding trot) – Last week, the entire harness racing universe – as well as a few bridge-jumping place bettors – gasped when Hambletonian winner Apex (5-2) was a well-beaten fourth as the 1-9 favorite. Will the Marcus Melander trainee rebound? Or will one of a handful of top trotters – Diabolic Hill (5-1), Nix Nacken (7-2) or Magic Punk (9-2) – get the win? In the aftermath of last week’s loss, Melander said it was a “bad trainer job and I didn’t have him sharp enough.” But after getting bloodwork done that revealed nothing of note, the 2019 Dan Patch Trainer of the Year said his prized pupil was doing well and that he is expecting a good effort this week.
· Race 11 (2-year-old colt and gelding pace) – Aintmyfirstro Deo (2-1) has won all five of his 2026 outings for the team of trainer Megan Scran and driver Scott Zeron, but will have to earn his sixth straight win, having drawn post 9 in a nine-horse field. The gelded son of Perfect Sting-Some Renditions has gone wire-to-wire on four occasions, while in his second career start, he won from well off the pace, a tactic that Zeron may have to use Friday given his post position fortunes.
TIME TO CELEBRATE: The Meadowlands has been the top harness track in the sport since it opened, and if you come out on Saturday, you can celebrate the 50th anniversary of the mile oval.
If you are one of the first 1,000 in attendance, you will receive a commemorative Meadowlands 50th Anniversary flask.
Throughout the evening, there will be video reels, interviews and more.
In addition, there will be concession specials at the Café, with $1 hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn and soda and $2 Bud and Bud Light drafts (for ages 21 and older).
The specials are available from 6-11 p.m. with a limit of five items per transaction.
It’s a good night to be in the Players Club. Members can swipe their card at any self-service terminal for a chance to win up to $50.
IT’S LIVE ON FOX: The New Jersey Classic Finals plus the Girl Power for mare trotters will be shown live to a nationwide television audience as part of the New York Racing Association’s “America’s Day at the Races” series.
The broadcast can be seen Friday night on Fox Sports 1 (FS1) from 8-11 p.m., and the team of Jessica Otten and Gabe Prewitt will provide commentary and selections.
-edited release (by Dave Little for The Meadowlands)