Meadowlands: 'Bring on 2022' Series Final caps strong New Year’s Eve card

For Scott Warren, the racing secretary at The Meadowlands, the final race of 2021 at the East Rutherford oval is a testament to perseverance and creativity on his part. With $38,000 on the line in the "Bring On 2022 Series" final Warren puts a stamp on much of his work over the last few months by finding horses from all parts to fill races.

"When we were going three days I week I needed to find horses," Warren said of his mission. Friday's finale was a two-leg event for four-year-olds and under with a claiming tag of $30,000. "I noticed that Yonkers was running this class for weeks and getting two divisions and the horses weren't being claimed so I figured I could get some of those horses to come over here."

While Warren was a bit disappointed that the race didn't attract more divisions in its infancy, he's happy in general how horsemen have responded late in the year to a bevy of claiming events.

The response has been genuine from all areas and Warren was especially gratified with the numbers generated this week. "We got three divisions of the $20,000-30,000 claimers and that was a surprise," said Warren. "I think I may have to change up that class next week. You don't want the guys entering for $30,000 to be on the outside every week."

The response to Warren's series of late closers has been strong with the racing secretary reaching into the purse account to draw a larger supply of entries. "I was fortunate we had a surplus in the purse account," said Warren. "That allowed me to have the extra money in the finals."

So on Friday night the $38,000 final purse is a bonus for all that entered the class and reached the final. Saranac Blue Chip (post 8) was just the type of horse Warren was looking for when he offered this series and the fringe player in the New York Sire Stakes for sophomore male pacers this year has been the biggest beneficiary thus far. The Dan Morrissey-trained gelding captured the first division on December 9 coming from off the pace for Andrew McCarthy in a 1:53 mile. On December 18 Saranac Blue Chip lowered his lifetime best with an eye-catching 1:51 mile leaving his rivals in the dust. A sweep in the series would put Saranac Blue Chip over the $100K mark in seasonal earnings.

There are eight rivals who hope to knock off the favorite with trainer Shane Tritton's Mustang Beach (post 1) a solid contender. Mustang Beach, a 3-year-old by Sunshine Beach, provided Saranac Blue Chip cover in the first leg of the series before tiring. The gelding rallied back for a solid second in the December 18 leg showing sharp speed on the final turn while chasing Saranac Blue Chip. Luke Hanners picks up the drive behind Mustang Beach.

Trainer John McDermott was high on the prospects of Hurrikanekingjames two weeks ago after the 4-year-old New York Sire Stakes veteran had finished a sharp second in the series' opening leg. Hurrikanekingjames was a bit wound up and used a few times for the early lead before tiring as the betting choice on December 18 but could be poised for a bounce-back effort.

Looking forward to 2022 Warren is confident he'll have the horse supply necessary to get the job done. "I think with the other tracks closed we'll be fine through the middle of February," Warren said when asked about horse supply. "Horses have already come down from Saratoga and Pocono." Those tracks don't start up again until February.

While some may think the demands of racing just two days a week are easy on a racing secretary nothing could be further from the truth. "It's different for me," said Warren. "I don't just have to fill races, but I have to get 10-horse fields. Many of the other tracks don't have to worry about handle but we do."

Much of the success the track has had in the last few months has much to do with Warren's ingenuity, but the race secretary defers. "Much of what I did is the same as Pete Koch's (former racing secretary) Dash For The Cash races," Warren said, giving credit where it was deserved.

Warren expects to be able to continue to fill the $75,000-$100,000 claiming class as he had over the last few months. "It's gratifying when someone goes in and takes a horse like Komodo Beach," Warren said of the six-figure claim a few weeks back. For one it justifies offering the races not just as a betting vehicle but as one where horsemen can find a good horse to fill out their stable.

The 14-race card at The Meadowlands gets underway Friday evening at 6:20 P.M.