The Meadowlands Pace is rich in history with 47 previous editions of the 3-year-old classic in the record books and 16 winners going on to Dan Patch Horse of the Year honors. Winning horses, trainers and owners have come from all regions around North America to capture this important trophy, but on the driving front, the road team has mostly been on the outside looking in. Since the turn of the century, every winning driver of the Meadowlands Pace except one – Montrell Teague, Wiggle It Jiggleit – has been at least a semi-regular of the driving colony at the New Jersey track. During that time, Tim Tetrick has won an amazing six Pace finals, Yannick Gingras, Brian Sears and Ron Pierce have each won three, John Campbell won twice (he has a record seven wins in the race), and six other regulars won one apiece. To be clear, the doors to the club aren’t closed. Many “outsiders” have come to town with the hopes of lifting the trophy. In recent years, unsuccessful drivers include Matt Kakaley, Lauren Tritton, Mike Wilder, Doug McNair, Louis Roy, Trevor Henry, Eric Abbatiello and Trace Tetrick. ♦ Get FREE Harness Eye Past Performances for Saturday's Meadowlands card ♦ Read Derick Giwner's full-card analysis for Saturday at The Meadowlands ♦ Check out Saturday Meadowlands stakes selections and analysis from our nine handicappers ♦ Watch a Meadowlands Pace preview with Jay Bergman & Derick Giwner ♦ Watch Matt Rose & Derick Giwner handicap Saturday's $100K GTD Pick 4 ♦ Get a 7% REBATE at The Meadowlands Saturday via DRF Bets ♦ Bet The Meadowlands now While history would have you believe that Saturday’s (July 13) $650,000 Meadowlands Pace will follow the same patterns we have seen over the last three-plus decades, 2024 has brought with it a new wrinkle in the form of three top-quality Canadian drivers sitting behind arguably the best horses in the race. Each of these men will try to beat the streak and also become the first Canadian-based reinsman to win the Pace since Trevor Ritchie accomplished the feat in 1987 with Frugal Gourmet. Three-time reigning O’Brien Award winner and recent Canadian National Driving champion James MacDonald handles Legendary Hanover in the Meadowlands Pace for trainer Anthony Beaton and the ownership group of Eric Good, West Wins Stable and Mark Dumain. He amazingly knew the Trevor Ritchie answer to the trivia question, with an assist from historian Bob “Hollywood” Heyden. “I only knew that because Hollywood sent me a note yesterday,” said MacDonald about knowing Trevor Ritchie was the last Canadian to win the Pace. “I was very surprised. I didn’t realize Canadians had such bad luck in the race. I was thinking back to [Somebeachsomewhere] and some of the others. It is surprising.” MacDonald hit on Somebachsomewhere, who possibly put in the best race of his career in his 2008 Meadowlands Pace defeat (his only career loss) as the 1-9 favorite for Canadian driver Paul MacDonell. In 2012, fellow Canuck Randy Waples failed as the 2-1 bettor’s choice, finishing sixth with Thinking Out Loud. The year prior, Phil Hudon missed by a scant neck as the 8-5 chalk with Big Jim. The here and now has MacDonald sitting behind a Pace elimination winner as Legendary Hanover was able to hug the pylons in third until the three-quarter call in 1:22 4/5 before sprinting home in 24 4/5 for the rather easy 1:48 victory. “In the North America Cup [June 15] and the Metro [Sept. 2023] I just wasn’t able to work out a good trip for him. Even bringing him into those finals, I had raced him hard to get there and he was coming in a little tired or beat up. Maybe he’s not super brave so I wanted to make sure that even if I didn’t win [the elimination] he got a nice trip on Saturday, and it couldn’t have worked out any better,” said MacDonald. “He’s got electric speed off a helmet. He’s a really good horse with a powerful engine.” MacDonald, who starts from post six, expects trip to play a vital role in who wins the Pace final, meaning the drivers will need to use all of their tactical skill to work out a path to success. “It was the same in the NA Cup. It looked like there were six or seven who could win it and the horse that got the best trip did win it. Nijinsky had me in front of him, followed me the whole way and popped right by me,” said MacDonald, recalling the North America Cup where Legendary Hanover was first-over and finished fifth. The last time a regular Canadian catch-driver even appeared in the Meadowlands Pace final was 2018 when both Doug McNair and Louis Roy finished third and fourth with Stay Hungry and Jimmy Freight, respectively. Roy is back again in 2024 and driving 2-1 morning-line favorite Nijinsky, who is also sent out by Beaton for a similar ownership group that swaps out Eric Good for John Fielding. “Yes it is surprising,” said Roy when told that a Canadian hadn’t won since 1987. “I know the majority of the best drivers and trainers move and base themselves in the States, but Toronto also has a group of good drivers and trainers coming from all over Canada. It’s surprising that none have won that race over the last 35 years. This year might be different, with more Canadian contenders.” Nijinsky (post three) has proven to be one of the most versatile horses in the 3-year-old pacing division, displaying the ability to win from almost any spot on the racetrack at the head of the stretch. Roy went on the attack first-over at the half with Nijinsky in their elimination and cleared the front at the five-eighths. He then fended off the uncovered Funtime Barama with a 26 2/5 final quarter on the end of a 1:47 3/5 mile. “He was definitely impressive, with still some left on the end after working more than usual to get him in a good position to win,” said Roy about the elimination performance. “He makes my job easy, being so handy. So for sure, I’m really confident every time I drive him. He gives me confidence, and I try to give him confidence as well.” Jody Jamieson has driven in the Pace final on three occasions – 2007, 2010 and 2013 – with his first appearance, a second behind Tell All, his best showing. He was also the regular driver on eventual Meadowlands Pace winner He’s Watching (2014) heading into the North America Cup but had to bow out due to a suspension. Jamieson now makes what he hopes will be a triumphant return with North America Cup runner-up Captain’s Quarters for trainer Herb Holland and owner Rich Stiles. “Timmy [Tetrick] got away fourth or fifth on the rail and got stuck in. I think even that day in the [after race] interview he said he was screwed around the first turn. He ended up coming up the rail and getting inside of me at the wire. I was first-up a long way because my horse could live on the outside, but when you have a horse save ground at that level it is hard to fend them off,” said Jamieson, recalling his defeat to Southwind Lynx in 2007 driving Tell All. “Maybe I was a touch unlucky but he went on to win the Jug and have a great year.” ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter Fast forwarding to last week’s elimination when the field lined up in post-position order away from the gate, Jamieson bided his time in the four-hole and followed winner Legendary Hanover to the rim past the three-quarter call. Captain’s Quarters paced home in 24 4/5 to easily be fourth and earn a spot in the final. “I wasn’t worried for a second about making the final and he had a bit of an eventful week, so I thought it was better to look after him,” said Jamieson about the elimination effort. “I think I have the best horse and I just have to put him in the best place, but Nijinsky really impressed me. His North America Cup trip was great and he flipped off cover to outsprint us all, but he really showed what he is made of in the Pace elimination.” Jamieson will have a difficult assignment on Saturday of navigating post nine, which has produced just two Meadowlands Pace champions (Gallo Blue Chip in 2000 and Allamerican Theory in 2003) in 47 years. Interestingly, recent history has been very kind to Canadian-trained horses in the Meadowlands Pace. Five of the previous 10 Pace champions have been trained by stables that reside to the north of the border, including Beach Glass (2022, Brent MacGrath), Lawless Shadow (2021, Dr. Ian Moore), Courtly Choice (2018, Blake MacIntosh), Control The Moment (2016, Bradley Maxwell) and He’s Watching (2014, David Menary). Dividing lines are often blurred in the breeding world as a Canadian group or trainer can purchase a Pennsylvania or New York bred as easily as they can a horse by a Canadian sire. Legendary Hanover was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, sold at the Lexington Selected Sale for $260,000, owned by people who live in Maryland, Florida and New York, trained by a Canadian and sired by the Cameo Hills Farm (NY) stallion Huntsville. The same can be said of Captain’s Quarters, who was bred and sold ($235,000) in Kentucky, purchased by Stiles from Michigan, trained by the Canadian native Holland and a son of the Pennsylvania-based stallion Captaintreacherous.  Canadian stallions are represented by Nijinsky and Mirage Hanover (Bettor’s Delight) as well as Funtime Bayama (He’s Watching). All three finished either first or second in their Pace eliminations and have clear chances to win the final, as do third-place finishers Gem Quality and Captain Albano, the last of which ran into some issues with his gait before appearing loaded with pace in the stretch. ♦ Get a 7% REBATE at The Meadowlands Saturday via DRF Bets “He was pretty doubled-up and I had a lot of horse under me. I started to tip him right to make my way to the outside of the two ahead of me  and I think he might’ve given his knee a little brush or something,” said Captain Albano’s driver Todd McCarthy. “Because we were at such high speed he just got discombobulated and I really had to take a big hold of him so he could slow down and get his gait back. As soon as he hit his gait again he took right off.” Despite the elimination issues, McCarthy has lost no faith in the Noel Daley trainee. “I just have so much faith in that horse. He has so much heart and determination,” said McCarthy. “Sometimes that just happens to horses when they are going really fast and they get a little rolly. The thing that I love is that he gathered himself up and went forward again. That just speaks volumes of the horse’s ability.” Rounding out the field are Captain Luke, who got shuffled in his Pace elimination and finished up willingly, and longshots Number Cruncher and Its Saturday Night. So the questions remains, will a Canadian driver break the 37-year jinx that has kept them from the winner’s circle in the signature race at The Meadowlands? “I think for a lot of years there was a stigma that when you go to the states you can’t win without an American-based driver,” said James MacDonald. “Over the last few years that stigma has kind of come to an end. Bob [McClure] won the Hambletonian and Louis [Roy], Doug [McNair], myself and a few others have won big races in America. Hopefully we can end that stigma and show we can drive with anyone.” The Meadowlands Pace is part of a blockbuster Saturday Meadowlands card that includes 14 races and kicks off at 6:20 PM (EDT). The undercard features the $425,000 Hambletonian Maturity, $428,000 William Haughton Memorial and eight more stakes while wagering is highlighted by a $100,000 Guaranteed Pick 4 starting in race eight and ending with the Meadowlands Pace. Below are the post positions, horses, drivers, trainers and morning-line odds for the $650,000 Meadowlands Pace: PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer – Odds 1 – Its Saturday Night – Andrew McCarthy – Nifty Norman – 20-1 2 – Funtime Bayama – Dexter Dunn – Andrew Harris – 7-2 3 – Nijinsky – Louis Roy – Anthony Beaton – 2-1 4 – Mirage Hanover – Tim Tetrick – Jake Leamon – 9-2 5 – Gem Quality – Yannick Gingras – Chris Ryder – 10-1 6 – Legendary Hanover – James MacDonald – Anthony Beaton – 3-1 7 – Captain Albano – Todd McCarthy – Noel Daley – 5-1 8 – Captain Luke – Scott Zeron – Tony Alagna – 15-1 9 – Captain’s Quarters – Jody Jamieson – Herb Holland – 8-1 10 – Number Cruncher – Jordan Stratton – Erv Miller – 20-1