Meadowlands: Champion pacing mares set to meet in Overbid Series

The final preps are in, and on Friday, for the first time in nearly 16 months, champion pacing mares will collide in the first leg of the Overbid Series at New Meadowlands.

Friday marks the likely return of last year’s top aged pacing mare Anndrovette to racing action. It also should be the first parimutuel start for 2010 3-year-old filly Pacer of the Year Put On A Show. That daughter of Rocknroll Hanover has been on the mend over the last year. The two mares last met Nov. 13, 2010, when Anndrovette defeated Put On A Show in the American National Stakes at Balmoral Park.

Both mares are 5, with Anndrovette coming off her best career year in 2011. She captured the Breeders Crown final, earning more than $747,000 from 11 wins in 20 trips to the post. P.J. Fraley now conditions the mare for owners Bamond Racing LLC and Joe Davino.

Chris Ryder conditions Put On A Show, who returns this year looking to move above $2 million in career earnings. A brilliant 2- and 3-year-old, Put On A Show sports an incredible record of 19 wins in 25 career starts and has only been worse than second once in her brilliant career. Owned by Craig Henderson and Richard and Joanne Young, Put On A Show prepped nicely over the last two weeks with winning qualifiers at the Meadowlands. Her last mile, this past Thursday, was a 1:52 2/5 performance.

The Overbid is likely to draw Cape & Cutter winner Symphony In Motion as well as runner-up Higher And Higher. Two $40,000 preliminary legs are scheduled for March 2 and March 9, with a $120,000-estimated final on Saturday, March 17.

The Four Leaf Clover series also will get under way this coming weekend, with $22,500 legs slated for Saturday March 3 and Saturday March 10. The $125,000-estimated final will go March 17.

Just 24 were nominated to the series, which could see horses arrive at the New Meadowlands from Ontario and Chicago. Touch The Rock prepped at Balmoral on Saturday for trainer James Eaton in his first start in 2012. A career earner of $193,416, Touch The Rock owns a 1:50 career-best mile taken last year at Chester Downs.

Brave Alex Semalu has been making noise at Woodbine. This past Saturday, he was a solid third against open company. Purchased by his current ownership at Harrisburg last November, Brave Alex Semalu has been on the board in 6 of 7 starts in 2012, with seasonal earnings approaching $70,000.