Though the sport's leading trainer Ron Burke was forced to withdraw the likely favorite – Louprint – for Saturday's Meadowlands Pace early in the week, the trainer sounded upbeat and optimistic about his chances in a few other stakes events on the star-studded program. As for Louprint, Burke revealed that the homebred son of Sweet Lou is on the road to recovery and likely only to miss a short time following a procedure. "It's an issue that came up before," said Burke. "If we didn't resolve it now, it could have compromised his long-term health." With Louprint on the mend, Burke is focused on a solid contingent he has in the pacing stakes on the undercard, with the $172,650 Jerry Silverman a prime spot for a pair of solid sophomore pacing fillies. "Rodeo Drive Deo had the skip in a race at Woodbine but other than that she's been super," said Burke of the daughter of Captaintreacherous that posted a mild upset while taking down division leader Miki And Minnie in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes event at Pocono on June 21. Idle since that race, Burke believes his filly will be ready to battle on Saturday. "I trained her a mile probably faster than any of the others qualified," Burke said of Rodeo Drive Deo, who starts from post two in the 11-filly field carded as race 12. The homebred Looksgoodinloulou set a world record last year and has only raced twice this season, including an uncharacteristic second-place finish in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes race at The Meadows on June 7. "She's really at her best on the big track," said Burke, noting how the daughter of Sweet Lou was somewhat compromised on the turns over the five-eighths oval. "She qualified great (July 4) and Yannick was grabbing into her following Miki And Minnie in the qualifier," Burke said, also noting that Looksgoodinloulou has a solid head-to-head record with the recognized divisional leader. Looksgoodinloulou starts from post seven while Miki And Minnie will look to rebound in the Silverman from post 11. ► Get FREE PPs, watch analysis and learn about a 5% Rebate on Saturday's Meadowlands card Bythemissal drew post 11 in the second of two divisions of the William R. Haughton Memorial Open event (race 10) with a purse of $147,500. "He was a little bit flat finishing last time after a solid mile," said Burke of the 6-year-old son of Downbytheseaside. "I'm expecting a much better effort from him. He's always better with a two-week break between races." Starting from the second tier will give driver Yannick Gingras the options he needs following Charlie May along the pylons. Also on the inside part of the starting gate are Ervin Hanover (post two), as well as Captain Luke (post five), who was recently a solid second in the Graduate Series final at the Meadowlands on July 5. Bythemissal drew into what appears to be the softer of the two Haughton divisions, with Graduate champion Sabonis meeting Captain Albano, Abuckabett Hanover and Coach Stefanos in the first $147,500 division carded as race seven. Sabonis landed in the second tier as well following his 1:47 3/5 victory in the Graduate final. Coach Stefanos (post three) was last seen pacing over the field for driver James MacDonald in a division of the Dave Brower Memorial on June 28. Last year's Breeders Crown champion has shown an affinity for the East Rutherford, New Jersey, mile oval and once again finds a good stalking spot. Captain Albano, last year's sophomore champion, finally lucks out in the draw, though this will be the first time he'll be up against older competition. The Noel Daley-trained stallion landed post five following a pair of post 10 draws in the Graduate Series. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter Three years ago, Kobe's Gigi upset future Horse of the Year Test Of Faith as a 51-1 shot in the Lady Liberty on Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands. The now 7-year-old daughter of JK Endofanera makes her Meadowlands debut in 2025 among nine mares in the $142,000 Dorothy Haughton Memorial. Kobe's Gigi drew post six inside Perfect Sting champion Sylvia Hanover (post nine) and outside last year's Horse of the Year Twin B Joe Fresh (post one). Kobe's Gigi raced at Oak Grove in May and returned to the Burke stable with a qualifying mile on June 18 at Gaitway Farms paced in a snappy 1:50 2/5. "I think she's probably going to need a start," said Burke, recognizing the 24-time winner has been out of competitive action for two months. Kobe's Gigi's last stakes start at the Meadowlands came in 2024's Breeders Crown for Open Mares where she finished second behind Twin B Joe Fresh and in front of Sylvia Hanover. "She was locked in and I'm not saying she was going to beat 'Joe Fresh' that night, but she would've been close," said Burke with belief in the veteran mare's solid credentials. The Dorothy Haughton goes as race eight, with Twin B Joe Fresh looking to get back on the winning track after losing for the first time in a long time to Sylvia Hanover, a filly that got the better of her when the two were sophomores in 2023. At times during her freshman and sophomore seasons, Sylvia Hanover appeared to be a handful to drive, but now as a 5-year-old the daughter of Always B Miki was a total professional in her Perfect Sting triumph on June 28, leaving in 26 seconds flat from the rail before eventually yielding control. Driver Tim Tetrick steered her out to follow Twin B Joe Fresh's cover past the half, and Sylvia Hanover sprinted home in 26 1/5 to complete the upset. Burke also has longshot Papi's Rocket in the $656,000 Meadowlands Pace, as well as trotters Hidalgo ($119,500 Stanley Dancer) and M-M's Dream ($40,000 Miss Versatility) on the Saturday card. Post time is 6:20 P.M. (EDT) at the Meadowlands.