Meadowlands: FanDuel championships approaching

The Meadowlands will race the $1 million (est.) FanDuel (formerly known as TVG) Championships, a Grand Circuit event, on Saturday, November 25.

Designed to be a true year-end championship, the FanDuel uniquely includes a caveat that offers top 3-year-olds the opportunity to compete with the best older horses, as is done with the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Several have accepted that challenge and sophomore colt trotters What The Hill and Tactical Landing ended their careers with aplomb by defeating older foes in the Open Trot division.

The prospect of the season's top sophomores facing their accomplished elders, such a rare occurrence in Harness Racing, generates exceptional excitement and enthusiasm.

The potential for it to happen this season seems to be taking shape with the connections of Confederate having discussed the possibility of tackling the pacers, led by the red hot Tattoo Artist. Don't sleep on the chance that It's My Show might complicate matters.

How about Tactical Landing or Celebrity Bambino hooking Alrajah One IT in a stretch duel?

Sylvia Hanover and Twin B Joe Fresh battling Grace Hill and her crew?

Perhaps the connections of Heaven Hanover, Mommamia Volo or Bond will roll the dice against a trotting mare division that will certainly come up short with only 8 left standing.

The Breeders Crown finals may well add a few more names to the existing list with elimination winners Special Way, El Rey, Coach Stefanos, Zanatta, Strong Poison, Up Your Deo and Helpfirstedition one win away from the top of these lists.

The stakes conditions outline the process by which a 3-year-old may be invited to compete in the FanDuel Championships. These invitations may be offered to multiple horses until the race is filled.

The order of invitation and the 2023 winners of those stakes are included in the information below. The outcome of the Breeders Crown remains a mystery, but once known the winning horses will be offered invitations in the order below.

Winners of the following stakes may be invited to the FanDuel Open Trot & Pace Final:

1. Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt Final

TBD

2. Breeders Crown Open Final

TBD

3. Hambletonian / Meadowlands Pace Final

Tactical Landing / Confederate

4. Kentucky Futurity/North America Cup

Tactical Landing / It's My Show

5. Breeders Crown Open Mare Final

TBD

6. Canadian Trotting Classic / Tattersalls Pace

Celebrity Bambino / Cannibal & Confederate

7. Cane Pace

Confederate

8. Little Brown Jug

It's My Show

9. Zweig Memorial

Ari Ferrari J

Winners of the following stakes may be invited to the FanDuel Mare Trot & Pace Finals:

1. Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Final

TBD

2. Breeders Crown Open or Open Mare Final

TBD

3. Hambletonian Oaks / Mistletoe Shalee

Heaven Hanover / Sylvia Hanover

4. Kentucky Filly Futurity / Tattersalls Glen Garnsey

Mommamia Volo / Sylvia Hanover & Twin B Joe Fresh

5. Elegantimage / Fan Hanover

Bond / Sylvia Hanover

6. Shady Daisy

Sylvia Hanover

7. Jugette

Ucandoit Blue Chip

8. Zweig Filly

Sadie Hanover

The FanDuel conditions also contain a clause that permits an invitation to one "Foreign" horse per division.

The Meadowlands Media Guide contains the history of these (listed as the TVG) and all stakes raced at the track in years past.

Questions about eligibility to the FanDuel championships can be directed to (607) 972-5500.

-edited release (Meadowlands)