Meadowlands: Harris duo ready to roll in Graduate Series

Four divisions in the second leg of the Graduate Series highlight Friday’s 15-race program at the Meadowlands. Trainer Andrew Harris has a pair set in separate $50,000 divisions for pacers on the program, with first leg winner Seven Colors primed for his Big M debut in 2024 in race 11 where he'll meet a field of nine that includes last year's North America Cup and Little Brown Jug winner It's My Show.

"He's super sharp," said Harris of Seven Colors following his 1:48 2/5 triumph on June 1 at Woodbine Mohawk Park in the first round of the Graduate.

"That first race [Juravinski elimination] was a series of missteps but after that he's been great," said Harris, recognizing the difficulty Seven Colors had making a break in his season's debut then following it up with a solid third-place finish in the Juravinski final on May 19 at Flamboro, his two starts prior to the Graduate.

"He put on a few hundred pounds," said Harris, describing the difference between Seven Colors when he arrived in his stable late last year and now. "He's also more 'study.' When he comes into the barn like he's the boss."

A change in attitude is good and it's something that should help going forward as Seven Colors, for the time being, stays focused on facing 4-year-olds.

"I think one of the advantages he has is that he doesn't need a trip. He can race any way you like," said Harris, who saw Seven Colors come from off-the-pace in the Juravinski and then hit the front-end in his triumph at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Friday's division of the Graduate, a race exclusively for 4-year-olds, finds Seven Colors with Dexter Dunn again in the sulky from post two while rival It's My Show landed post four for trainer Linda Toscano and driver Scott Zeron. It's My Show finished seventh in the Graduate leg against Seven Colors in Ontario and will need to pick up his game significantly at the Meadowlands. The son of Sweet Lou was simply too far off-the-pace in the Graduate opener and couldn't make up ground in a 26 1/5 final quarter.

Voukefalas (post one) is fresh off a 1:48 4/5 career-best victory last Saturday (June 8) at the Meadowlands. The son of Lazarus was in the North America Cup last year at this time and appears to be finding the same kind of form for trainer Michael Russo a year later.

Mac's Delight (post five) was a 1:48 4/5 winner at the Meadowlands on May 4 and then paced in 1:49 1/5 winning at Harrah’s Philadelphia two weeks later. The Bettor's Delight-sired gelding had a tough uncovered trip in the first Graduate leg but could bounce back on home soil.

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Harris will send out El Rey, another one of his 2023 late-season acquisitions, in the first $50,000 Graduate division carded as race nine.

"He's been having a tough go of it at Oak Grove with Admiral Hill getting his way around the track," said Harris of El Rey's rival in Kentucky Sire Stakes action.

El Rey has had to chase down Admiral Hill after slow opening halves cut by that one and has been second and third in his last two but unable to reach the winner's circle.

"I think it will be good to get him back to the big track where he has a chance," said Harris of the decision to face open company in this division at the Meadowlands.

El Rey landed post two in a field of nine that will try to deny Huntinthelastdolar a third straight victory. Trainer Per Engblom's stable has been on fire from day one this year, and the Huntsville-sired Huntinthelastdolar has been an integral part with wins in the Juravinski final (1:50) over a half-mile track followed by a 1:49 2/5 mile on June 1 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, where he was able to control the pace comfortably. Huntinthelastdolar drew post four.

There's significant power on the outside of the gate in this Graduate division, and that includes Ken Hanover, a 1:48 4/5 first heat winner in the 2023 Little Brown Jug. Ken Hanover drew post eight but comes into the race in brilliant form for trainer Roland Mallar, having finished second in both of his 2024 starts, including a solid finish behind Ruthless Hanover in the $100,000 Auger at Harrah's Philadelphia on May 26. Now strictly with 4-year-olds, Ken Hanover is expected to be prominent in this event.

No Control, a staple on the Ontario Sires Stakes circuit, makes his Meadowlands debut following a second-place finish in the Graduate opening leg. A gelded son of Control The Moment, No Control has been on the board in 16 of his 18 career starts for trainer Tan Micallef.

Christchurch, a pace-setting third in last year's Meadowlands Pace, has found a new home this year and enters the Graduate following a solid second-place finish behind Seven Colors in the opening leg. A horse with impeccable bloodlines, Christchurch drew post five for his Meadowlands return.

Seafire (post three) could be an unknown ready to make a name for himself for trainer Brian Brown. The son of Downbytheseaside has captured three of four starts this year, with his lone defeat pace-compromised in the Graduate first leg.

Special Way makes her 4-year-old debut for trainer Ake Svanstedt, one of four the top trainer has entered in the two divisions for trotters. Special Way (post two) faces six rivals in the sixth race $50,000 division.

Svanstedt's Up Your Deo, last year's MGM Yonkers Trot winner and Breeders Crown runner-up, makes his 4-year-old debut in the second division (race 10) from post two. He'll meet Winner's Bet (post four), making his first start as well for new trainer Nancy Takter in the seven-horse field.

Harris was heavily involved in last year's yearling sales, and he mentioned that 12 of his now-2-year-olds will debut next Tuesday (June 18) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

"Treacheryinthedark will be one of them," Harris said of the Captaintreacherous-sired half-sister to Seven Colors that found her way into his stable following a $700,000 winning bid last year at the Lexington Selected auction.