Meadowlands: Mackenzie has half-dozen ready to compete this weekend

For many trainers it's been a struggle to get horses they put in the entry box at the Meadowlands to race on the Friday-Saturday programs. For trainer Bill Mackenzie, a longtime New Jersey-based horseman, it has been tricky, but he's managed to get his stock raced with a few minor exceptions. This weekend he will have six spanning the two cards, with excellent chances of success.

"I think things are getting better now," said Mackenzie as far as having horses race consistently at the Meadowlands. "With Yonkers re-opening, and Saratoga and now Pocono, it's getting easier." The race office has had it tough with 500 horses in the entry box every Tuesday. Mackenzie's biggest edge has been that his horses are predominantly New Jersey-owned.

Mackenzie seemed optimistic about getting the weekend off to a fast start at the Meadowlands with Go Long (post three) entered in Friday's fourth race, a conditioned event for non-winners of $3,000 last four.

"It's a good spot for him for sure," said Mackenzie about the son of Long Tom that finished just a nose back in this class on January 24. "He's not that fast at the start but at least from the pole he'll get away closer and that should help. He's sharp right now."

In Friday's fifth race, National Sport drew post two for Mackenzie in a TrackMaster 71.5 rating event, and although that seemed positive, Mackenzie isn't sure what to expect from the veteran pacer.

"He's been inconsistent," said Mackenzie. "I actually warmed him up before his last start (January 24), and he tied up on me, so we had to scratch him."

Without a race in the last four weeks, National Sport is a question mark, though he's fit and is racing at a reduced level.

The pacing mare Kay Sage (post six) has been showing improvement, and Mackenzie is hoping an equipment change can make the difference. "(Johnathan) Ahle has been telling me that she could use a headpole inside," said Mackenzie. "I was a little reluctant to go along with that, but I've decided to use it this week."

A third-place finisher against similar company on January 31, Kay Sage could be a sleeper with value in Friday's ninth race.

"I think she was actually better than the line suggests," Mackenzie said.

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It's been a while since Sweet Ideal has raced for Mackenzie, but the trainer was reassuring that the fault was more with him than the 5-year-old son of Sweet Lou. "I just haven't been able to get him a race," said Mackenzie. "A few times the classes didn't fill, and then last time I probably should have kept in contact with the race office, but we missed the opportunity."

Four weeks later Sweet Ideal landed post four in a $15,000 claimer carded as the third race on Saturday. Coming off a win in $10,000 claiming company a month ago, the trainer was ill-concerned with the class level.

"I definitely think he's good enough to compete here," said Mackenzie, with Sweet Ideal looking to double his entire win output of 2024 with a victory.

Both Dance It Out and Dance Partner have been giving Mackenzie problems with sickness over the last few weeks, but he's been able to battle back and bring them to the races in good condition. Dance It Out looks for his second straight win of the year in Saturday's seventh race, a Trackmaster 80.5 rating event where the 7-year-old by Sweet Lou landed the pole position.

"It's a decent spot and he's racing well," said Mackenzie, understanding the jump in class will make things more challenging this week.

Dance Partner is yet another horse coming off a winning effort and moving up in class this week for Mackenzie, and the veteran son of A Rocknroll Dance has his quirks.

"He can be a problem getting his head straight in the early going," said Mackenzie.

Dance Partner scored at 34-1 in handling the non-winners of $7,500 last four class on February 1, and though the public may have been surprised with the result, the trainer was not. "The week before Jordan (Stratton) moved him to the front on the turn, and he paced a 25 and change quarter."

Dance Partner tired that night, but Brett Beckwith gave him more time to relax in his next start, and the gelding equaled his personal-best with a 1:50 4/5 mile. Dance Partner drew post seven in Saturday's $17,500 pacing feature, race nine on the 14-race program.

Mackenzie is hoping for lightning to strike once again this year with three 2-year-olds he currently has in training; the first offerings from his $1.1 million winner Southwind Ozzi.

"I've trained horses before from mares we bred, but this is the first time I'm training a horse where both the sire and dam are horses I raced," said Mackenzie. "The sons of Somebeachsomewhere have turned into great sires, and we're hoping he can do the same."

Southwind Ozzi had a limited number of mares bred in New Jersey. "We sent him out to Cool Winds Farm in Ohio, and he bred like 60 mares last year," Mackenzie said.

Southwind Ozzi captured the Little Brown Jug in 2019, making Ohio a very nice fit.