Meadowlands: Pace Night loaded with stakes

Meadowlands Pace night this Saturday boasts the stars of the sport competing for $2.4 million in purses, the centerpiece being the $600,000 Pace itself where race favorite Beach Glass will look to collect the only trophy denied his great sire Somebeachsomewhere for the same connections, Schooner II Stable and trainer Brent McGrath.

Supporting stakes are led by the $500,000 WR Haughton FFA pace and its mare companion, the $175,000 Dorothy Haughton, that serve annually to keep the memory of Harness Racing royalty alive with one of the season's most important engagements for the older pacing divisions.

The $432,000 ET Gerry Hambletonian Maturity for 4-year-old trotters pits the darling of the division and last year's Hambletonian Oaks winner Bella Bellini against male counterparts including last week's Graduate final winner Rattle My Cage.

A glimpse into the future, three weeks ahead actually with the Hambletonian stakes on August 6, comes in the form of a pair of divisions for both the $200,000 Del Miller and $250,000 Stanley Dancer Memorials for fillies and colts, respectively. These stakes pay tribute to a pair of legendary horsemen with important final preps for those with designs on trotting's Holy Grail.

Throw in a 12-mare leg of the Miss Versatility for the mature trotting queens and you got yourself a party.

Post time for Pace night's 14 race extravaganza is 6:20PM and the first 5,000 to pass the gate will get a much sought after "Pace" T-shirt for free beginning at 5:00PM .

The races will be carried live from 8:00 - 11:00 on the popular television broadcast "America's Day at the Races" carried on Fox Sports 2.

DRF will offer free past performances and a special 10% rebate on exotic wagers through DRF Bets.

-edited release (Meadowlands)