Retirement is for some but not for all. As athletes have maximized their skills and savvy while remaining active into their 40s, it comes as no surprise that horsemen have extended their careers as well. On Saturday night (July 12), three trainers considered senior citizens in some parts will try to take down the Meadowlands Pace. For two it would be a first and a career-marking accomplishment. For another, who enjoyed an "asterisk" victory in this race just a few years ago, that opportunity to win the race outright seems close at hand. Trainers Bruce Saunders, who just turned 81 in late June, Sam De Pinto, who turns 70 later in July, and Dr. Ian Moore at 71 will send out four of the nine horses competing in Saturday's Grade 1 $656,000 Meadowlands Pace. While it tends to be a younger set in the sulky come race time, trainers showing longevity is not that uncommon in the Standardbred sport. Nevertheless, for these three to arrive in one of the sport's biggest contests with true contenders says a lot about the men and their missions. For Bruce Saunders, the eldest of the three, there's a recognition that there may not be another chance at capturing a race of this stature. Some 15 years ago Saunders seemed to have finally found the one horse with the ability to capture the Meadowlands Pace in Rock N Roll Heaven. "I'd say it was one of the worst beats of all time in the Meadowlands Pace," said Saunders. "I think if you go back and look at the race that Art Official upset Somebeachsomewhere and then watch the replay of One More Laugh beating Rock N Roll Heaven you'll see what I mean." Rock N Roll Heaven was a special horse and lost that 2010 Meadowlands Pace by a head after encountering pressure throughout the mile that included a 25 4/5 first quarter and a 1:20-flat three-quarters. Manolete, Saunders' charge in Saturday's edition, won't have the post advantage nor the acclaim that Rock N Roll Heaven had, but Saunders is no less enthusiastic about his chances. "I think he showed in the prep that he's as good a horse coming off a helmet as he is on the front-end," said Saunders. "The outside draw is obviously a concern," continued the career winner of over 1,500 races. "But I'm happy with my horse and I'm happy with my driver, who they don't call the 'Money Man' for no reason." ► Get FREE PPs, watch analysis and learn about a 5% Rebate on Saturday's Meadowlands card Saunders' reference to driver Scott Zeron's ability to win major races with longshots is obvious, and that's likely to be the position he'll be in on Saturday with Zeron in search of his first Meadowlands Pace victory as well. Saunders is most grateful for the support he has from those working with the horses in a stable that numbers between 12 and 15 depending on the season. "I've been fortunate to have M & L of Delaware and M & M Harness Racing as loyal owners for a long time," Saunders said. Regarding training horses at his age, Saunders spoke frankly: "What else do I know this well," Saunders said. "Retirement is not for me. I'd be too bored. There's no way you can live off just Social Security." Manolete, a son of Cattlewash, has been incredibly consistent for Saunders over a 20-race career that has seen him finish first or second on 15 occasions. "He always shows up," Saunders said, describing the $52,000 Harrisburg yearling purchase from 2023. Dr. Ian Moore is the second-oldest trainer in the field but has the good fortune of a larger stable and owners with deep pockets. Prince Hal Hanover (post four) and Joel And The Jets (post seven) give Moore two chances to win this race outright for the first time following the placement of Lawless Shadow to the top spot in the 2021 edition. "There's a lot of pressure running a stable like this," Moore said when asked about the challenges he faces as a trainer of his age. "That's the toughest part for me." As for his horses, Moore has been one of the sport's most gifted trainers over the last 20 years and has usually been on point when aiming for the biggest races. In Prince Hal Hanover, the product of Meadowlands Pace champion Captaintreacherous and Breeders Crown winner Percy Blue Chip, a daughter of one of Moore's best horses Shadow Play, he has a big chance. "I was very happy with his prep race," Moore said. "It had rained and the track was actually pretty dull at the time." Prince Hal Hanover paced a pair of 26 and change quarters, finishing out his mile in 1:48 2/5 over the Woodbine Mohawk Park surface on July 5. While Moore had a 2-year-old pacing colt win an Ontario Gold division in 1:50 1/5 later in the program, the trainer noted that the track had dried out and had been worked on following the first few races of the evening. Prince Hal Hanover is one of two horses in the Meadowlands Pace that raced exceptionally well in the North America Cup eliminations, only to suffer impossible trips in the final. Prince Hal Hanover started from post nine and trailed the entire mile, eventually finishing eighth beaten just four lengths. Moore's Joel And The Jets also was a North America Cup finalist, and though the weaker of the two on paper, is expected to race better than his fifth-place finish in last week's prep at the Meadowlands. "He wasn't at his best," said Moore. "He had a lung issue but we've resolved that and I expect him to race well." Regarding his age, Moore made this profound declaration: "A good trainer is never too old to learn." Like Saunders, trainer Sam De Pinto is another of those with a small stable that rarely gets an opportunity to compete in the sport's biggest dances. In Papis Pistol (post one), De Pinto has the inside track on what he hopes could be the biggest night of his training career. "I'm really happy with the way he's coming into the race," said DePinto. "It's going to depend on the pace and the trip. Without Louprint in the race I can see a lot of people taking shots at the lead." The withdrawal of the North America Cup champion and likely heavy race favorite opens the door for what figures to be a more contested race but perhaps equally more challenging on the drivers. "I think if the pace is moderate my horse can cut it and sprint home. If they go 1:20 or faster on the front, I'd much rather see him coming off a helmet," said De Pinto. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter The longtime New Jersey-based conditioner has had his share of quality sophomores but has never been in a Meadowlands Pace final. "I had We Will See but he kicked himself in the stall while in detention for the Meadowlands Pace eliminations (2010) and didn't make the final," DePinto said. We Will See finished second that year in the North America Cup and would earn more than $1.2 million as a 4-year-old the following year. De Pinto's Artesian was also second in the North America Cup in 2003, then suffered interference in his Meadowlands Pace elimination. With no eliminations were required for this year's edition, ironically Papis Pistol captured the $30,000 prep with Hall of Fame driver David Miller aboard for the first time in a 1:49 1/5 effort. Papis Pistol took a 1:49 3/5 mark last year at the Meadowlands and De Pinto thought under the right conditions could have gone much faster. "It was a cold and windy night," DePinto said. "I was sure he could've paced in [1]:48 and a piece." This year Papis Pistol didn't qualify for the North America Cup but came back the following week with a stunning 1:48 virtuoso performance at Woodbine Mohawk Park in an Open Pace for sophomores. Having had the quality of horse to win this race but unable to finish the job, De Pinto waxed about what it would mean to him. "Next to my wife, my two boys, who I'm very proud are New Jersey State Troopers, my four grandchildren and my sons' spouses, winning the Meadowlands Pace would be the greatest thing that's ever happened," De Pinto said, putting his life's priorities in order. The fate of the three men will be known just after 10:45 PM (EDT) on Saturday at the Meadowlands. The Pace final is slated as race 11 on a stakes-filled 14-race program that starts at 6:20 p.m. (EDT).