Meadowlands: Ruthless Hanover one of many 4-year-olds ready to shine in Graduate

Ruthless Hanover enters the first leg of the Graduate Series at the Meadowlands on Saturday night in a unique position. Posted as the 3-1 morning-line choice in the second of two $50,000 divisions, Ruthless Hanover has the lowest earnings of any of the 4-year-olds he's matched against and the fewest starts, with just a dozen tallied. Needless to say, none of that has impacted his driver heading into this weekend's battle.

"I love him," said Andy McCarthy in short order after being asked his impression of the gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere, owned by John Cancelliere and trained by his brother, Tom.

McCarthy has sat behind Ruthless Hanover in his two April qualifiers at the Meadowlands and was delighted in the difference between his April 17 trial and one a week later.

"I was very happy with his last qualifier," McCarthy said. "He was more relaxed to the point where I had to guide him around the track."

Ruthless Hanover completed his last qualifier in 1:50 3/5, with a handy 26 3/5 final quarter.

"He's an exceptional horse with a big set of lungs," said McCarthy.

Just how that will translate as Ruthless Hanover transitions towards more seasoned company in Saturday's tenth race remains unknown. He'll meet some classy rivals, including last year's Breeders Crown champion in this division, Sandbetweenmytoes.

Sandbetweenmytoes returned last week in an overnight race for trainer Jim Campbell and didn't get involved in the early action, finishing eighth against more seasoned performers. Scott Zeron will be in the bike again on Saturday from post eight.

Warrawee Vital, a late-developing horse much like Ruthless Hanover, flashed wicked speed in capturing a division of the Bluegrass last October at The Red Mile with a 1:47 1/5 career-best effort. Trainer Ron Coyne Jr. has the horse in New Jersey for Rob Fellows, who led the son of Captaintreacherous to a seven-win season in 2020. Warrawee Vital finished second behind Ruthless Hanover in his April 24 qualifier and has the advantage of the pole position on Saturday.

The 12-time winner Elver Hanover makes his 4-year-old debut after a string of three winning qualifiers for trainer Ron Burke. The Ohio-bred posted a 1:51 clocking at the Meadowlands on April 24, just four days after a 1:53 3/5 winning qualifier at The Meadows. Elver Hanover landed post two.

McCarthy wasn't concerned about Ruthless Hanover's lack of experience heading into the race, having seen how well the gelding acclimated at the Meadowlands last fall, where he finished out his first year at the track in fine fashion that included a 1:48 4/5 score on December 5.

The first $50,000 Graduate division is carded as race eight on Saturday with Captain Barbossa, last year's Little Brown Jug champion, listed as the 5-2 early choice in the field of eight. The gelded son of Captaintreacherous equaled his entire 3-year-old win total after capturing his season's debut on April 24 at the Meadowlands with a vicious 1:49 1/5 victory. Trained by Tony Alagna, Captain Barbossa drew post five and picked up the services of Dexter Dunn.

Poseidon Seelster has been impressive since arriving from Ontario into the stable of Nik Drennan. An altered son of Sunshine Beach, Poseidon Seelster served notice on April 10 when he won a spirited stretch duel over Nicholas Beach at the Meadowlands in a career-best 1:49 clocking. George Brennan drove him again on April 24 in a handy 1:49 1/5 score. The pair are reunited for Saturday's contest from post three.

Splash Brother has been post compromised in both of his 4-year-old appearances for trainer Ray Schnittker. The son of So Surreal flashed extreme speed here last spring, winning over the Meadowlands strip in 1:48 2/5 on his way to a $300K bankroll for 2020. Splash Brother landed the pole position on Saturday.

Tattoo Artist drew post eight in this division but shouldn't be overlooked considering his impressive 2- and 3-year-old campaigns for Dr. Ian Moore. Trainer Chris Ryder picks up the son of He's Watching, who ships north after a pair of solid qualifiers in Florida. Tattoo Artist won eight times as a sophomore, including a 1:48 2/5 mile at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The Meadowlands hosts 13 pari-mutuel races on Saturday night, with first post listed at 6:20 p.m. A pair of New Jersey Maturity finals will be raced in between the pari-mutuel card.

RACE 8 - $50,000 GRADUATE - MAY 1

1-Splash Brother (Mark MacDonald/Ray Schnittker, 9-2)
2-The Greek Freak (Yannick Gingras/Ron Burke, 6-1)
3-Poseidon Seelster (George Brennan/Nik Drennan, 3-1)
4-Save Me A Dance (David Miller/Andrew Harris, 8-1)
5-Captain Barbossa (Dexter Dunn/Tony Alagna, 5-2)
6-Groovy Joe (Tim Tetrick/Blake MacIntosh, 8-1)
7-Sombodyitreasure (Joe Bongiorno/Jenn Bongiorno, 15-1)
8-Tattoo Artist (Todd McCarthy/Chris Ryder, 6-1)

RACE 10 - $50,000 GRADUATE - MAY 1

1-Warrawee Vital (Tim Tetrick/Ron Coyne Jr., 4-1)
2-Elver Hanover (Yannick Gingras/Ron Burke, 7-2)
3-Chief Mate (Dexter Dunn/Todd Luther, 10-1)
4-Allywag Hanover (David Miller/Brett Pelling, 9-2)
5-Full Send (George Brennan/Eli Scott Jr., 15-1)
6-Ruthless Hanover (Andrew McCarthy/Tom Cancelliere, 3-1)
7-Beaumond Hanover (Doug McNair/Jeff Cullipher, 8-1)
8-Sandbetweenmytoes (Scott Zeron/Jim Campbell, 6-1)