Meadowlands: Take A Walk, Eastwood Blue Chip square off in Junior Trendsetter Final

Saturday night’s all right for fighting, and you can be sure there will be plenty to fight for in the $58,500 Junior Trendsetter final (race 6, start of the $75,000 pick four) for 3-year-olds at the Meadowlands.

Both Take A Walk (post 5) and Eastwood Blue Chip (post 8) will be looking to sweep the series, but only one will be able to be on the front end in this one. Both colts have shown speed and courage through the elimination races. Take A Walk was well supported in his New M debut on Feb. 2 and cruised from post 10, despite some uneasy moments in the stretch and a subsequent inquiry. Last week, Take A Walk teamed with new driver Ron Pierce and paced off impressively in a 1:52 mile for his third win in just five career starts.

Eastwood Blue Chip managed one victory in 13 freshman starts, but has found the winner’s circle twice in the Junior Trendsetter. Trained by Eric Ell, the gelded son of Dragon Again seems poised for the final.

Itrustyou and Special T Rocks, two of the most impressive 4-year-olds to race at the New M this winter are on a collision course for Saturday's $74,600 Exit 16W final (race 10). For Itrustyou (post 4) he'll need a lucky 13th consecutive victory to get the job done. Special T Rocks (post 7), was a half-length back of the likely Exit 16W favorite in first-round action but driver Daryl Bier thinks he can reverse that decision in the final.

“Yannick [Gingras] got away with his own fractions in that race, but I think if they can get down to the half in 54 and change, we can win in a 1:50 mile,” he said.

Bier hopes to be a spoiler, should first-round winner Fearless Diablo (post 9) get involved in the pace of the Exit 16W final. Driver and part-owner Matt Kakaley came from well off the pace scoring in a career-best 1:50.2 mile in the first round of the series. Last week, the 4-year-old was pushed and prompted on the front end, cutting sizzling fractions. He still finished a respectable third to Itrustyou.

Westwardho Hanover (post 8) found the finish wire just in time in last week’s second Aquarius leg for trainer Ron Burke and driver Yannick Gingras. The pair will be looking for a sweep in Saturday's $57,600 series final (race 5).

Since joining the Burke stable in fall 2011, Westwardho Hanover has captured five stakes events, including the Progress at Dover Downs, The Cleveland Classic at Northfield, last month’s Willowdale at Woodbine.

Post time for the 13-race Saturday card is 7 p.m.

Analysis and live video for the Meadowlands can be found at: http://www.drf.com/events/new-meadowlands-harness-meadowlands

Past performances are available at www.drf.com/harnesspps