Meadowlands: Twin B Joe Fresh, 2024 Horse of the Year, returns to the races in Friday qualifier

It has been nearly seven long months since Twin B Joe Fresh was forced to scratch out of the Breeders Crown Open Mares Pace at Woodbine Mohawk Park due to a hairline fracture of her left cannon bone. Following surgery and recovery, the 2024 Dan Patch Horse of the Year winner with a bankroll north of $2.8 million is finally back.

Twin B Joe Fresh is scheduled to start in the sixth and final qualifier late Friday afternoon (5/15) at the Meadowlands and her trainer says she is ready to roll.

"She feels like her old self," said Chris Ryder, who has trained her in a jog cart thus far in about 2:05. "I think she is ready to rumble. We'll give her a run at the Meadowlands and blow her out, but I don't think she has lost anything."

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Ryder wasn't ready to commit to a firm schedule, but said she would likely qualify twice and aim for the Roses Are Red at Woodbine Mohawk Park, which has eliminations on June 6 and a final the following Saturday.

The trainer will also have Miki And Minnie in that stakes event. She will make her third qualifying start in the fifth race on Friday because the Hall of Famer has been unable to find her a pari-mutuel race.

"She's fine," said Ryder on Miki And Minnie, who will start next in the Besty Ross at Harrah's Philadelphia. "I might let her run a bit and stretch her out on Friday."