East Rutherford, NJ — With a limited number of 12 horses having dropped into the entry box, there will only be one Meadowlands Pace elimination necessary on this Saturday (July 11) night’s program at the Big M. Post time is 7:15 p.m.

Two horses — Chief Mate and Allywag Hanover — took byes and will automatically go in the July 18 big-money final for 3-year-old open pacers.

Conditions call for those with the highest earnings this season getting the option to skip the elimination. Trainer Mark Harder wanted Major Betts to race, so he’s in this Saturday. As a result, Chief Mate and Allywag Hanover, who were next in line in 2020 earnings, took a free pass to the final.

The elimination has a field of 10, with the first eight in official order of finish advancing to the $631,650 final. The elimination winner will get a major perk: that horse will draw a post position from one through six.

Tall Dark Stranger has drawn post three in the elim. The Nancy Takter trainee’s only start this year resulted in a national season’s-best equaling mile of 1:47.4. The Brett Pelling-schooled Papi Rob Hanover, second in his 2020 debut a week ago after a tough trip from post 10, once again was luckless at the pill drop, having drawn the 10 hole for a second straight start.

The field for Saturday night’s Meadowlands Pace elimination in post position order, with horse (and driver): Major Betts (Dexter Dunn), Captain Barbossa (Andrew McCarthy), Tall Dark Stranger (Yannick Gingras), Manticore (Jordan Stratton), Captain Kirk (Dexter Dunn), Roll With Jr (Tim Tetrick), Mocha On The Rocks (Scott Zeron), Catch The Fire (Mike Wilder), Capt Midnight (Andrew McCarthy), Papi Rob Hanover (David Miller).

Also on Saturday’s program are a pair of $250,000 Graduate finals. The open events for 4-year-olds — one for pacers and one on the trot — both have full fields of 10.

The trot has double Breeders Crown and New York Sire Stakes champion Gimpanzee as the one with the target on his back. He’s been ultra-impressive in winning both of his starts this year — each of which were Graduate preliminaries — by scoring once on the front end and once from well off the pace.

The field for the Graduate final for trotters in post position order, with horse (and driver): Chin Chin Hall (Dexter Dunn), Kings County (David Miller), Gimpanzee (Brian Sears), Winnerup (Trond Smedshammer), Explosivebreakaway (Tim Tetrick), Southwind Avenger (Andrew McCarthy), Goes Down Smooth (No Driver), Pure Chance (No Driver), Grand Swan (Tim Tetrick), Reign Of Honor (David Miller).

Bettor’s Wish was the top money-earning horse in harness racing a year ago with more than $1.6 million in the bank, and despite drawing post 10, will likely be the post-time favorite in the Graduate for pacers off his 1:48.2 off-the-pace win a week ago at The Meadowlands in the series’ final leg.

The field for the Graduate final for pacers in post-position order, with horse (and driver): Century Farroh (David Miller), Shamwow (Jordan Stratton), Workin Ona Mystery (Tim Tetrick), Dancin Lou (Brian Sears), Hurrikane Emperor (Mark MacDonald), Aflame Hanover (David Miller), Captain Victorious (Yannick Gingras), Brassy Hanover (Scott Zeron), Bllack Hole (Tim Tetrick), Bettor’s Wish (Dexter Dunn).