by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — There will be no shortage of award-winning horses on the track Saturday at the Meadowlands. The star-packed card features eight stakes events, with at least one Dan Patch Award winner in each. In fact, all told there will be the recipients of a combined 22 Dan Patch and O’Brien awards in action Saturday night at the Big M.

Marion Marauder, the 2016 Dan Patch Award Trotter of the Year and an O’Brien divisional champ, is the 6-5 morning line favorite in the $458,750 Hambletonian Maturity for 4-year-olds. He edged Dan Patch/O’Brien award-winning mare Hannelore Hanover by one vote in the closest Trotter of the Year balloting in the award’s 46-year history.

Last year, Marion Marauder won 10 of 15 races including the Hambletonian, Yonkers Trot and Kentucky Futurity on his way to becoming the ninth Trotting Triple Crown winner in history. This year, Marion Marauder has won two of three starts and heads to the Hambletonian Maturity off a 1:51.2 win in the Graduate Series championship for 4-year-olds last weekend at the Meadowlands.

Lisa photo

Marion Marauder, the 2016 Dan Patch Award Trotter of the Year and an O’Brien divisional champ, is the 6-5 morning line favorite in the $458,750 Hambletonian Maturity for 4-year-olds.

“I can’t say enough about him,” Marion Marauder’s regular driver Scott Zeron said. “His transition from (age) 3 to 4 has been unbelievable. He got a little broader in the shoulders, looks better, and mentally his game has really evolved.

“Last year I tried to avoid putting him on the front too early in the race. Even at the three-quarter pole I didn’t really want to be on the front because he loves a target. It was a matter of timing his burst of speed at the end because he would always go on by, but then he would relax when he got by them.

“This year, I’ve been first up twice and he’s powered past horses and kept on pushing. He’s made my job easier. Not that I’m going to turn him into a front-runner, but I don’t have to worry about him relaxing when he gets the lead. He loves his job even more this year. It’s a great feeling.”

Hannelore Hanover, who won last year’s Hambletonian Maturity as a supplemental entry, is the 2-5 favorite in Saturday’s first of two divisions of the Miss Versatility Series for trotting mares.

Last year, Hannelore Hanover won 17 of 20 races. This year, she finished second in the Miami Valley Distaff to start the campaign but has since reeled off three consecutive wins, including the Armbro Flight Stakes.

“She hasn’t been as sharp as she was last year, but she’s coming closer and closer to it,” trainer Ron Burke said. “Hopefully we’re not that far. I look for her to be ready to go this week.”

The first division of the Miss Versatility also includes two-time O’Brien Award winner Caprice Hill. The second division is led by two-time Dan Patch Award winner Broadway Donna, who is the 2-1 favorite.

Following is a look at the award-winners in action Saturday, in race order.

Race 1: Ariana G (Dan Patch and O’Brien) in division of Delvin Miller Memorial.
Race 2: Hannelore Hanover, Caprice Hill.
Race 3: Walner (Dan Patch) in division of Stanley Dancer Memorial.
Race 5: Idyllic Beach (Dan Patch and O’Brien) in Mistletoe Shalee.
Race 6: Broadway Donna.
Race 8: Marion Marauder.
Race 9: Huntsville (Dan Patch) in Meadowlands Pace.
Race 10: Boston Red Rocks (Dan Patch) in William R. Haughton Memorial.
Race 11: Lady Shadow (Dan Patch, three-time O’Brien); Pure Country (two-time Dan Patch) in Golden Girls.
Race 13: Beyond Delight (O’Brien) in conditioned race.

For Saturday’s complete Meadowlands card, click here.
For a look at Meadowlands Pace night at a glance, click here.