Harness racing’s stars were on display Saturday (July 11) at the Meadowlands, during the New Jersey track’s blockbuster card headlined by the 50th edition of the Grade 1 Meadowlands Pace. Relive all the highlights via the links below.
Brandon Blvd prevails in dramatic Meadowlands Pace finish
Brandon Blvd took the lead on the backstretch and then held off a slew of challengers in the stretch to capture the Grade 1 $810,000 Meadowlands Pace, for 3-year-olds, in 1:48.1 Saturday (July 11) at the Meadowlands. Al Papi was second in the 50th edition of the race, sponsored by Genova Burns LLC, with Gentleman’s Club third and Melillo fourth. All three were just a head behind Brandon Blvd in the photo finish while fifth-place Sweet Lovin Lou was a length back.
On To Norway becomes millionaire with G1 Maturity score
After taking on all comers in the Hoosier State as a sophomore, Indiana sensation On To Norway has proven worthy of the Grand Circuit stage so far in his 4-year-old season, following up his North American-record 1:48.3 score in last week’s Grade 2 Graduate Series final with a gutsy 2:04.3 victory over 1-1/8 miles in the Grade 1 $425,000 E.T. Gerry Jr. Hambletonian Maturity, for 4-year-old trotters, on Saturday (July 11) at the Meadowlands.
Bythemissal gives Burke 17,000th win with G2 Haughton upset
Torrid fractions poised double millionaire Bythemissal for a furious bid from last down the center of the track to score his first stakes win as a 7-year-old with a 1:47 upset at 55-1 in the first of two $135,700 divisions of the Grade 2 William Haughton Memorial on Saturday night (July 11) at the Meadowlands.
Loua Dipa and Twin B Joe Fresh were powerful winners in graded stakes events at the Meadowlands on Saturday night (July 11) as part of the stakes-filled Meadowlands Pace program. The $180,120 Grade 3 Jerry Silverman Memorial, for 3-year-old pacing fillies, presented a mighty duel down the stretch from the two favorites in blazing fractions with Loua Dipa and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. getting the nod in a 1:48 victory — setting a stakes record and tying the divisional track record in the act. The $165,750 Dorothy Haughton Memorial, a Grade 2 event for pacing mares, was a commanding win for 2024 Horse of the Year Twin B Joe Fresh with her usual guide Dexter Dunn as they took the stakes for the third year in a row.
Apex, Endurance win G3 Dancer divisions
Hambletonian hopefuls Apex and Endurance won their respective divisions of the Grade 3 Stanley Dancer Memorial, for 3-year-old male trotters, on Saturday (July 11) at the Meadowlands, both as favorites and both in 1:52.
Nezuko Kamado S kept her undefeated sophomore season intact with a lifetime-best 1:50.1 score in the $141,900 first division of the Grade 2 Del Miller Memorial, for 3-year-old trotting fillies, on Saturday (July 11) at the Meadowlands.