by Carol Hodes, for the New Jersey Sires Stakes

Manalapan, NJ — New Jersey Sires Stakes winners Dreamlands Latte, Happy Dreamer and McArdle Park are among the 2-year-old pacers competing in elimination races this weekend at Freehold Raceway which will determine the fields for the finals of the Lou Babic Memorial on October 20.

In the filly division, nine entered and eight will advance from Friday’s (October 12) single $10,000 elimination race, carded as the fourth, and earn berths in the $78,000 (est.) final. Both Dreamlands Latte (by Artsplace), who won the $85,000 pari-mutuel final on September 8, and Happy Dreamer (by McArdle), who captured the $35,000 Green Acres Final on September 27, will be vying for spots on the gate.

Two $15,000 elims for colts and geldings are scheduled for Saturday (October 13) with the top four from each advancing to the $140,000 (est.) final. The 13 entrants are split between the second race (six) and the fourth race (seven).

McArdle Park (by McArdle), who won the $35,000 Green Acres Final at Freehold on October 5, and the runner-up in that race, Dontloseyourdayjob (by Life Sign), both drew into the first of the elims.

McArdle Park, who has four wins and two seconds in eight starts this year, will be driven by Jeff Gregory for trainer Jerry Silverman. He will leave from post three. He races for owners Robin and Steven Arnold in partnership with Shari Gluckman.

Fred Monteleone’s Dontloseyourdayjob, driven by David Miller and trained by Monte Gelrod, has been first or second in five of seven starts this year. He will start from post two.

Among the second division starters will be McCedes (by McArdle), who has four wins in eight starts. The Chris Ryder trainee, driven by Cat Manzi, drew post six. He is owned by Ryder and Jerry Silva.