from Meadowlands Media Relations

Trainer Jim Campbell’s Hambletonian-bound duo of Great Challenger and Show Me The Monet face their next stakes test in the Historic-Dickerson Cup on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

Campbell and owners Arlene and Jules Siegel are aiming the colts toward the $1.2 million Hambletonian, harness racing’s ultimate prize, on Saturday, August 7.

Show Me The Monet [post three] and Great Challenger [post six] drew into the first of two $52,686 divisions of the Historic-Dickerson, carded as the fifth race.

Great Challenger made an impressive three-year-old debut against older horses in an overnight race on June 17 at the Meadowlands. He rallied from seventh at the top of the stretch to finish second, only three-quarters of a length behind the favorite, Stand Strong. He was clocked in 1:55.3 over a sloppy track.

“I was real happy with the way he raced,” Campbell said after the race. “He had no trouble getting over the track and, knock on wood, seems real sound and real good.”

A half-brother to 2003 Hambletonian winner Amigo Hall, Great Challenger was a $160,000 yearling purchase at the Tattersalls Sale. Great Challenger won four of 11 starts at two, including the $184,126 Matron at Dover.

“Mr. Siegel and I picked him out of the sale,” Campbell said. “He was real racey looking and not too big. He had a few good races last year at Lexington, but when he came to the Meadowlands for the Breeders Crown he made a break. It was toward the end of the year and things were starting to catch up on him. We turned him out and brought him back this year. He grew up a lot and filled out a lot this year. He is right on schedule. Everything is going according to plan.”

Great Challenger’s stablemate, Show Me The Monet, has five starts under his belt this season. He broke stride in two of his races, but was first or second in three legs of the New Jersey Sire Stakes.

“Unfortunately, he made a break in his first start,” Campbell said. “He hit his knee. Other than that, things are going good with him. He has a lot of speed, and we will see if he can put it together.”

Show Me The Monet was purchased for $180,000 at the Harrisburg Sale.

“He was a little smaller then Great Challenger,” he said. “He had a good start at Lexington but he had problems with his gait last year. He had just a few bad habits and we are hoping they don’t show up this year. He needed a year to mature. He is still a little aggressive, but he is still a lot better then he was. Great Challenger is a better horse but [Show Me The Monet] has a tremendous amount of speed and he can jump up and grab one.”

Campbell and the Siegels won the 1995 Hambletonian with Tagliabue.

SHIMMY TO THE SONGS OF SHIRLEY ALSTON REEVES ON JULY 3

Shirley Alston Reeves, the original lead singer of The Shirelles, headlines the WCBS-FM Oldies Concert in Paddock Park on Saturday, July 3 at the Meadowlands.

Reeves’ long string of hits with The Shirelles included Soldier Boy, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, Dedicated To The One I Love, Mama Said, and Tonight’s The Night.

The concert begins at 8 p.m. and is included in the track’s $1 general admission. Remembrance, an a capella group, will perform on the Paddock Park stage from 6 to 8 p.m. and stroll through the grandstand from 8 to 10 p.m. The American Cruisers Classic Car Club will have 30 cars on display in Paddock Park and Bob Shannon from WCBS-FM will host the festivities.

Barbecue aprons will be given away to all paid admissions, as long as supplies last, starting at 5:30 p.m. There will be an expanded barbecue menu in Paddock Park, featuring grilled fish and steaks.