After being slowed by two bouts with sickness, Cool Papa Bell appears to be getting back up to speed in time for Saturday’s $410,250 E.T. Gerry Jr. Hambletonian Maturity for 4-year-old trotters at The Meadowlands. Cool Papa Bell, who won the 2022 Hambletonian Stakes for 3-year-olds at the Big M, will face eight foes over a distance of 1-1/8 miles in the Maturity.
Category: Grand Circuit News
Takter comments on her three Meadowlands Pace starters
When Nancy Takter thinks about her three horses heading to Saturday’s $668,000 Meadowlands Pace, she also remembers the days that led to the achievement. Takter’s three Pace finalists are Cannibal, who won the first of last week’s two eliminations, Christchurch and Save America.
Monster Saturday of Grand Circuit stakes at Big M
Grand Circuit action will be held on Saturday (July 15) as The Meadowlands has multiple stakes led by the $668,000 Meadowlands Pace final for 3-year-olds.
Alagna hopes pair comes up aces in Pace
Tony Alagna will send two horses to Saturday’s $668,000 Meadowlands Pace, and although neither of his 3-year-old colts has posted a win this season, the trainer is happy with the way El Rey and Hungry Angel Boy have raced heading into the weekend.
Vivid Wise As joins MGM Yonkers International Trot mix
Italy has played a prominent role in the $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot since the race was revived from a 19-year hiatus in 2015.
Meadowlands Pace night card drawn
Meadowlands Pace night will certainly live up to the advance billing as the evening’s stakes promise a great night of racing. Purses on the night will be right at $2.5 million.
Dunn brings morning-line faves to Graduate finals
The first time driver Dexter Dunn sat behind 4-year-old female trotter Jiggy Jog S this season he was amazed by her transformation. “I couldn’t believe how much she filled out,” said Dunn, who was the regular driver behind the Ake Svanstedt-trained mare last year when she finished no worse than second in 11 of 13 races, winning eight and earning $924,319. On Saturday, she will attempt to push her win streak to eight when she competes in the $230,000 Graduate Series Open Trot final for 4-year-olds.
Burke high on Pace hopeful Gung Ho
Ron Burke has had a limited amount of time to get to know Gung Ho, but the trainer is enthusiastic about the recent addition to his stable. A 3-year-old male pacer, Gung Ho joined the Burke Brigade on June 18, a day after the horse’s third-place finish in the consolation event for the North America Cup. Three weeks later, the colt makes his debut for his new connections as Burke’s lone starter in Saturday’s eliminations for the Meadowlands Pace at The Meadowlands.
Dave Little’s final Road to the Meadowlands Pace
With the eliminations set for Saturday night, here is the 10th and final edition of Dave Little’s “Road to The Meadowlands Pace” weekly Top 10 poll for 2023.
A Zweig win would be sweet for Ken Jacobs
The $350,000 Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial open trotting stakes (race eight) and $142,000 filly stake (race six) will be raced at Vernon Downs on Saturday (July 8) with a matinee post time of 12:15 p.m. Local businessman and prolific Standardbred owner Ken Jacobs has a top contender in each with Ari Ferrari J in the open and Walner Payton racing the fillies.