Nijinsky will have the opportunity on Saturday to become the 11th horse in history to win both the North America Cup and Meadowlands Pace. His stablemate, Legendary Hanover, will be among the horses with the opportunity to stop him. Undefeated in six races this year, Nijinsky will head to the $650,000 Meadowlands Pace for 3-year-olds at The Meadowlands as the 2-1 morning-line favorite.
Category: Ken Weingartner
MacDonald/Schnittker win trio of Landmark Stakes at Goshen
Mark MacDonald and Ray Schnittker teamed up to win three Landmark Stakes over the weekend as the Grand Circuit visited Historic Track.
Hall of Fame class of 2024 inducted in Goshen
A crowd of more than 280 people gathered Sunday evening at the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame to celebrate the induction of the Hall of Fame class of 2024. Trainer Jim Campbell, trainer/driver Ed Lohmeyer, and breeder/owner David McDuffee led the group, which was honored during the annual induction dinner on the Museum lawn.
New connections hope for ‘Funtime’ in Pace
Multiple-stakes-winner Funtime Bayama moved to trainer Andrew Harris’ stable less than two weeks ago, but the Meadowlands Pace hopeful seems to have made himself at home. Funtime Bayama was purchased by Bill Pollock, Bruce Areman, and Harris on June 20, five days after the 3-year-old gelding’s third-place finish in the million-dollar Pepsi North America Cup at Woodbine Mohawk Park. On Saturday, Funtime Bayama will meet seven foes in the second of two $50,000 Meadowlands Pace eliminations for 3-year-old pacers at The Meadowlands.
Hats off to ‘Hattie’
She has been called “Bratty Hattie.” She has been called “The Freak.” But most significant of all, Jurassic Hattie has been called a blessing. Bred and owned by Ohio’s Jerry Welch, Jurassic Hattie has finished no worse than second in all 12 of her career races, winning nine and earning $252,334. She is 5-for-5 this season and the 9-5 morning-line favorite in Saturday’s (July 6) $100,000 Moni Maker Stakes for 3-year-old female trotters at Eldorado Scioto Downs.
Bartlett enjoying the ride with Sir Pinocchio
Jason Bartlett will look to continue a memorable season with Sir Pinocchio in Thursday’s (July 4) $300,000 Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial for 3-year-old trotters, less than a week after the two teamed up for Bartlett’s first-ever win in the MGM Yonkers Trot at Bartlett’s home track. The fact that triumph came after Bartlett watched his oldest son, Kobe, receive his high school diploma made the day’s events even more special.
Ken Hanover looks to stay sharp at Big M
Ken Hanover was on his game last week when he won his division of the Graduate Series in a career-best 1:47.4 at The Meadowlands, and the 4-year-old stallion will look to bring another top effort to the Big M on Saturday (June 29) when he meets a deep field of older pacers in the $152,190 Dave Brower Memorial.
Rookies roll at Gaitway qualifiers
Female pacer Point Breeze was the day’s fastest 2-year-old winner at Gaitway Farm’s qualifiers on Thursday (June 27), stopping the timer in 1:56.3 for driver David Miller and trainer Joe Holloway. Driver Joe Bongiorno and trainer Jennifer Bongiorno teamed for three wins in the eight races for the rookies.
Boston Rocks aims to make Pace case
When 3-year-old male pacer Boston Rocks finished fourth in his career debut last season at Tioga Downs, trainer Mike Deters wasn’t discouraged. He was impressed. Boston Rocks got away near the rear of the eight-horse field and was 10-1/4 lengths behind the leader at the race’s midpoint, but paced his second half in :55, came three-wide around the last turn, and was still gaining ground at the finish as he missed by two lengths. Boston Rocks has done nothing since that day to alter Deters’ opinion. The homebred colt has hit the board in 16 of 18 career races, winning six and earning $426,022 for owners Rick Berks and Peter Blood.
Andy McCarthy wins six in 2-year-old races at Magical Acres
Andy McCarthy sat behind six winners Wednesday (June 26) as Magical Acres held 14 qualifiers for 2-year-old pacers and trotters. McCarthy’s victories included the day’s fastest mile, a 1:56.3 score with Linda Toscano-trained female pacer Allegra Hanover.