by Nick Salvi, executive director, The Classic Series

East Rutherford, NJ — The $250,000 finals of The Classic Series will go postward at a mile and one sixteenth at The Meadowlands on Saturday evening, July 26.

The Pacing Classic leads off the charge in race seven. Ten of the top older horses currently racing will line-up behind the gate, led by morning line choice Artistic Fella. Eagle Luck won last week’s third leg in a stakes record equaling 1:48.3 and returns for the big money. Mr Feelgood has drawn the extreme outside starting post in his quest to win another big money final.

Trotting mares are up next in the Classic Oaks (race 10), with Falls For You holding the favorite’s mantle in this one. She pushed past $1 million in career earnings with an impressive, off the trot 1:52.2 win in leg three, scoring by three parts of a length over stablemate and sister final competitor Godiva Hall. Up Front Hotsey leads the division in points accumulated throughout the series and has drawn the rail for the final.

The Classic Distaff for pacing mares is up next in race 11. My Little Dragon has won the two preliminary legs of the Distaff leading into the final, including her 1:50 score last week. She faces several familiar rivals, including Darlin’s Delight, Ideal Weather and Enhance The Night, all of whom were within a half-length of the winner last week.

The best may have been saved for last, a very competitive field of eight older male trotters in the Trotting Classic. Before He Cheats swept past the field in last week’s leg and he will face virtually the same group of trotting stars in Saturday’s race. Arch Madness and Corleone Kosmos renew their rivalry here and two-time defending champion Vivid Photo returns off a three-month forced absence.

First post on Saturday is 7:00 p.m. on a stellar card that features eliminations for the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks.