It looked like a forgone conclusion that Stable Genius would win the $23,000 feature Saturday (March 17) night at The Meadowlands, a high-end conditioned trot. After all, he mowed down a similar field just one week ago as the 1-2 favorite and was sent to the gate at 1-5 this time around. But Buddy Earl, apparently, did not get the memo.

The 10-year-old Lip Reader A hasn’t had much experience racing in the United States, having made just two pari-mutuel starts since arriving from Australia. But that inexperience didn’t matter at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday night (March 16) as he posted a career best 1:54 in the co-featured $14,000 Open Pace, beating Villiam by 2-3/4 lengths.

Nine pacers went to post in the lone Meadowlands Amateur Driving Club (MADC) race carded Saturday night (March 16) at the Big M, and the race had action in every quarter. Unlike the oddity the night before, the betting favorite didn’t win and the winner paid a nice sum to win after winning last week as the favorite in an MADC 1 race.

It was an action-packed Saturday (March 16) at Freehold Raceway. The day started with a tour of the paddock for Monmouth County’s Equine Science 4-H group, who got to learn about harness racing. They saw the behind the scenes of the paddock and ate lunch in the paddock kitchen. Then they came over to the grandstand to see the action up close and join in a winner’s circle photo. Finally, they went up to the judges’ booth to learn about that aspect of the industry.

The $12,500 Gary Budahn Trot, headed by Pridecrest, and the $12,500 DHA Pace, featuring Handsome Harvey, share the spotlight Sunday evening (March 17) at Cal Expo.

Is Mariner Seelster the inspiration for the phrase: “You’re not getting older, you’re getting better”? Probably not. But it certainly fits. The remarkable war horse won again Friday night (March 15) at the Meadowlands, upping his win streak to four in a Meadowlands Amateur Driving Club 2 event on the pace.