Saturday night is special at The Meadowlands
July 29, 2016,from the Meadowlands Media Relations Department
East Rutherford, NJ — Saturday night (July 30) at The Meadowlands promises great racing and great food with Grand Circuit stakes for the top 3-year-old trotters in their final preparation before next week’s Hambletonian; the fastest sophomore pacers in the Garden State; and Brews, Blues & BBQ to satisfy your culinary desires.
Saturday’s racing features are a pair of 10 filly $50,000 elimination races for next week’s $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks featuring the finest trotting fillies in the land.
The first elimination is race six where Tom Hill’s 2015 O’Brien Award winning Caprice Hill makes her Meadowlands pari-mutuel debut against Ontario rival and Zweig filly winner Flowers N Songs, Reynolds Memorial winner Side Bet Hanover and the Del Miller dead-heat duo of Unica Steed and Womans Will. Tim Tetrick has the drive on Caprice Hill for trainer Tony Alagna.
The second split (race seven) boasts a very accomplished group led by the 2015 Dan Patch Award winner for the division, Broadway Donna. She faces a solid nine that includes multiple stakes winners Celebrity Eventsy, All The Time and Double Exposure. David Miller has driven Broadway Donna in each of her 13 career starts, resulting in 11 wins for owner Jules Siegel’s Fashion Farms and trainer Jim Campbell.
The supporting card includes the $150,000 Anthony Abbatiello for New Jersey bred sophomore pacing colts and its filly companion stake, the $85,000 Thomas D’Altrui Memorial.
Boston Red Rocks is still searching for his award winning form of last season. He finds a friendly spot in the Abbatiello, starting from the rail in race two, that may launch him back into the limelight for the trainer-driver team of Steve Elliott and Tim Tetrick. Peter Blood and Rick Berks share ownership of Boston Red Rocks.
The D’Altrui looks like a showcase for Blue Moon Stride. She’s in the midst of a terrific season for trainer Mark Harder and owners Emilio and Maria Rosati with four wins, including the NJSS final and the Mistletoe Shalee in a career best 1:49.2 for Andy McCarthy in her last. The D’Altrui is off the card at 6:40 p.m.
We’ll also get a last look at presumptive Hambletonian favorite Southwind Frank who will give his 10 opponents a head start as he gets his final tune-up for the big race from the second tier in the $53,000 Scott Frost–W.N. Reynolds Memorial. Yannick Gingras is assigned with the task of navigating a course to the winner’s circle for trainer Ron Burke and the Southwind Frank Partners.
The Meadowlands will host the popular Brews, Blues & BBQ on Saturday night with several accomplished meat smokers and roasters competing for prizes and recognition. For the horseplayer, we offer a free look into the $50,000 guaranteed Late Pick-4 wagers each week.
Post time is 7:15 p.m.
- Hambletonian Oaks draws 20 (Monday, July 25, 2016)
A total of 20 fillies entered Monday for the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks, the filly division of the Hambletonian. Hambletonian Festival week kicks off on Saturday (July 30) with two $50,000 eliminations to narrow the field to 10 for the $500,000 Oaks final on Hambletonian Day (Saturday, Aug. 6) at The Meadowlands Racetrack. Favorite in the field will be Dan Patch divisional champion Broadway Donna, a daughter of 2007 Hambletonian winner Donato Hanover and 2009 Oaks winner Broadway Schooner.
- Southwind Frank is ready for final Hambletonian prep (Tuesday, July 26, 2016)
Ron Burke will get a final look at Southwind Frank prior to next week’s Hambletonian Stakes when the 3-year-old trotter faces 10 rivals in Saturday’s Reynolds Memorial Stakes at the Meadowlands Racetrack. Burke trained Southwind Frank, the top-ranked horse in Ken Warkentin’s “Road to the Hambletonian” ratings, on Tuesday morning and was pleased with the colt’s effort.
- Delvin Miller Adios leads busy Grand Circuit stakes weekend (Wednesday, July 27, 2016)
The $400,000 Delvin Miller Adios at The Meadows leads a busy weekend of Grand Circuit stakes action.
- Alagna looks to double down in Hambletonian Oaks eliminations (Thursday, July 28, 2016)
Double Exposure was slowed by sickness last year, but not much else has prevented the 3-year-old filly trotter from making frequent trips to the winner’s circle. Last season’s Goldsmith Maid winner, Double Exposure is among two horses from the stable of trainer Tony Alagna entered in Saturday’s eliminations for the Hambletonian Oaks at the Meadowlands Racetrack. Double Exposure will race in the second of the two elims while O’Brien Award-winner Caprice Hill is in the first division.