by Amy Silver, publicity director, Meadowlands Racetrack

East Rutherford, NJ — Sportswriter, the North America Cup and defending divisional champion, tops the list of 23 colts and geldings bidding for a spot in the $1 million Meadowlands Pace on Saturday night.

Three $50,000 eliminations will decide the field of 10 starters for the track’s signature event for 3-year-old pacers. The top three finishers in each elimination, plus the fastest fourth overall, will advance to the Meadowlands Pace Final on July 17.

Sportswriter will start from post five in the last of the three eliminations, race six, for trainer Casie Coleman and driver Mark Macdonald. The colt overcame quarter cracks in his feet to capture the $1,455,000 Pepsi North America Cup in a stakes-record time of 1:48.3 on June 26 at Mohawk Racetrack. The victory boosted Sportwriter’s 2010 earnings to $746,780 for owners Steve Calhoun, West Wins Stable and Southwind Farm.

“His feet are finally in great shape,” Coleman said. “They’re cold, no pulse. The quarter cracks have grown out a lot. For the North America Cup, he was sound in that final, but he did race with his quarter cracks and heels still wired up. Normally, ‘Sports’ is quite low maintenance. He is now a lot sounder, so I can step up his training a little. I could hardly train the colt at all the last few weeks while waiting to sound up his feet.”

The son of Artsplace was named 2-Year-Old Colt Pacer of the Year in both the United States and Canada last year after winning seven of eight races, including the $920,000 Metro Final. Sportswriter bids to become the ninth North America Cup winner to also capture the $1 million Meadowlands Pace, while Coleman aims to be the first woman to harness a Pace winner. Coleman will be the featured guest In The Sulky on Meadowlands Racetrack’s Thursday pre-card broadcast. Fans can e-mail questions for her to answer on-air to racing@thebigm.com.

Rock N Roll Heaven, the Berry’s Creek champion and hometown favorite, looks to rebound in the Pace elims after a disappointing stakes campaign in Canada. Trained by Bruce Saunders, Rock N Roll Heaven will start from post six in the first of the eliminations with John Campbell at the lines. The son of Rocknroll Hanover delivered one of the meet’s most impressive performances in the $220,000 Berry’s Creek on May 8. He raced headlong into 40 mph winds to take the lead before the half and was never challenged en route to a 1-1/4 -length victory in 1:52. Daniel Dube, currently sidelined by injuries suffered in a June 18 racing accident, was in the sulky for the win.

Also bidding for a spot in the Meadowlands Pace are We Will See, the North America Cup runner-up; All Speed Hanover, the 2-Year-Old Breeders Crown champion; and Rockin Image, who rolled to an impressive 1:48.2 score in the Jersey Cup on July 3. The fields for the Meadowlands Pace eliminations:

Fourth Race
PP Horse Driver Trainer
1 Delmarvalous Brian Sears Brenda Teague
2 Superbad Hanover George Brennan Kostas Tsanakos
3 One More Laugh Tim Tetrick Ray Schnittker
4 Kyle Major Jody Jamieson Shawn Robinson
5 Jo Pa’s Fod John Campbell Jim Campbell
6 Rock N Roll Heaven John Campbell Bruce Saunders
7 All Speed Hanover Ron Pierce Noel Daley
8 World Of Rocknroll Ron Pierce Richard Norman

Fifth Race
PP Horse Driver Trainer
1 Razzle Dazzle John Campbell Jerry Silverman
2 Rockin Image Yannick Gingras Jimmy Takter
3 Ideal Matters Brian Sears Noel Daley
4 Nova Artist Brian Sears Lou Pena
5 Tobago Cays John Campbell Jeff Webster
6 I’m Gorgeous Brian Sears George Teague Jr.
7 Shoobee’s Place David Miller Richard Norman

Sixth Race
PP Horse Driver Trainer
1 OK Commander Brian Sears Gregg Mcnair
2 Foreign Officer Yannick Gingras Tony Alagna
3 Valentino George Brennan Lou Pena
4 We Will See Brett Miller Sam De Pinto
5 Sportswriter Mark Macdonald Casie Coleman
6 Iam Bonasera Jody Jamieson Erv Miller
7 Fred And Ginger Dave Palone Ron Burke
8 Windfall Blue Chip Andy Miller George Teague Jr.