from the Meadowlands Media Relations Department

East Rutherford, NJ — It’s an interesting mix of six trotters in the field for the featured sixth race, a $20,000 Preferred Trot, on the evening of Friday (April 21) at The Meadowlands.

A few familiar faces remain in B Yoyo, Muscle Diamond and Opulent Yankee. These three have been in the thick of things at the top trotting level throughout the early third of the Meadowlands racing season.

New shooters in the field are Up The Alley, shipping in fresh from South Florida for Richie Silverman and the $1.5 million winning proven stakes commodity Crazy Wow, making his first pari-mutuel foray of the season for the Ron Burke barn.

Adding considerable intrigue is the American-bred, Italian-born, Scandinavian trained Tuonoblu Rex. The 5-year-old globetrotting import had European stakes success at age three, winning the Ulf Thoresen Memorial in Norway but his form fell off while racing in France last season. Now based in America, he races for owner Cees J. Faber under the nom de course of Stable Why Not and has been placed in the care of the successful training/driving team of Julie and Andy Miller.

A hint of the regard in which Tuonoblu Rex is held by his connections is evidenced by the fact that payments have been made to have him eligible for this season’s Meadowlands major trotting stakes including the May 6 Arthur Cutler Memorial, lists which may be accessed here.

In his only stateside appearance thus far, Tuonoblu Rex evidenced a powerful presence while dominating a field that included stakes winner Crazshana in a 1:53.4 qualifying win while well in hand.

Friday’s race will certainly be a greater test of his abilities, helping to determine if he fits against America’s best.

In the building, themed dining kicks off with Fiesta Night in Pink while the popular Swipe & Score promotion offers free betting vouchers.

Post time is 7:15 p.m.