Stakes Elims highlight Meadowlands Saturday card

Saturday nights Meadowlands card features a quartet of eliminations for two-year-olds and a pair of prep races for older horses of both gaits.

Saturday's second race is the first of two Governor's Cup eliminations for two-year-old colt pacers. Five freshmen look poised to win this event and then loom serious factors next weekend.

Boston Red Rocks posted an 18-1 upset in the Breeders Crown and will be among the favorites for this event. But there are four freshmen who have a legitimate chance to upend him.

Big Top Hanover was second in the Breeders Crown final then came right back to win the Matron Stakes at Dover. Pretty Boy Hill was fifth in the Breeders Crown then was second in the Matron. Show The Fashion was second in a Matron split. Spider Man Hanover was seventh in the Breeders Crown.

One race later in the first Valley Victory eliminations for two-year-old colt trotters, four freshmen loom serious threats.

Marion Marauder and Sliding Home finished second and third, respectively, while Milligan's School and Love Matters finished second and third, respectively, in the Matron. All four will prove formidable.

Then two races in the second Valley Victory elim, Dog Gone Lucky is clearly the horse to beat. This Chuck Sylvester trainee won the Matron last out after winning the Kindergarten on his previous start. Takter trainees Bar Hopping and Lagerfeld bear watching.

Then two races later in the TVG Free-For-All Trot, Resolve, a good second in the Breeders Crown, will face Master Of Law and E L Titan, the top two finishers in the American-National, and Melady's Monet, who owns a solid 12-2-5 slate and $350,000 from 25 starts this year.

Then two races later in the second Governor's Cup elim Katie's Rocker, Ideal Rocky and Autotune Hanover exit the Matron, while New Talent wS second in the American-National. Check Six owns a 4-1-1 slate from seven starts.

Then three races in the 12th, a solid group will assemble for the TVG Free-For-All for older pacers.

JK Endofanera has been second in three straight major races, including the Breeders Crown and figures to be the odds-on favorite here. Doo Wop Hanover owns a 7-3-1 slate and $450,000 bankroll from 18 starts. Mach It So owns a 5-3-6 slate and $520,000 bankroll from 21 starts including a win in the Bobby Quillen Memorial at Harrington, while Luck Be With You was second in the American-National last week.