Yonkers, Meadowlands and Rosecroft offer harness action this weekend
One week before thoroughbred and even harness racing fans alike gather at their favorite wagering site for the latest renewal of the Kentucky Derby and one week after Charles Town and Yonkers both offered lucrative, stakes-filled cards, Yonkers Raceway, the Meadowlands and Rosecroft Raceway will all offer a collection of competitive overnight events this Saturday and Sunday.
Just prior to the midway point of the Yonkers card tomorrow night in a competitive, non-winners of $30,000 last five starts class for older pacers, railbound Havefaithinme N, Tremendous Play and Freehold invader Perfect Bet will vie for the major spoils. Havefaithinme N steps off a win in the non-winners of $20,000 last five starts class and Perfect Bet heads over from New Jersey following a win in the Preferred, but Tremendous Play delivered a gritty, first over effort while third at this level last weekend.
Then one race later in a diluted edition of the $44,000 Open Handicap for older pacers, Mac's Jackpot (Jim Marohn, Jr.) arrives off a fourth-place finish in the $100,000 George Morton Levy Memorial Series consolation but gets post seven in the draw. Our Max Phactor N steps up off a win at the non-winners of $30,000 last five starts class in his official U.S. debut, while Mickey Gee N moves up off a pair of victories at the non-winners of $30,000 last five class. Major Crocker A exits the Levy where he was second twice and Caviart Luca moves up from the Preferred while missing a week.
One race later in the $44,000 Open Handicap for trotters, Smalltownthrowdown (Daniel Dube) gets assigned the dreaded eight hole following his win last week, while Melady's Monet moves up off a win in the non-winners of $30,000 last five starts class. Will Take Charge will seek to rebound from a pair of dull efforts as the choice last month, while the durable mare Weslynn Dancer seeks her second straight score in the top class for Jim & Barbara Boes despite missing last week.
That same night at the Meadowlands, Final Claim (Yannick Gingras) and Goes Down Smooth (Tim Tetrick) will give trainer Ron Burke a formidable tandem in the $54,500 Walner final for three-year-old colt trotters that were non-winners of two races or $40,000 lifetime as of February 15. Warrior One (Andy Miller) has been second in each of the three Walner legs and will look to shed his bridesmaid status at an opportune time in the final.
Two races later in the $30,000 Mr Muscleman Open for trotters, Ice Attraction (Ake Svandstedt) will seek to beat the boys, including Sheez On A Cruze (Montrell Teague), Top Flight Angel (Andy Miller) and former Hambletonian hero Pinkman (Gingras), who was second in each of his last two starts at the Preferred level here. Trolley (Marcus Miller) is certainly a contender from the eight hole despite wilting as the 2-5 favorite in a conditioned event at Pocono Downs two starts back.
Then several races later in the $30,000 Golden Receiver Open for pacers at one-mile and one-eighth, Highalator (Richard Still) will look to regain his winning ways following a second-place finish as the 4-5 choice in the Preferred here two weeks ago. Donttellmeagain (Tetrick) makes his seasonal debut for trainer Jim King, Jr. of Shartin N fame following a pair of sharp qualifiers over the Big M strip, while four-year-old star Mach N Cheese (Vincent Ginsburg) seeks his fourth straight victory to begin the campaign.
One race later in the $58,500 Wiggle It Jiggleit final for three-year-old colt & geldings, Dealer's Table (David Miller) will look to rebound from a pair of second-place efforts as the choice in two elims, while Respect Our Flag (Joe Bongiorno) looks to put the finishing touches on the series after winning two legs. Then one race later Duplicated N and K Ryan Blue Chip both appear in a non-winners of $17,500 last five starts class for pacers.
Sunday afternoon's card at Rosecroft Raceway gets under way early with a quartet of non-wagering Maryland Sire Stakes elims then the betting portion of the card gets started with a quartet of MDSS elims. Toward the latter portion of the card, Jack Quick (Jason Thompson) will look to enhance his chances of being spring horse of the meet in the $12,500 Maryland Exclusive Open for owner-breeder-trainer Basil Sapienza, one race later Believe In Him (Richard Still) looks to secure trotter of the meet for trainer Betsy Brown then one race later McKenry (Bret Brittingham) will seek his third straight score in the $11,000 Open.
Just prior to the midway point of the Yonkers card tomorrow night in a competitive, non-winners of $30,000 last five starts class for older pacers, railbound Havefaithinme N, Tremendous Play and Freehold invader Perfect Bet will vie for the major spoils. Havefaithinme N steps off a win in the non-winners of $20,000 last five starts class and Perfect Bet heads over from New Jersey following a win in the Preferred, but Tremendous Play delivered a gritty, first over effort while third at this level last weekend.
Then one race later in a diluted edition of the $44,000 Open Handicap for older pacers, Mac's Jackpot (Jim Marohn, Jr.) arrives off a fourth-place finish in the $100,000 George Morton Levy Memorial Series consolation but gets post seven in the draw. Our Max Phactor N steps up off a win at the non-winners of $30,000 last five starts class in his official U.S. debut, while Mickey Gee N moves up off a pair of victories at the non-winners of $30,000 last five class. Major Crocker A exits the Levy where he was second twice and Caviart Luca moves up from the Preferred while missing a week.
One race later in the $44,000 Open Handicap for trotters, Smalltownthrowdown (Daniel Dube) gets assigned the dreaded eight hole following his win last week, while Melady's Monet moves up off a win in the non-winners of $30,000 last five starts class. Will Take Charge will seek to rebound from a pair of dull efforts as the choice last month, while the durable mare Weslynn Dancer seeks her second straight score in the top class for Jim & Barbara Boes despite missing last week.
That same night at the Meadowlands, Final Claim (Yannick Gingras) and Goes Down Smooth (Tim Tetrick) will give trainer Ron Burke a formidable tandem in the $54,500 Walner final for three-year-old colt trotters that were non-winners of two races or $40,000 lifetime as of February 15. Warrior One (Andy Miller) has been second in each of the three Walner legs and will look to shed his bridesmaid status at an opportune time in the final.
Two races later in the $30,000 Mr Muscleman Open for trotters, Ice Attraction (Ake Svandstedt) will seek to beat the boys, including Sheez On A Cruze (Montrell Teague), Top Flight Angel (Andy Miller) and former Hambletonian hero Pinkman (Gingras), who was second in each of his last two starts at the Preferred level here. Trolley (Marcus Miller) is certainly a contender from the eight hole despite wilting as the 2-5 favorite in a conditioned event at Pocono Downs two starts back.
Then several races later in the $30,000 Golden Receiver Open for pacers at one-mile and one-eighth, Highalator (Richard Still) will look to regain his winning ways following a second-place finish as the 4-5 choice in the Preferred here two weeks ago. Donttellmeagain (Tetrick) makes his seasonal debut for trainer Jim King, Jr. of Shartin N fame following a pair of sharp qualifiers over the Big M strip, while four-year-old star Mach N Cheese (Vincent Ginsburg) seeks his fourth straight victory to begin the campaign.
One race later in the $58,500 Wiggle It Jiggleit final for three-year-old colt & geldings, Dealer's Table (David Miller) will look to rebound from a pair of second-place efforts as the choice in two elims, while Respect Our Flag (Joe Bongiorno) looks to put the finishing touches on the series after winning two legs. Then one race later Duplicated N and K Ryan Blue Chip both appear in a non-winners of $17,500 last five starts class for pacers.
Sunday afternoon's card at Rosecroft Raceway gets under way early with a quartet of non-wagering Maryland Sire Stakes elims then the betting portion of the card gets started with a quartet of MDSS elims. Toward the latter portion of the card, Jack Quick (Jason Thompson) will look to enhance his chances of being spring horse of the meet in the $12,500 Maryland Exclusive Open for owner-breeder-trainer Basil Sapienza, one race later Believe In Him (Richard Still) looks to secure trotter of the meet for trainer Betsy Brown then one race later McKenry (Bret Brittingham) will seek his third straight score in the $11,000 Open.
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