With spring having officially sprung early this (March 20) morning, it’s now the time of year for some of the better horses to come out of their cold-weather hibernation and start to prepare for the 2025 racing season.
Followers of The Meadowlands know this is true, and those same followers know that qualifiers at the mile oval sometimes have more marquee performers than the pari-mutuel card that takes place later the same evening.
There will be seven qualifiers at The Big M on Saturday (March 22) afternoon, and there are several big names who will be knocking off their cobwebs in preparation for the upcoming year.
The qualifiers begin at 4 p.m., and can be seen live on The Meadowlands website (playmeadowlands.com) or rtn.tv (Racing Television Network).
The biggest name qualifying is Grace Hill. The 7-year-old daughter of Always B Miki-Western Silk, who won the 2023 Dan Patch Older Pacing Female of the Year trophy, has won 37 of 82 lifetime starts, good for a bankroll of $1,933,458. She’s in the sixth qualifier and will depart from post two with Jason Bartlett listed to drive.
Grace Hill had a solid 2024, winning eight of 21 outings and banking over $191,000. In addition, she was the only female to defeat Twin B Joe Fresh during that one’s Horse of the Year campaign.
“She came out of last week’s qualifier very well,” said trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. “I entered her to race at The Meadowlands this weekend but her race didn’t fill, so we are qualifying again.
“Her target first race of the year is the Matchmaker at Yonkers on March 28. She’s definitely right on schedule. She has a long year of stakes, so we will pick our spots. [Owner] Tom Hill is really good about letting me manage her as to when to race, when to give her weeks off, etc.”
Last year, Grace Hill raced at The Meadowlands in the FanDuel Open Mares, Breeders Crown, Lady Liberty and Dorothy Haughton Memorial, so seeing her perform at the East Rutherford track this year several times seems highly likely.
Facing Grace Hill is Lit De Rose, who has post four for Pat Lachance. A year ago, the 10-year-old daughter of Leader Bayama-Intense won eight of 29 outings, good for earnings of $349,460. Her big 2024 win came at Yonkers on April 22 in the $276,200 Blue Chip Matchmaker Final.
Walkin On Sunshine, a winner of three straight $35,000 Invitationals for fillies and mares at Yonkers, will be making her first Meadowlands appearance of the year for trainer Brett Pelling from post six.
The Pelling-trained Rocket Deo (post two) tops the fourth qualifier. Among her 10 wins from 17 starts during 2024 was the Shady Daisy at The Big M. In addition, the 4-year-old daughter of Captaintreacherous-Rocklamation recorded her lifetime-best clocking of 1:48 3/5 in the Glen Garnsey at The Red Mile.
MAD MAX IS BACK: The current best horse in training at The Big M is Mad Max Hanover, and on Saturday (March 22) night, the Jake Leamon trainee will be gunning for his fifth straight win in the 10th-race feature, a $25,000 winners-over pace.
The 6-year-old gelded son of Always B Miki-Mayhem Seelster, who is North America’s fastest performer this year by virtue of a 1:48 2/5 clocking on Feb. 22, will depart from post nine with driver Brett Beckwith calling the shots. In his last two starts, ‘Max’ took down arch-rival For Once Inmy Life. He doesn’t face that foe this time around, but will not have an easy time of it. Write Me A Rose looked good winning from post nine a week ago in 1:51 and will try to repeat from post five.
LOEBS HAS GRAND NIGHT: Sean Loebs was the winner of the third installment of the 2025 Meadowlands Monthly Handicapping contest, which was held on Friday (March 14). Loebs won the competition, which offered $1,000 in prize money, by finishing the night with a bankroll of $640.80. Loebs walked away with the first prize of $500.
Finishing second with $624.60 was Joe Barre, who cashed in for $250.
Loebs and Barre have now qualified for the $10,000 competition that takes place in December.
Dan Gieck finished third with $597.45 to earn $150 while fourth-place finisher Michael Grib cashed in for $100 after finishing with a bankroll of $489.80.
The fourth edition of the 2025 Meadowlands Monthly Handicapping contest takes place on Saturday (April 19). The event, which takes place once a month, goes for prize money totaling $1,000.
For those interested in taking part, these are the details:
• There is a $1,000 prize pool and the top two finishers earn entry into a December invitation-only tournament that will go for $10,000 in prize money.
• Contestants must be on-site to participate.
• For complete information, and to enter, go here.
-edited release (Meadowlands)