It would be hard to find a stronger field of horses anywhere to rival those that will get in behind the gate Saturday (Nov. 16) night at The Meadowlands in the featured $40,000 Preferred Handicap for trotters, in which, several of the competitors will be prepping for the Nov. 30 FanDuel Championships Open Trot.
Of the seven horses in the field, five have lifetime bank accounts that are in excess of $1 million, topped by the leading horse in the older trotting division this season – and current eighth-ranked horse in the weekly Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Standardbred Poll – Winner’s Bet, who will start out at 2-1 on the morning-line from post four in the 10th race.
The Nancy Takter trainee is in the midst of a stakes streak having taken the Hill Memorial, Caesars and Breeders Crown in his last three starts. Dexter Dunn, who guided six Breeders Crown winners three weeks ago at The Big M to give him the inside track on a fifth Dan Patch Driver of the Year Award in the last six years, will be in the sulky. He currently sits atop the North American money-earnings drivers’ list with $15.6 million.
Periculum (5-2) is the leading money-winning horse in the older male trotting divisions this year, having hit the board in 12 of 15 seasonal starts, with his big victory coming in the Maple Leaf Trot. The Marcus Melander student, who will leave from post seven, will be driven by defending Dan Patch Driver of the Year Scott Zeron.
Steele Memorial winner M-M’s Dream, off a third-place finish in the Breeders Crown Mare Trot, will start out at 5-1 from post one for driver Dave Miller and trainer Ron Burke. Oh Well (6-1, post five, Todd McCarthy, Melander), the 2022 Mohawk Million champion, and Hillexotic (8-1, post six, Yannick Gingras, Todd Luther), the 2023 Dayton Derby winner, round out the field’s quintet of seven-figure standouts.
ONE MORE HUGE NIGHT: The Meadowlands is known for its big-event programs, and with the Breeders Crown added to the mix this year, The Big M has already played host to Meadowlands Pace Night, Hambletonian Day and the Crown.
The last of the “Fab 2024” takes place on Saturday, Nov. 30, on Fall Final Four/FanDuel Championships Night.
Here are the eight major events that will take place that evening (with estimated purses that total $2.65 million):
· $400,000 Governor’s Cup (2YOC&GP)
· $400,000 Three Diamonds (2YOFP)
· $400,000 Valley Victory (2YOC>)
· $400,000 Goldsmith Maid (2YOFT)
· $350,000 FanDuel Open Pace
· $350,000 FanDuel Open Trot
· $175,000 FanDuel Open Mare Pace
· $175,000 FanDuel Open Mare Trot
Dexter Dunn is the heavy favorite for Driver of the Year. But who is going to be the Trainer of the Year? It’s wide open, which makes Nov. 30 even more compelling as a big day by a number of trainers could make their case to take home the TOTY hardware.
Similarly, Twin B Joe Fresh, who, by the way, is in the fourth qualifier Saturday afternoon at The Meadowlands, presumably to get ready to defend her FanDuel Open Mare Pace title, seems to have locked up Horse of the Year honors, but many of the other divisional honors in the sport could be decided on the final night of November.
2-YEAR-OLDS ON PARADE: In addition to the dash with the five millionaires, there will also be three divisions of the New Jersey Garden State for trotters and two divisions of the Home Grown for pacers on Saturday’s card. Purses for the five dashes for 2-year-olds total $258,000. Two of the races will be non-wagering events and take place before the betting card. Post time is 5 p.m.
-edited release (Meadowlands)