East Rutherford, NJ --- Saturday's
night's Meadowlands card may look familiar as you page through the program but
don't be put off by that sense of déjà vu. Half of the card are Winter Series
finals and a few other stakes, casualties of last Saturday's snow-out that were
carried over in tact to this weekend.
The stakes action begins in race two
with the $49,000 Charles Singer
trotting final. Super Bowl series champ JL Cruze goes in as the
favorite, taking on six rivals for John Campbell from post one. A model of
consistency throughout the winter racing, JL Cruze has won four of six and
$52,500 for trainer Eric Ell and owners Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar Jr. and Steve
Iaquinta.
He'll face a triumvirate of trotters
coupled as the 1, 1A and 1B entry which contains Opulent Yankee who
has also been rock solid thus far in 2015 with three wins and
three seconds in six seasonal starts. Among those wins are a pair over JL Cruze,
both sub-1:54 efforts. The Millers, Andy driving and Julie training, send
Opulent Yankee out in quest of the big prize on behalf of Jeff Gural's Little
E, LLC and his partners Art Geiger, Jason Settlemoir and Dave Stolz.
The $59,000 Sonsam final for 3- and
4-year-old pacing males (race six) shapes up as an intriguing contest
matching the speedy Rockeyed Optimist against potential series sweeper
Major Uptrend.
Rockeyed Optimist has really blossomed
into a solid performer this season at age four for Anthony Perretti, Ginny
Berkner, A&B Stable and Joe Battaglia. He closed out his 1:50.3 leg two win
with a searing :25.4 final panel, under his own power in his first race
with The Meadowlands' hottest reinsman Brett Miller aboard for trainer Steve
Elliott.
Major Uptrend has had a successful winter
campaign already and captured both Sonsam leg starts in forwardly placed
fashion for Meadowlands leading trainer/driver combo of Ron Burke and Yannick
Gingras and owner Howard Taylor.
Quality eclipses quantity as a competitive
field of six pacing mares (five betting interests) will contest the $50,600
Burning Point final (race 11). Empress Deo has gradually earned the
respect of the oddsmaker and horseplayer alike as she attempts
the difficult series sweep. After having returned a $30 mutuel in leg one,
then $12 last week, she goes into the final as the morning line choice. Brett
Miller drives for trainer Wayne Givens and owner Legacy Racing of Delaware.
The Buddy Gilmour series is restricted to
sophomore pacing colts and geldings and offers a look at two of the more
exciting prospects we've seen thus far in 2015. They drew apart for the opening
$17,500 Gilmour divisions, heightening the anticipation of an eventual match-up
down the road.
National Seelster was unraced at two, but
has certainly caught the eye of racing fans this winter with an impressive pair
of wins against overnight company. He is an imposing presence from the rail in
race five with Andy Miller at the lines for trainer Chris Ryder and owners Bob
Mondillo and Oompa's Farm.
The talented but lightly raced Wiggle It
Jiggleit came to The Meadowlands for a leg of the Sonsam two weeks ago with
some pretty imposing lines on his card and left with the respect of his peers
after a crushing first-over 1:49.4 win against older horses.
Owner George Teague Jr. skipped leg two of
the Sonsam and bypasses the final of that series to race against his age group
in this late closer. That is good news for those racing in the Sonsam final but
not such good news for his rivals in the Gilmour. The extra week without a race
may be cause for concern with this guy for some, but the Teague operation
always brings them ready to race. Montrell Teague drives and Clyde Francis trains
the Mr Wiggles gelding.
On the wagering front, the last race
Jackpot Hi-5 carryover goes into Friday night's card at $137,815. That and
the other various guaranteed wagers are available for the value
seeking horseplayer. Post
time is 7:15 p.m.
