A total of fifteen trotters have been
nominated for the inaugural Elitlopp Playoff at the New Meadowlands
Racetrack. The list of horses nominated reads like a “who’s who” of North
American trotters with combined earnings of well over $19 million
dollars. Thirteen of the fifteen have records under 1:52.
With an
estimated purse of $150,000, the Elitlopp Playoff is a collaborative effort
between executives at Solvalla Racetrack in Sweden and the Meadowlands.
The race will highlight a special afternoon Mother’s Day card at the
Meadowlands on Sunday, May 8th. The winner will receive an
automatic invitation to compete in the Elitlopp at Solvalla on Sunday, May 29th.
In accordance with Swedish rules, horses in the Elitlopp Playoff will not be
permitted to race with the medication Lasix or with trotting hobbles.
“We are very
excited to host the Elitlopp Playoff race and look forward to welcoming our
guests from Sweden coming over that weekend for the event,” said Meadowlands
Chairman Jeff Gural. “With all the fans and all the interest, the
Elitlopp reminds me of our Little Brown Jug which is my favorite racing event
to go to every year.”
Here’s is the
complete list of Elitlopp Playoff nominees:
Bee A
Magician (M) – 2013
Horse of The Year - $3.7 million; 1:51
Crazy Wow – one of two 4-year-olds nominated -
$1.2 million; 1:51.1
Creatine – 2015 Breeders Crown champion - $2.1
million; 1:51.2
DW’s NY
Yank - $972,000;
1:51.3
Flanagan
Memory – 2015 Cashman
champion - $896,000; 1:51.4
Gural
Hanover - $716,000;
1:51.3
Homicide
Hunter – 4-year-old
Indiana star – won 16 of 18 races last year - $562,000; 1:53.4
JL Cruze – Dan Patch champion - $660,000;
1:49.4
Natural
Herbie - $902,000;
1:51.4
Obrigado - $747,000; 1:51.3
Opulent
Yankee - $221,000;
1:51.4
Perfectly
Enough – won Swedish
Breeders Crown at age 3; has earned over $2.4 million SEK in Europe - never
raced in North America – mounting a comeback for trainer Marcus Melander
Resolve – TVG Trot champion - $915,000; 1:50.4
Shake It
Cerry (M) – multiple
Dan Patch Champion - $2.4 million; 1:51.2
Wind Of The
North – 2015 Elitlopp
starter - $470,000; 1:51
The Eltilopp Playoff will be contested
at a distance of one mile if ten horses or less enter. The race will be
at a mile-and-an-eighth if 11 or 12 horses enter. If 13 or more horses
enter, the 12 highest money earners will start. Horses not nominated to
the Elitlopp Playoff can be supplemented to the race at time of entry for a
supplemental fee of $15,000.
