East
Rutherford, NJ – There's plenty going on
at The Meadowlands this weekend with March Madness featured in Victory Sports Bar, another handicapping contest dangling a pair of seats in the big $50,000 World Harness
Handicapping Contest as bait and a spring break travel prize supporting the dozen live races on Saturday's card.
The Meadowlands racing
continues to offer extraordinary value to the horseplayer with competitive
races leading to a low percentage of winning favorites supplemented by low
take-out and guaranteed pools on the exotics. Free programs for the Late Pick 4
both Friday and Saturday may be downloaded here, compliments of
Trackmaster.
The racing feature on
the Saturday card is a high-class condition pace with a
compelling blend (both equine and human) of established
performers versus the next wave of potential stars looking to make their
mark. We'll compare the accomplished eight-year-old Great Vintage who is
approaching $1 million in career earnings with Allbeef N Nobull who at
half that age likely has his best days before him. Both are making their
first starts of the 2016 season.
Great Vintage was
actually brought back to the races from retirement last season
(he's currently breeding mares as well) to pick up $219,840 and equal
his career best 1:49.1 in just 17 starts last year. Along the way he raced
in several stakes and beat the top horses in the Jerry Taylor invitational
for trainer Jimmy Takter. After a few months away and three qualifiers to
get into racing shape, Great Vintage will race on Lasix for the first
time.
The Meadowlands welcomes
USHWA Driver of the Year and Hall of Famer Dave Miller back from his
Florida winter hiatus with Saturday's card. Miller is listed on a full
slate of drives, among them is Great Vintage
Allbeef N Nobull didn't
make headlines last year, competing largely on the PA Sires Stake trail, but
did grind out $176,632 on the strength of six wins in 23 outings. He's had but
a single qualifier in anticipation of his seasonal bow, that was a solid
front stepping 1:55.3 mile with a sharp 27.1 close for twenty-two year old
rising star Joe Bongiorno, who drives for the Ron Burke barn on Saturday.
The balance of the field
also appears to be in good form with Art History and K-Lees Shakenbake both
back after finishing one-two in last week's pacing feature. Nine good horses
will face the Danny Dale starting gate in this one, race six on your program.
The fun begins at 7:15
p.m.
