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Thursday, July 20, 2017

Friday Is Kindergarten Night at The Meadowlands

The Meadowlands - Friday's card at The Meadowlands is filled with future stars with five races dedicated to the popular Kindergarten series for two-year-old pacers and trotters.

Trotting colts were most plentiful as nineteen entrants necessitated a pair of divisions, carded as races three and eight. 

The third race showcases another impressive Chapter Seven colt from the connections of Hambo favorite Walner. Seven Iron (PP #8) has been improving with each start and went his best race in an overnight last week finishing a close second in 1:56.3. Linda Toscano trains the $100,000 Harrisburg buy for Kenny Jacobs and Tim Tetrick has the drive.

There are several really nice colts in the eighth race and odds maker Dave Brower has tabbed Hill Street (PP #6) as the 3-1 choice. Hill Street is a product of the Jimmy Takter school of trotting and took a 1:56.3 record for driver Yannick Gingras in a Kindergarten leg two weeks ago. The $180,000 Lexington prize purchase by Brixton Medical, John Fielding, Herb Liverman and Bud Hatfield looks to keep his record perfect on Friday.

The fairier sex of freshman trotters is represented in the fourth race where Takter holds a pat hand with favored Chanel Me starting from the rail with Gingras. The homebred Muscle Hill lass is the first foal of the accomplished stakes winning mare To Dream On, she makes her debut in the Kindergarten for Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld.

Pacers? We got 'em with ten colts set for the ninth where I'm A Big Deal will attempt to live up to his adorably pretentious moniker and  $300,000 price tag. He's had a pair of impressive qualifiers, though he's yet to taste victory for trainer Chris Ryder who owns the colt in partnership with Craig Henderson and Bob Mondillo. He'll leave from mid-pack in post six for Dave Miller.

Pacing fillies wrap up the eleven race card where Kissin In The Sand looks to score her second Kindergarten win from post eight. She handled the opposition easily last week taking a sharp 1:53 mark, three lengths clear of the field. Nancy Johansson trains the $130,000 yearling lass for Marvin Katz and Bud Hatfield. Gingras has the drive.

It's Corntastic weekend and the buffet theme is Italian, so come early and enjoy the fun.

Post time is 7:15 p.m.