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Meadowlands Pace To Be Shown Live On Fox Sports 2 Saturday Night

A large part of the experience of The Meadowlands Pace, one of harness racing's greatest events, is the soundtrack that accompanies it.

“The Pace” are two words that elicit more than 40 years of memories of the greatest horses, greatest drivers, and, of course, greatest race calls in the history of the game.

Old-timers might recall Ed Gorman's 1980 Pace call, which included arguably the greatest horse ever: “And they are following Niatross and nobody's gonna catch him. It's Niatross by four and he's going away!”

Tom Durkin, who later in his career would go down as one of the greatest thoroughbred announcers of all time after his Big M stay, had this to say in 1985: “Nihilator, what a powerhouse, he's in full stride. Here's Nihilator, Bill O'Donnell urging him, to a sensational mile. 1:50.3. Nihilator! A superstar!”

In 2008, the late, great Sam McKee got to call what has been the most thrilling Pace to date as Somebeachsomewhere looked to stay unbeaten: “Somebeachsomewhere full out. Art Official, a desperate lunge on the outside. Art Official. Somebeachsomewhere. At the line…..Art Official! 1:47! World record upset in The Pace.”

And, finally, last year, the current voice of The Big M, Ken Warkentin, authored this thrilling finish: “In deep stretch, Papi Rob Hanover. Battling back, Tall Dark Stranger had more. Tall…Dark…Stranger in The Meadowlands Pace with Yannick Gingras!”

(All of the above races and many more are available by going to the Meadowlands YouTube Page.)

This Saturday (July 17), the 45th edition of The Big M's signature event will take center stage on a star-studded 14-race card that will include 11 stakes events. The evening gets underway with a special early post time of 6 p.m. The Meadowlands Pace is race nine and has a post time of 9:46 p.m.

For harness fans who can't make it out to the track or who live in another region of the country, there will be a live two-hour show telecast on Fox Sports 2 starting at 8 p.m. The Big M's TV team of Dave Brower and Dave Little will be on set, Jessica Otten will have pre-race features and interviews and Gabe Prewitt will join the team and have winner's circle reaction.

The Fox Sports 2 presentation will show four live events, which will comprise the “Fox Sports Pick Four” (races six through nine): The $178,500 Dorothy Haughton Memorial, $265,400 William Haughton Memorial (Division One) and $400,000 Hambletonian Maturity will serve as the appetizers before the main course, the $700,000 Pace.

The supporting races on the card would be the envy of any track manager even without the events that make up the Fox Sports Pick Four. They are, in order, beginning with race one: the $142,000 Del Miller Memorial (Division One), $135,500 Stanley Dancer Memorial (Division One), $139,500 Del Miller Memorial (Division Two), $174,400 Mistletoe Shalee and $40,000 Miss Versatility before races six through nine (see above). Then, the stakes resume with the $265,400 William Haughton Memorial (Division Two) and $138,800 Stanley Dancer Memorial (Division Two).

“Pace Night is always something special,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “It's just more special this year coming on the heels of the pandemic. The Meadowlands is expecting a big crowd and we are pulling out all the stops for our guests to enjoy the party on the biggest night in harness racing.”

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Equibase Analysis: Midnight Bourbon Poised To Upset Haskell

This Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park drew a field of seven, led by Grade 1 Kentucky Derby runner-up Mandaloun and third place finisher Hot Rod Charlie, both of whom have run well since then. Mandaloun won the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth since the Derby, while Hot Rod Charlie finished second in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, so both enter the Haskell in top form.

Midnight Bourbon finished sixth in the Derby before a second place finish in the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, so also fits the bill of a horse that has been competitive at the top level for 3-year-olds. Following Sea is the unknown factor in the race, having won his last two races by an average of six lengths and in powerful fashion, but he is racing in a stakes and running in a route race for the first time. Antigravity, Basso, and Pickin' Time round out the field, the latter the only stakes winner among the three as he captured the Grade 3 Nashua Stakes last November before three much poorer efforts.

Midnight Bourbon intrigues this handicapper in this year's Haskell Stakes. Midnight Bourbon got the jump on many a Kentucky Derby contender when winning the Lecomte Stakes in January following three months off, easily beating Mandaloun by a length. Following that, he finished third behind Mandaloun in the Risen Star Stakes then second behind Hot Rod Charlie in the Louisiana Derby, a race in which Mandaloun checked in sixth. In the Kentucky Derby, Midnight Bourbon was bumped early and four wide on both turns but managed to rally from 12th to sixth at the end while his two foes each got much better trips. Returning two weeks later in the Preakness, which both the other two passed, Midnight Bourbon stalked the pacesetter in second before making the lead and opening up with an eighth of a mile to go before being run down by Rombauer.

Still, Midnight Bourbon was two lengths clear of Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit and much further ahead of the other seven horses. Considering his breeding, it is no surprise Midnight Bourbon fits at the top level and two of his half-brothers (same dam) have had tremendous success at Monmouth. One of those is Pirates Punch, who won both the Iselin Stakes and Salvator Mile Stakes last year. More importantly, the other is 2017 Haskell winner Girvin, who earned more than $1.6 million in his career. With consistent ™ Equibase® Speed Figures going back to the Lecomte of 99, 95, 96, 99 and 98, it is conceivable Midnight Bourbon could be that much more mature with two months off and can turn the tables on both Hot Rod Charlie and Mandaloun to win this year's Haskell Stakes.

Mandaloun really needs no talking up as his 4-1-1 record in seven career starts speaks for itself. Ignoring the Louisiana Derby where he finished sixth and considering he rebounded nicely for second in the Kentucky Derby following that race, Mandaloun has showed up every time he has run. Following the Derby, Mandaloun was very game in securing a neck victory last month in the local prep for the Haskell, the Pegasus Stakes, and certainly familiarity with the track has its benefits. Having earned a 110 ™ Figure in the Derby then following that up with a 109 figure in the Pegasus, Mandaloun should be expected to run another “A” race good enough to win in this race.

Hot Rod Charlie has a tremendous competitive spirit as evidenced by finishing no worse than third in all seven route races in his career, the last five of those graded stakes. After proving his runner-up effort at 94 to 1 odds in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last fall was no fluke when winning the Louisiana Derby two races later this past March, the colt was third in the Kentucky Derby (109 figure) before his runner up effort in the Belmont Stakes (108 figure) last month. The one knock Hot Rod Charlie may have, however, is he doesn't have any type of explosive kick. In the last quarter mile of his past six races, he has not really passed a horse. For example, in the Derby he was third for the last part of the race and in the Belmont he was second for the last quarter mile. Blinkers are removed for the Haskell which may help him find that added kick in the stretch when he sees his opponents better and certainly Hot Rod Charlie has earned his place among the top 3-year-olds of 2021 and might make his mark in this year's Haskell.

Honorable mention goes to Following Sea, who finished second in his debut in March before authoritatively winning his other two races. Earning a 110 figure competitive with the top contenders in this race while geared down to a five and three-quarter length win in April, in only the second start of his career, Following Sea won just as easily by 6 1/2 lengths last month with a 105 figure effort. Going from a sprint (6 1/2 furlongs) to a nine-furlong race is a tall order, but Following Sea is now in the hands of Todd Pletcher so there is no question he is ready for this test. As to pedigree, sire Runhappy's progeny have won 11 of 55 route races to date, though few have contested stakes. If not for the lack of experience in route races, Following Sea might have been my top choice to win this race.

The rest of the field, with their best ™ Equibase® Speed Figures, is Antigravity (97), Basso (82) and Pickin' Time (91).

Win Contenders:
Midnight Bourbon
Mandaloun
Hot Rod Charlie

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TVG Plans Extensive Coverage Of Del Mar Meet

Opening Day at Del Mar begins on Friday, July 16 and TVG, America's horse racing network, will be live on-site for each day of the prestigious meet with enhanced coverage, features and expert analysis. The weekend broadcast will also include the $1 million TVG Haskell Invitational from Monmouth Park featuring TVG Pegasus Stakes winner Mandaloun and Belmont Stakes (GI) runner-up Hot Rod Charlie.

TVG will have a full roster of talent on-site at Del Mar throughout the meet including Todd Schrupp, Simon Bray, Christina Blacker, Joaquin Jaime, Caleb Keller, Dave Weaver and Scott Hazelton with exclusive interviews, insights and handicapping selections. There will be new touchscreen technology on the set which will allow mark-up replays and graphics to introduce enhanced handicapping coverage.

The supersized coverage will utilize a total of 28 cameras – eight more than in previous meets – and will also give fans a behind-the-scenes look through a Jockey Cam utilized every day of the meet by leading riders including Umberto Rispoli, Flavien Prat and Jessica Pyfer.

“We're investing more than ever before and pulling out all the stops to give viewers an immersive experience for the Runhappy Del Mar summer meet,” said Kevin Grigsby, Executive Producer and Senior Vice President of Television. “We're not just covering the races. We plan to follow horses from the barn, to the paddock, to the gate, around the track and back, and we plan to use the jockey cams to give our viewers a closer look at some of what happens before the actual races in a way that helps their handicapping.”

Del Mar has a ten-race card lined up for Opening Day and the featured race is the $100,000 Runhappy Oceanside Stakes. Restricted to three-year-olds, the one-mile contest will be contested on the turf and has drawn a full field of fourteen sophomores. Dream Shake, third in the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (GI) will be making his turf debut for trainer Peter Eurton and will have Joe Bravo in the irons.

The coverage of Del Mar's meet will run through Labor Day and will include the TVG Pacific Classic (GI) on August 21. The TVG Pacific Classic is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge races which will earn the winner an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup which will be held at Del Mar on November 5-6.

There will be on-site coverage throughout the weekend at Monmouth Park leading up to the $1 million TVG.com Haskell Invitational on Saturday, July 17. TVG's Mike Joyce, Gabby Gaudet, Caton Bredar and Larry Collmus will be reporting live from New Jersey with insights, interviews and analysis leading up to the marquee race for 3-year-olds.

The TVG Haskell (GI) has drawn a field of seven 3-year-olds with the Doug O'Neill-trained Hot Rod Charlie installed as the morning line favorite at 6-5 odds with Flavien Prat aboard. Mandaloun, a homebred for Juddmonte Farms, is the second choice at odds of 2-1 for trainer Brad Cox and jockey Florent Geroux.

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NYRA Partners With Monmouth For All Graded Stakes Pick 6 On Saturday

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will offer a pair of unique wagering opportunities on Saturday featuring graded stakes action from Saratoga Race Course, including an all graded stakes $0.20 Pick 6 in partnership with Monmouth Park and a cross-breed Cross Country Pick 5 in tandem with Meadowlands.

The $0.20 Saratoga/Monmouth Pick 6, which will feature a low 15 percent takeout and mandatory payout, will include Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Sanford [Race 9, 5:40 p.m.], a six-furlong sprint for juveniles; and the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana [Race 10, 6:16 p.m.], a nine-furlong inner turf test for older fillies and mares from Saratoga.

FOX broadcast network (FOX) will present a special Opening Weekend show beginning at 5:30 p.m. Eastern, highlighted by the 83rd running of the Diana.

The $0.20 Saratoga/Monmouth Pick 6 Pick 6 will kick off with the Grade 3, $300,000 Monmouth Cup [Race 8, 3:29 p.m.] at nine furlongs for 3-year-olds and up; and include the Grade 3, $250,000 Molly Pitcher [Race 10, 4:38 p.m.], for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at 1 1/16-miles on the main track; the Grade 1, $500,000 United Nations [Race 11, 5:12 p.m.], an 11-furlong turf test for 3-year-olds and up; and featuring the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell [Race 12, 5:47 p.m.] at nine-furlongs for sophomores.

$0.20 Pick 6 for Saturday, July 17
Leg A – Monmouth Park – Race 8, G3 Monmouth Cup, 3:29 p.m.
Leg B – Monmouth Park – Race 10, G3 Molly Pitcher, 4:38 p.m.
Leg C – Monmouth Park – Race 11, G1 United Nations, 5:12 p.m.
Leg D – Saratoga – Race 9, G3 Sanford, 5:40 p.m.
Leg E – Monmouth Park – Race 12, G1 Haskell, 5:47 p.m.
Leg F – Saratoga – Race 10, G1 Diana, 6:16 p.m.

Also being offered on Saturday's wagering menu is a cross-breed Cross Country Pick 5 in partnership with the Meadowlands, the harness racing track located in East Rutherford New Jersey.

Current New York State regulations allow NYRA to accept wagering only on standardbred races that take place in New York. As such, the cross-breed Cross Country Pick 5 will not be available on-track at Saratoga or to NYRA Bets customers located in New York State. The cross-breed Cross Country Pick 5 is available to NYRA Bets, LLC customers outside of New York State.

In addition to the Diana and Sanford, the cross-breed Cross Country Pick 5 will feature the $450,000 William Haughton Memorial [Race 7, 8:37 p.m.] for free-for-all pacers ages four and older; the $400,000 Hambletonian Maturity for 4-year-old trotters [Race 8, 9:05 p.m.]; and the $700,000 Meadowlands Pace [Race 9, 9:38 p.m.] for 3-year-old pacers at the Meadowlands.

The Meadowlands Pace will be broadcast live on a special edition of America's Day at the Races on FS2 from 8-10 p.m. Eastern.

The cross-breed Cross Country Pick 5, which will have a mandatory payout, features a 15 percent takeout and $0.50 base.

Cross-breed Cross Country Pick 5 for Saturday, July 17
Leg A – Saratoga – Race 9, G3 Sanford, 5:40 p.m.
Leg B – Saratoga – Race 10, G1 Diana, 6:16 p.m.
Leg C – Meadowlands – Race 7, William Haughton Memorial, 8:37 p.m.
Leg D – Meadowlands, Race 8, Hambletonian Maturity, 9:05 p.m.
Leg E – Meadowlands, Race 9, Meadowlands Pace, 9:38 p.m.

Free Equibase past performances for both sequences will be available for download at https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/cross-country-wagers.

First post at Saratoga on Saturday is 1:05 p.m. Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the 40-day summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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