They're Back !!!

The eyes of harness racing turns to East Rutherford with the kick off of the Meadowlands' 2010 standardbred meet tomorrow evening (January 1).  Despite the dire situation in New Jersey, the Meadowlands still remains the crown jewel of harness racing.  The first card of the season features thirteen races.  Thanks to Yonkers Raceway being on hiatus for one more week, fans are being treated to an evening of full fields.  Not only are there Invitationals for trotters and pacing mares, there is an Open for pacers who are ten years old and up. 

The opening of the Meadowlands season presents handicappers a serious challenge.  Horses come from various tracks and many are returning from long layoffs in anticipation of this meet.  Handicapping horses off of layoffs and qualifiers as well as evaluating the quality of the competition at other tracks is the challenge at hand.  However, these difficulties provide the astute handicapper an opportunity to pick up some hidden gems at attractive prices.        

Here are my early selections for Friday evening.

1st Trot - $21,000; NW 17,250 last 6 starts
7 - Pembroke Prayer  9-2
3 - Drill Sergeant Sam  15-1
5 - Jaavos Boy  3-1

2nd Pace - $15,000; FM NW 10,000 last 6 starts
5 - Cruzin Inya Jammys  5-1
3 - Terroronthebeach  7-2
1 - Little Mermaid N  8-1

3rd Trot - $21,000; NW 17,250 last 6 starts
1 - Libra Vita  9-2
9 - Dink Adoo  3-1
8 - Badboy Paparazzi A  6-1

4th Pace - $21,250; Claiming $30,000
  8 - Glass Pack  10-1
  3 - Hit Away  3-1
10 - Ideal Conditions 4-1
 1 - Haverford Hanover  7-2

5th Trot - $25,000; NW 22,500 last 6 starts
  8 - American Lane  10-1
  6 - Speed Bomb  5-2
10 - Peter Lugar  7-2

6th Pace - $25,000; Open 10 years old and up
8 - Image of Dawn  8-1
5 - Napoleon N  7-2
2 - Non commital A  9-2

7th Trot - $32,000 Invitational
3 - Lavec Dream  6-1
8 - Beach Nut Brand  9-2
5- Looking Hanover  7-2
1 - Likeabatoutahell  5-2

8th Pace - $25,000; FM NW 22,500 last 6 starts
4 -Mach You And Me  3-1
6 - I'm Betting On You  7-2
7 - Orphan Annie  9-2

9th Pace - $21,000; FM NW 16,000 last 6 starts
2 - Locamotion Baby  15-1
1 - Away We Go  12-1
7 - Dream McQueen  5-1
6-  O Narutac Bella  7-2

10th Pace - $32,000; Mares Invitational
4 - Native Bride  3-1
3 - Cuz She Can  7-2
1 - Natalie  10-1

11th Pace - $21,000; FM NW 16,000 last 6 starts
6 - Lightning Treasure  8-1
3 - Village Bolero  2-1
7 -  KG Delight  4-1

12th Pace - $17,000; FM Claiming $30,000
5 - My Fanny  5-1
8 - Jilsander N  9-2
3 - Armbrom Dandelion  8-1

13th Pace - $17,000; Claiming $30,000
6 - Last Orders  3-1
3 - Western Prince  10-1
8 - Ball McCartney N  15-1
1 - Marchand  15-1