Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Meadowlands Summer Stakes Draw Increased Nominations

March 2, 2005

Eleven of the 15 major summer stakes at the Meadowlands in 2005, including all the two-year-old events, closed with nominations equal or greater than the previous year, some the highest since the early 1990s.

Village Jolt, the Dan Patch Award winning Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt of 2004, headlines the 78 sophomores nominated to the track's signature event, the $1 million Meadowlands Pace on July 16. The Pace drew four more nominees than last year and the highest total since 2001.

Sixty-six three-year-old pacing fillies, including divisional champion Restive Hanover, were nominated to the $350,000 Mistletoe Shalee on August 6. The 66 fillies nominated represented an increase of 21 over last year and the highest in a decade.

The $400,000 Peter Haughton Memorial for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings on August 4, drew 121 nominees, up 31 from 2004 and the highest in nearly a decade. The filly companion race to the Peter Haughton, the $400,000 Merrie Annabelle on August 4, attracted 118, up 17 from 2004.

In the two-year-old pacing divisions, the $400,000 Woodrow Wilson was up by six to 95 colts and 90 fillies, five more than last year, were named to the $400,000 Sweetheart. Both finals are on August 5.

The events for older trotters were especially well received with 38 nominated to the $180,000 Arthur J. Cutler [up by 20 versus 2004] on May 21 and the $240,000 Titan Cup with 42 [up by 14] on July 2.

The older pacing events also drew well with 37 paid into the $225,000 Graduate, up by 10, on May 21. Nominations are available at: http://www.thebigm.com/stakesNom.asp .