Meadowland Pace picks – Grand Circuit $1 Million Challenge
The Meadowlands Pace this Saturday kicks off the Grand Circuit $1 Million Challenge and we’ve assembled a crackerjack group of experts to help you as you make your first pick in the contest.
JK Endofanera has won the season’s biggest race to date and his Pace elimination last week, making him the most accomplished sophomore of the group. He is a logical top pick as the race favorite.
He’s Watching was last year’s division leader and his elimination win last week was a big move forward. He’s the chief threat.
Always Be Miki made up plenty of ground from an impossible spot last week and would be my choice to upset at a price.
Selections 2-3-9
3 HE’S WATCHING, 5 LUCK BE WITHYOU, 2 JK ENDOFANERA, 4 TELLITLIKEITIS
The morning line favorite is JK ENDOFANERA here. He has won 9 of 13 starts and comes off a game win in his elimination. He also showed versatility rallying from off the pace to win the North American Cup at Mohawk. Is he a good favorite? I wouldn’t bet any horse as the favorite in this field. My top pick is HE’S WATCHING. He was used extremely hard in the N.A. Cup and battled gamely to hold on to the show. Last week, HE’S WATCHING had no problem keeping up to fast fractions and was a handy winner. This is a key in this big races. The pace can be hectic and sometimes horses that you think are contenders struggled to keep up.
It looks like a great match up between the two favorites, but if they duel for the lead, which seems likely, it could set things up for a longshot. I like that HE’S WATCHING did not appear fully extended last week. JK ENDOFANERA seemed a bit more stretched out and that could take something out of him.
As for longshots, I put LUCK BE WITHYOU second. He had a strong two year old season and has gradually rounded into top form. Last week he showed speed leaving and held gamely in the stretch. Hall of Famer Ron Pierce has a knack of upsetting in these big races and I think LUCK BE WITHOU has a shot at a price. TELLITLIKEITIS showed speed and was shuffled last week; he’s paced some strong miles this year.
(3) He’s Watching- He exploded home in his elimination getting a perfect setup in the process. The way this race appears to set up, he may be tracking JK Endofanera, which could set things up for him to win. I wouldn’t be shocked if he goes off the favorite either. My selection.
(2) JK Endofanera- In his 13 race career, he has never been worse than 3rd. He wasn’t as sharp in his elimination as he was winning The North America Cup. I think he does his best work off a helmet and with a lot of speed in the middle of the field, that trip may happen.
(7) Jet Airway- Had he drawn a little bit better, I would have called him a legitimate win contender off his elimination. Had the worst trip of any of these and was pacing out of his skin late. With all the speed to his inside, he has to take back and make one move. Enough for a share.
Top three selections 3-2-7 (see more on the Meadowlands program)
Stay tuned next week as they make their picks for the Maple Leaf Trot.
These statements do not reflect the views of the Harness Racing Fan Zone or the United States Trotting Association