A classic Big M opening

A quartet of $85,000 Classic Series divisions for older horses on Saturday highlights opening weekend of the Meadowlands’ fall harness meet. The 21-date meet opens Friday evening and runs through Saturday, Dec. 30. Live racing is scheduled Wednesday through Saturday nights, post time 7:30 p.m. Dark days are November 23 (Thanksgiving) and December 20-21 and 27-28.

Sand Vic, whose 10 victories this season include the $800,000 Breeders Crown and $300,000 Nat Ray Invitational at the Meadowlands, headlines the Trotting Classic division. The Trond Smedshammer trainee is rated as the 9-5 morning line favorite from post six in Saturday’s second race with Brian Sears at the lines. Sand Vic is the earnings leader in his division this season, with $1,100,180 banked. Lifetime, the 5-year-old son of Mr. Vic is closing in on the $2 million mark with $1,838,752 in earnings.

The entry of Peaceful Way and Ticket To Glide was installed the 6-5 morning line favorite in the Classic Oaks division, race three. Peaceful Way is the leading older trotting mare this season with $709,763 in earnings. Trained by David Tingley, she has won five of 10 starts in 2006, including the Armbro Flight at Mohawk and the Perretti Matchmaker at the Meadowlands. The defending divisional champion will start from post one with driver Trevor Ritchie.

Late-season sensation Glowing Report will put her six-race winning streak on the line in the Classic Distaff, race five, for trainer Jerry Silverman. The 5-year-old mare gets the nod as the even-money favorite from post four with driver David Miller. Her accomplishments this season include the Hanover Shoe Farms-britstud.com Matriarch at the Meadowlands, the Milton at Mohawk and the Allerage at The Red Mile. She is two-for-two in the Classic Series this year.

In the Pacing Classic, race six, Holborn Hanover will try to pick up where he left off after his 1:46.4 world record mile on Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands. He is tabbed as the 9-5 morning line favorite from post six and will be driven by George Brennan. Trained by Brett Robinson, Holborn Hanover has won nine of 26 starts this season and was runner-up in the Breeders Crown Open Pace.

The four $250,000 Classic finals will be held on Monday, Nov. 27, at Dover Downs where the top eight point earners in the series will race at a mile and a quarter distance to determine champions for each division.

In addition to the Classic Series, the stakes-laden lineup this weekend also includes the opening legs of the Charles Singer Memorial Trot for trotters on Friday and the Oil Burner and Snow Angel Series for pacers on Saturday. (Meadowlands)

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