Eight in Cane Pace elim, Southwind Lynx gets bye

With Meadowlands Pace and Art Rooney winner Southwind Lynx receiving a bye directly into the Cane Pace final as the richest entrant, eight 3-year-old colt pacers will line up behind the gate at Freehold Raceway Saturday afternoon in a single $99,156 elimination, with only the last-place finisher not returning for the big dance.

Always A Virgin, coming off a Battle of the Brandywine stakes-record 1:51.3 victory at Harrah’s Chester Sunday, Aug. 19, has drawn post four in the elim for driver Brian Sears and trainer Joe Holloway. The son of Western Ideal has won six of his last seven starts, with his lone blemish coming when he made a late break while in contention in the $1 million Meadowlands Pace final as the betting favorite.

Last year’s Metro winner Yankee Skyscaper has drawn post two for driver David Miller and trainer Chris Ryder. The son of Artiscape is a three-time winner this year, but is coming off a parked-out, eighth-place finish in his Adios elimination Aug. 11 at The Meadows. On Friday, Aug. 17, Yankee Skyscaper romped to a 23-length qualifying win in 1:53.4 at Freehold.

Drawing the outside post eight in the Cane Pace elim is defending divisional champion Artzina, who is winless in five starts this year. In his most recent attempt, Artzina finished second behind Always A Virgin in his Battle of the Brandywine division. John Campbell gets the driving call from trainer Dylan Davis.

Here is the complete field with named drivers for the Cane Pace elimination:

1 Fresh Deck (George Brennan)

2 Yankee Skyscaper (David Miller)

3 Honkytonk Hanover (David Miller)

4 Always A Virgin (Brian Sears)

5 Ghee’s House (Yannick Gingras)

6 Pandoras Sox (John Campbell)

7 Tiber Hanover (David Miller)

8 Artzina (John Campbell)

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