Fall Final Four elims/preps

Two year olds take center stage this weekend in eliminations and prep races for the $1.7 million Fall Final Four on Dec. 2 at the Meadowlands. A quartet of stakes for youngsters, the Fall Final Four is comprised of the $450,000 Governor’s Cup for pacing colts, $439,000 Three Diamonds for pacing fillies, $432,700 Valley Victory for trotting colts and $410,000 Goldsmith Maid for trotting fillies.

It will take three eliminations this Friday night to decide the field for the $410,000 Goldsmith Maid for trotting fillies. Pampered Princess, a winner of nine of 10 starts, tops the field in the first of the three eliminations, race two. Half of a two-pronged entry from trainer Jimmy Takter, Pampered Princess is coupled in the wagering with Those Blue Eyes and rated as the 2-5 morning line favorite.

Pampered Princess strung together nine straight victories from July 8 through Oct. 20, including the Robert Stewart, Champlain and Oakville stakes at Mohawk, and Bluegrass and International Stallion Stakes at Lexington. After winning her Breeders Crown elimination, she had her streak snapped in the final by the Ron Gurfein-trained Possess The Magic on Oct. 28 at Woodbine. The daughter of Andover Hall tuned up for the Goldsmith Maid elims with a 1:57 breeze in a qualifier last week at the Meadowlands.

Michelle’s Angel, from the Richard Norman barn, and Merrie Annabelle winner Gerri’s Joy are among the contenders in the third race elimination, while Undercover Lover, the Matron and Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion, heads the field for the final elim, the fifth race. Elimination winners will have their choice of post position in the final.

The Friday card also features a $20,000 prep race for the Valley Victory, carded as race eight. All 11 trotting colts entered automatically advance to next Saturday’s $432,700 final. Jimmy Takter’s duo of Quite Easy, first or second in 10 of 12 starts, and Snowboarder, winner of Dover’s Matron in his last start, are rated as the 5-2 morning line favorite from posts 10 and two, respectively.

A pair of eliminations on Saturday night will decide the field for the $450,000 Governor’s Cup for pacing colts. Artzina, who has won seven of 12 starts for trainer Dylan Davis, is the 6-5 early favorite from post six in the second of the two $20,000 eliminations, race three. The consistent son of Artiscape picked up checks in the Goshen Cup, Woodrow Wilson, Metro and Breeders Crown earlier this season.

A $20,000 prep race for the $439,000 Three Diamonds is also slated for Saturday night. Little Miss Dragon will try to rebound off a fourth-place finish as the favorite in the Matron when she takes on the upset winner of that race, Current Hanover. Trained by Noel Daley, Little Miss Dragon is the 2-1 morning line favorite from post seven, while Richard Norman-trainee Current Hanover has drawn post three. All seven pacing fillies entered in the race will advance to next week’s Three Diamonds final along with Tidewater Dragon Fly, who opted to skip the prep race. (Meadowlands)

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