OK Commander scratched from Meadowlands Pace

OK Commander, who won his Meadowlands Pace elimination last Saturday night but developed an abscess in a leg afterward, has been scratched out of this Saturday’s $1 million final at the Meadowlands. Although trainer Gregg McNair told harnessracing.com earlier this week that he remained optimistic of entering OK Commander into the final, he pulled the colt out before the draw on Wednesday. 

 

OK Commander is the first elimination winner to miss the final since BG’s Bunny in the inaugural Meadowlands Pace in 1977, which was raced that year with same-day elims and final. BG’s Bunny, who won his elim in a world-record 1:54, did not return that night for the final after being scratched due to lameness. 

 

With OK Commander out of the race, the open spot goes to Delmarvalous as the second fastest of the fourth-place finishers in the three elims. Sportswriter, by virtue of being the fastest, already earned a spot in the final.

 

The connections of elim winners Rock N Roll Heaven and Rockin Image will pick their posts for the $1 million final, while the other eight will have an open draw for the remaining post positions.

 

“I wish they would have scratched after the draw,” Delmarvalous’s trainer, George Teague Jr. said with a laugh about his colt now having a spot on the starting gate for Saturday’s rich final. Teague also trains Meadowlands Pace starter I'm Gorgeous, who finished second in his elim behind Rockin Image.