Rich final four on tap

Harness racing's top 2 year olds will have their last chance to stamp themselves as contenders for end-of-year awards in the $1.7 million Fall Final Four on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

The Fall Final Four includes the $410,000 Goldsmith Maid for trotting fillies (race two), $432,700 Valley Victory for trotting colts (race four), $439,000 Three Diamonds for pacing fillies (race five) and $450,000 Governor's Cup for pacing colts (race seven). The evening also features drawings for one-of-a-kind hockey experiences with the New York Rangers. Post time is 7:30 p.m.

Pampered Princess and her entrymate Celebrity Speedie were installed as the 4-5 morning line favorite in the $410,000 Goldsmith Maid. Trained by Jimmy Takter, the nearly flawless filly picked up her 10th win this season with an effortless 1:56.4 mile in last week's Goldsmith Maid eliminations. The likely divisional champion, she is owned by Bob Anderson of St. Thomas, Ont., and David Anderson of Hillsburgh, Ont. A $240,000 yearling purchase, she has earned $626,244 thus far. The only blemish among her 11 career starts was a second-place finish in the $600,000 Breeders Crown on Oct. 28 at Woodbine.

Pampered Princess drew post two and will be driven by Takter in the Goldsmith Maid final, while her stablemate has the rail with Ron Pierce listed to drive.

"This is just a tremendous filly and deserves a shot in this race," Takter noted. "(John Campbell, who had driven the filly until he was sideline with a broken leg) said she was the best 2 year old he's ever sat behind, and that's a pretty big statement."

After a strong runner-up finish in last week's prep race, Rushmore Hanover was given the slight edge as the 5-2 favorite in the $432,700 Valley Victory for trotting colts. Locked in and full of trot in the stretch, Rushmore Hanover finished three-quarters of a length behind prep winner Stunt Man Hall. Trained by brothers Ray and Larry Remmen, Rushmore Hanover has a win, four seconds and a third in eight starts with earnings of $62,972 so far this year. Earlier this season, he was second in the $56,325 Harriman Cup at the Meadowlands and third in an $82,800 division of the Bluegrass at The Red Mile.

Rushmore Hanover drew post two in the Valley Victory final and will be driven by Andy Miller.

"I am very happy with the way he raced and how he finished," Ray Remmen said after the Valley Victory prep. "He showed he could go with these horses. With a good trip, we should have a shot. He will have a break after this, and we will bring him back in late spring."

Isabella Blue Chip, the Sweetheart winner, was given the slight nod of 2-1 favorite in the $439,000 Three Diamonds for pacing fillies. She will start from post six with David Miller in the sulky. Trained by George Teague Jr., Isabella Blue Chip comes into the Three Diamonds with seven wins, three seconds and two thirds from 14 starts and earnings of $439,083. She took her lifetime mark of 1:52.2 in the $435,000 Sweetheart on Aug. 4 and set a half-mile track and world record of 1:53.1 in the Standardbred Stakes on Sept. 21 at the Delaware (Ohio) fairgrounds. The daughter of Bettor's Delight races for Patrick and Marianne Callahan's Only Money Inc. of Hartley, Del., and Teague Inc. of Houston, Del.

Isabella Blue Chip will try to become only the fourth filly to possess both the Sweetheart and Three Diamonds crowns. Only on three occasions since the Sweetheart debuted in 1979 have the winners returned to capture the Three Diamonds: Freedom's Friend in 1993, Immortality in 1992 and Miss Easy in 1990.

Artzina, another frontrunner for divisional honors, has earned the role of 2-1 favorite in the $450,000 Governor's Cup for pacing colts. The son of Artiscape has been no worse than third in 11 of 12 starts this season for trainer Dylan Davis. His seven victories include the $221,176 Matron at Dover and $175,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final at the Meadowlands. New York City advertising mogul Kal Liebowitz bred the colt and shares ownership of him with Marc Rubach of West New York, N.J. Artzina will start from post four in the Governor's Cup final with Jack Moiseyev at the lines. (Meadowlands)

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