Recently crowned Graduate Series champions Bella Bellini and Rattle My Cage will put win streaks on the line when they lead a field of 11 horses into Saturday’s $432,000 E.T. Gerry Jr. Hambletonian Maturity for four-year-old trotters at The Meadowlands.
Eddie Dennis usually remains quiet when watching his horses compete. But as Hellabalou charged down the stretch on his way to an 81-1 upset in his Meadowlands Pace elimination last Saturday, the trainer made an exception.
“I don’t ever holler for a horse, but I hollered for him the other night,” Dennis said with a laugh. “It was a nice treat. We thought we could make the final. We didn’t realize we might maybe have that big of a shot to win.
“He just responded. That’s him. If he’s in that position and he’s healthy and everything is going his way, he responds. He likes to pass horses when he’s on his game. He knows what that’s all about.”
Temperatures may be falling, but many popular wagers at The Meadowlands have seen payoffs on the rise of late, much to the delight of those playing at the mile oval.