The $523,000 William R. Haughton Memorial will headline the Meadowlands Racetrack's stakes-laden summer finale on Saturday, August 20
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In addition to the track's richest event for free for all pacers, the program includes the $363,900 Sweetheart and $317,800 Woodrow Wilson for two-year-olds and the $235,700 Golden Girls for older mares.
We Will See headlines the Haughton field after having won five of his last six starts. The division leader captured his Haughton elimination in 1:48.3, thus giving driver Ron Pierce and trainer Sam DePinto their pick of Post 1 for the final. In his Haughton elim, We Will See was stuck behind dead cover and had to close from far back to stop the leader, Alexie Mattosie, by three-quarters of a length.
"I was scared at the beginning of the race, especially when all of that confusion happened going to the 5/8ths pole," DePinto said. "I told Ron [Pierce] before the race that this horse was better than he was last week. He was just super. Warming up, he was the best I've ever felt him. He's definitely going to be a threat in the final. I think he's the one to beat, but they're all good horses. [The elim] looked like the final to me."
We Will See has won eight of 16 starts this season, including the $500,000 Ben Franklin on July 3 at Chester Racetrack and a $174,250 division of the U.S. Pacing Championship in a razor-sharp 1:47.2 at the Meadowlands on August 6. The four-year-old son of Western Hanover is a career winner of nearly $1.5 million. DePinto's wife, Shannon, co-owns We Will See with Earl Smith and Jerry Silva.
"I kind of backed off on his training," DePinto said in regard to keeping the pacer's cracking-tight form. "I'm not training him big miles in between races. I'm just taking it easy with him and trying to keep him as fresh as I can. With miles like these, he doesn't need much training."
The Meadowlands' 2011 summer harness finale will include a free fireworks show after the races, live concert by The Party Dolls, family activities and round one of the Tioga/Meadowlands Driver's Championship. Plus, an all-you-can-eat BBQ pig roast will be available in Paddock Park.
The field for the Haughton appears below.
Post Position - Horse - Morning Line Odds
1 - We Will See - 5-2
2 - Won The West - 3-1
3 - Ideal Matters - 15-1
4 - Foiled Again - 5-1
5 - Hypnotic Blue Chip - 8-1
6 - Alexie Mattosie - 8-1
7 - Aracache Hanover - 10-1
8 - Giddy Up Lucky - 12-1
9 - Vintage Master - 15-1
10 - One More Laugh - 15-1
(Meadowlands)