Horse Racing: Allentown’s Andrew Harris hopes for ‘Funtime’ in Meadowlands Pace

Trainer Andrew Harris warms up Funtime Bayama prior to last week’s Meadowlands Pace eliminations. (Ken Weingartner Photo)

Trainer Tony Beaton will send out the top two morning-line choices in Saturday’s $650,000 Meadowlands Pace, but conditioner Andrew Harris still likes his chances in the 48th edition of the event for 3-year-old pacers at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

Beaton’s Nijinsky and Legendary Hanover won last week’s two elimination races for the Meadowlands Pace and were made 2-1 and 3-1, respectively, on the morning line. Harris’ Funtime Bayama, who finished second to Nijinsky, is the 7-2 third choice.

“Tony Beaton had a fantastic night, I’m happy for those guys, but I’m pretty happy with where I’m sitting going into the final,” Harris said. “We’ll make a few little changes and I think (Funtime Bayama) will be good.”

Harris, who resides in Allentown, co-owns Funtime Bayama with Freehold’s Bill Pollock and Bruce Areman. They bought Funtime Bayama in June following the horse’s third-place finish in the $1 million North America Cup, which was won by Nijinsky.

Funtime Bayama has never finished worse than third in 14 career races, winning eight. Dexter Dunn will drive Funtime Bayama, leaving from post two in the 10-horse field. Nijinsky and driver Louis Roy will start from post three while Legendary Hanover and driver James MacDonald will go from post six.

“It’s a stout bunch,” Harris said. “It’s nice we have a horse that’s already proven he can go with these guys. The best trip is usually going to be the one that wins it. A trip just means so much more now because there are that many so close to each other in ability.”

Other locally based horses in the Meadowlands Pace field are Mirage Hanover, Captain Albano, Gem Quality, and Its Saturday Night. Captain Albano, trained by Noel Daley, was voted the sport’s best 2-year-old male pacer in 2023. Gem Quality, trained by Chris Ryder, won last season’s Breeders Crown for 2-year-old male pacers.

Saturday’s stakes-filled card, which includes preps for the upcoming $1 million Hambletonian Stakes for 3-year-old trotters and $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks for 3-year-old female trotters, begins at 6:40 p.m. The Meadowlands Pace, which will air on FS2 as part of a show beginning at 8 p.m., is scheduled for 10:43.

Ken Weingartner is the Media Relations Manager for the U.S. Trotting Association. Follow him on X @HarnessKenW.