Nitro and Santanna Showdown
Badlands Nitro and Santanna Blue Chip are no strangers to each other. They have come up against each other previously, taking second and third positions in the North America Cup behind Somebeachsomewhere, on 14 June. Now that both horses have won their elimination races for the 2008 Art Rooney Pace Finals, on Saturday 28 June 2008, they will be in the eight horse field on the 5th of July. With these two horses being amongst the contenders for Saturday, it is set to be a harness racing event that will attract many fans and spectators.
During the Art Rooney Pace elimination races, Badlands Nitro managed to create a one and a quarter length gap between himself and second place Dontloseyourdayjob, who was followed home by Moon Beam in third position. Due to Badlands Nitro, son of Badlands Hanover, being able to win second position from Santanna Blue Chip in the North America Cup, many are excited to see how both horses will perform when competing against each other again. Santanna Blue Chip performed magnificently for driver Jody Jamieson in his elimination race, by beating second place contender Meant To Be Me effortlessly. Winning six of his fifteen career starts, Santanna Blue Chip has won over $1 million in purse earnings and has proven that he is indeed a worthy rival for this weekend’s final.
Even though the post positions for the $538 270 Art Rooney Pace final will be allocated this week, the contender line-up for the race has been confirmed as follows: Badlands Nitro, Dontloseyourdayjob, Dragon King, Idle Hour, Santanna Blue Chip, Legacy N Diamonds, Moon Beam and Meant To Be Me. This field also qualifies to compete in the $1 Million Meadowlands Pace, of which the finals will take place on the 19th of July and the elimination races take place on the 12th of July 2008. With so much harness racing action taking place in such a short space of time, it will be interesting to see which horses from the Art Rooney Pace will take part in the Meadowlands Pace. It has been speculated that some owners are avoiding coming up against the unbeaten and extremely talented Somebeachsomewhere, but then again who wouldn’t. But with future events pushed aside, this weekend is going to be an event to remember as Santanna Blue Chip and Badlands Nitro get ready for a showdown.
