Well Said is well regarded heading into $1 million Meadowlands Pace on Saturday

Well Said tops Meadowlands Pace field

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Well Said is well regarded heading into the $1 million Meadowlands Pace on Saturday night.

The 3-year-old colt trained by Steve Elliott and driven by Ron Pierce is the 6-5 favorite from post No. 3 against nine rivals in the one-mile race at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

Well Said has won three in row, including the $1.3 million North America Cup at Mohawk Raceway on June 27, to emerge as the division leader. Overall, he is 8-for-17 and appears to be peaking at the right time for some of harness racing’s richest events.

“I haven’t seen anybody out there that can beat him,” Pierce said. “It’s a horse race, so anything can happen. I think by far I have the best colt. If he gets beat, it won’t be because he didn’t have a good chance.”

Tim Tetrick, the driver of 4-1 second choice Hypnotic Blue Chip, went a step further, calling Well Said “A gorilla” after his victory in last weekend’s Meadowlands Pace eliminations.

“He’s really tough,” Tetrick said. “He’s on his game. Steve has really got him going right now, so he’s definitely the one to beat.”

Tetrick has the best shot at pulling off the upset. Hypnotic Blue Chip, winner of the other Pace elimination, has post No. 4 for trainer Mark Harder.

“I wish Well Said wasn’t in there, but what are you going to do?” Harder said. “I’m very happy to be in it. My horse is healthy, we’ve made it. Now let’s go out and just have some fun.”

Art Colony, 5-1 from post No. 6, has been second in his last four, including a pair of runner-up finishes to Well Said.

“My horse has raced well, but he needs to race better to beat Well Said,” Hall of Fame driver John Campbell said.

Campbell has won the Pace a record seven times.

Casie Coleman and Tracy Brainard bid to become the first woman to train a Pace winner. Coleman conditions Art Colony. Brainard sends out a pair of long shots: Schoolkids, 20-1 from the rail, and If I Can Dream, 12-1 from post No. 9.