Cherry Hill, NJ --- A field of ten pacers and amateur drivers will make their way to the stage as the American Harness Drivers Club presents the $5,000 Spring Pacing Series Final on Friday, June 5, at the Meadowlands. Post time for the non-wagering event is 6:30 p.m.

This select group of amateur drivers earned the right to appear in the final after battling throughout the spring in five preliminary legs, contested at Freehold Raceway.

Harry Landy, the 17-year-old wunderkind from Monroe Township, N.J., will come into this year's edition as the early favorite. After taking solid victories in leg two with Blue Man Group and leg five with M’s EZ Pass, Landy sits atop the regular series driver standing with 35 points while competing in all five legs of the series.

A victory in the final is also an important factor in determining the club’s representative to the annual Tim Fouts Memorial Amateur Driving Championship. This honor is awarded to the driver gaining the most series points after competing in the final, combined with total points attained in the 2008 Fall Pacing Series. A victory in the final, combined with his 29 carryover points, will secure Landy's eligibility to represent the AHDC in the event, annually contested in September at the Delaware County Fairgrounds during Little Brown Jug week.

Landy will bring M’s EZ Pass out of the paddock for trainer Stacy Chiodo and will face starting judge Danny Dale from post position four.

Nick Surick, another member of the new class of AHDC reinsmen, comes to the final after two solid victories and a near-miss second place finish in three series starts with El Nino Hanover. The 20-year-old trainer from Freehold, N.J. was rewarded with 26 point in his first season of competition with the AHDC. Surick will steer the Artsplace gelding out from post nine for Anna Glide.

Veteran AHDC teamster Neil Goldstein will guide Summer Life N for trainer Doreen Dailey. The East Brunswick, N.J. resident garnered 27 points, parlaying a win early in the series with Sammy Jo to go along with second and third place finishes with Summer Life N. The principle in a business consulting firm and the 8-year-old daughter of Live Or Die will leave from post position three.

After an extended absence from the AHDC ranks, Pilesgrove, N.J.’s Brad Rathbone celebrated his return with a very solid series, teaming with Royal Flush Shark. The operations manager for Albridge Solutions in Lawrenceville, N.J., banged out two second and two third place finishes in his four starts, securing 17 points. He will guide the 7-year-old Cam's Card Shark gelding from post eight for trainer Joe Rommuno.

Washington, N.J.’s George Munniksma will be taking his second shot at a final championship with his own Jimeoin N. A farmer and fur exporter by trade, Munniksma managed a victory in four starts with his 11-year-old altered son of Western Hanover, good enough for 17 points. He will fall into formation behind the gate in post two for Kerin Warner.

South Salem, N.Y.’s Carmen Ciccone was in the midst of a very productive series, teaming with Heezaclown for a win in three starts. However, in mid-season, his mount became unavailable and a return trip to the final became a real question mark. At the eleventh-hour, he was able to obtain the services of Blue Man Group and will arrive at the big dance with 17 points. The self-employed veteran of many an amateur racing war will start the 4-year-old gelded son of Artsplace from post six for trainer Jim Porter.

Bedminster, N.J.'s John Regina will once again be teaming up with his own Jingling for trainer Jim Doherty, Jr. Regina narrowly missed the winner's circle on several occasions as he and Jingling were collared just yards from victory. However, his second and third place finishes capped off a very competitive season in which he and the 9-year-old Kass Power gelding grabbed 16 points. The human resources executive will start from the middle of the racetrack in post five.

Tenafly, N.J. resident Dave Yarock is back for another try with Sylvains Friend, the second half of the entry from the Doherty Stable. The financial and investment planning specialist for Met Life Access Network and the 10-year-old Stritross gelding managed a victory in four series starts, earning 15 points in the process. Since Yarock's usual strategy is to go right to the front, he should be licking his chops as he and Sylvains Friend will start from along the cones in post position one.

Dr. Karyn Malinowski made her return to action with AHDC in the 2009 Spring Pacing Series, albeit for only two of the preliminary legs. However, she made the most of her chances, steering her own Jolee to victory in leg four while capturing 11 points for the two events. The director of the Equine Science Center at Rutgers University and her 5-year-old daughter of Artiscape will be at it again for trainer Earle Gale and will race from post seven.

Lincoln Park, N.J.'s Miguel Lopez and Amano N round out the field and will start closest to the grandstand in post 10 for trainer Joseph Gallo. The retired media buyer completed a solid series with second and third place finishes in three appearances, good enough for 11 points.

Here is the field:

PP-Horse–Driver
1–Sylvains Friend–David Yarock
2–Jimeoin N–George Munniskma
3–Summer Life N–Neil Goldstein                   
4–M's EZ Pass–Harry Landy
5–Jingling–John Regina
6–Blue Man Group–Carmen Ciccone
7–Jolee–Karyn Malinowski
8–Royal Flush Shark–Brad Rathbone
9-El Nino Hanover–Nick Surick
10–Amano N–Miguel Lopez
AE-Cambar-Tony Piserchia

For more information, check the official Web site of the American Harness Drivers club at http://www.ahdcracing.com.