By JAY BERGMAN

Championship races offer a different look to handicappers. Saturday's eight Breeders Crown races at the Meadowlands are filled with talented colts and fillies from the freshman and sophomore divisions. Horse of the Year implications abound. Here's a brief analysis of tonight's eight championship events.

Race 2-Crown 2-year-old filly trot.

Pure Ivory was a little hot turning before last week's elimination race but driver Steve Condren kept her calm during the race and the Striking Image filly was effortless in victory. Second-choice Macaria Hanover set a world standard in her elimination heat but the circumstances behind that mile and her trip led to her going a full two seconds faster than Pure Ivory. If there is one filly to fear in this group it is Passionate Glide, a filly that didn't have any chance racing overland during speedy fractions. She lands post two and clearly has enough talent. Merles Pearl , the Quebec champion, raced great in her elimination and should be well positioned.

PICKS-Pure Ivory, Passionate Glide, Merles Pearl .

Race 3-Crown 2-year-old filly pace.

This appears to be a two-filly race with Lonesome Day and My Little Dragon seeming to be in a class by themselves. Darlins Delight dominated New York and was awesome in the Three Diamonds. She has been first or second in all 13 starts this year, but her rivals just may have the fresher legs tonight. My Little Dragon has been perfect this season and what makes her the choice is that she has appeared to be in hand each time. Though she'll start from post eight, My Little Dragon shouldn't have trouble getting the winning trip. Lonesome Day has proved to be versatile but she does appear to relish racing from off the pace and chasing other fillies.

PICKS-My Little Dragon, Lonesome Day, Darlins Delight

Race 4-Crown-2-year-old colt trot.

It's hard not to be impressed by Chocolatier. Seven wins in nine starts, a handy victory in last week's elimination and the pole position. Clearly he has the speed to control, but with $507,600 on the line and a field with more talented players, it's safe to conclude this won't be any training mile for the odds-on favorite. R C Royalty looked to be a budding star in this division until his last two races. The New York champion has quick early foot and that could get him the position he needs. Should the favorite get roughed up, don't be surprised if R C Royalty is there come crunch time. Make You Mine showed the ability to charge off a hot pace last week and will be looking for another upset.

PICKS-R C Royalty, Chocolatier, Make You Mine

Race 5-Crown-3-year-old filly trot.

If you watched last week's two eliminations you might conclude that this one is a two-horse race. However, this is not going to be an easy one to figure since both favorites are not guaranteed to be on the front end. Roger Hammer's strategy in the Hambletonian surprised everyone. The feeling here is that Hammer, who gathered his horse and was off the gate at the outset last week, may try to control this one and forced Strong Yankee and the rest of the field to chase him. Vivid Photo drew a good spot to take that strategy and Hammer won't help himself if he does race from behind. Strong Yankee has certainly been strong to the finish. Self Professed should be tighter after last week's elimination race.

PICKS-Vivid Photo, Strong Yankee, Self Professed.

Race 7-Crown 3-year-old filly trot.

Perhaps the most difficult of tonight's Crown races to handicap. Flawless Bluestone, Blur and Her Culese all have license to win this race. In reality all three are better horses when coming from off the pace, but one of them is going to have to be on the front end at some point. The likelihood is that Flawless Bluestone will move past the quarter and Blur will likely try to track her. Her Culese may find herself again without cover. Don't be surprised if the top fillies do battle most of the way and pave the way for a longshot. Courtney Hall, a finely bred and improving filly, could be the beneficiary of a three-quarter mile war. Driver Mark MacDonald could be a household name in the States by next year. At good odds he's worth following.

PICKS-Courtney Hall, Flawless Bluestone, Blur.

Race 8-Crown-3-year-old filly pace.

This division is filled with major question marks and obstacles created by post position. Cabrini Hanover disappointed many last week at odds of 2-5 and now finds herself starting from post ten. Last year's Crown champ Restive Hanover was explosive last week in the faster, yet perhaps weaker elimination division. Chotat Milk impressed many going overland, but was she as good as the line suggests or does David Miller get the credit there? And what about Just Wait Kate? The feeling from this post is that Just Wait Kate has the early speed and now has the conditioning for a major effort. She's disappointed at times this year in the crunch, but driver Eric Ledford could pull off the upset. Cabrini Hanover has the guts but post could compromise her.

PICKS-Just Wait Kate, Cabrini Hanover, Copywriter.

Race 9-Crown 2-year-old colt pace.

Jeremes Jet has answered the call this year with some spectacular miles. He can race on the outside or on the front end. He has shown the determination necessary to win major races. Last week's loss on the wire may have had more to do with driver Macdonell saving something for this week than the horse himself. Palone Ranger had traffic trouble and made a break for the second time in his past four starts last week. Nevertheless this could be trainer Chris Ryder's best ever two-year-old. Bartolomeo N may be forwardly placed.

PICKS-Jeremes Jet, Palone Ranger, Bartolomeo N.

Race 10-Crown-3-year-old colt pace.

Clearly there are two great horses in this field. Rocknroll Hanover and American Ideal have been stars throughout the season and both enter this race in the kind of shape all race fans would like to see. Though American Ideal landed post nine, the post may not be the difference in this race. American Ideal can race on or off the pace but we expect driver Mark MacDonald to take matters into his own hands with an alert leave. Rocknroll Hanover beat him last week but the circumstances should be far different tonight. MacDonald needs to be in control. Rocknroll Hanover seems to do his best racing when chasing horses and one has to wonder how driver Brian Sears plays that out in this race. If he tries to power to the lead in the middle of the race will he leave the door open for American Ideal? Leading X Ample was in the top echelon earlier this year and may find himself sitting pretty from the pole.

PICKS-American Ideal, Rocknroll Hanover , Leading X Ample.

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Ken Weingartner
Harness Racing Communications

2-year-old filly trot

I'll take Passionate Glide. Jimmy Takter has won this even three times and Passionate Glide has been ultra consistent this season. Having Ron Pierce in the bike doesn't hurt. Check out Merles Pearl as a longshot; John Smith wouldn't send her here unless he thought she had a legitimate chance.

3-year-old filly pace

A tough field with Cabrini Hanover, Meadowlands-loving Chotat Milk, Just Wait Kate and return Crown champ Restive Hanover. I like all of them, for various reasons. But I'll go with Restive Hanover on the basis that she might be freshest and just peaking after her long layoff.

2-year-old filly pace

I should probably take Lonesome Day, but I'll trust trainer Travis Alexander's enthusiasm for Katies Western and look for a well-priced score.

3-year-old colt trot

This appears to be a battle between Strong Yankee and Vivid Photo, much like the Kentucky Futurity. I've got a feeling that Roger Hammer has one more trick up his sleeve after blaming his eyesight for losing to Strong Yankee in their Crown elim. Strong Yankee, though, has been a different horse since winning the Yonkers Trot. I'll take the "now" horse, Strong Yankee.

2-year-old colt trot

Chocolatier was able to control the pace in his elim and looked good. He is the horse to beat, but maybe pressure from RC Royalty early can take a toll? Make You Mine looms as a legitimate threat from off the pace. Take Make You Mine for a price, or box with Chocolatier for the exacta.

3-year-old filly trot

Blur didn't care for the Red Mile clay, but looked like she was plenty comfortable at the Big M. I'll go with the Smedshammer trainee.

2-year-old colt pace

Maybe I'm drowsy from all the turkey and stuffing, but I'm going to take Perfect Union in a huge upset. This colt was third in the Metro and won a division of the Bluegrass before missing more than a month with illness. He was full of pace in his elim. He should be tight and a factor.

3-year-old colt pace

Rocknroll Hanover was the best in the division at the beginning of the season and he will be there again at the end. A remarkable campaign, and Brett Pelling waves goodbye from the winner's circle.

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Jerry Connors

2YO FILLY TROT (race 2) 3 - MACARIA HANOVER -- Brilliant in her elim with two moves, the fastest race mile ever by a 2TF (beating Suzie!), and at 38 degrees, no less! Palone can find the winning trip. 8 - QUICK CREDIT -- Uncovered in her last four, she's about due for a good cover flow, and may be a good longshot for gimmicks. 4 - PURE IVORY -- Fine in her elim, but did fail as chalk in the Oakville, and might be overbet.

2YO FILLY PACE (race 3) 3 - LONESOME DAY -- Finally gets to race back-to-back weeks, and little wrong with her form; thin nod. 9 - MY LITTLE DRAGON -- Bad post + sick scratch + likely favorite may = low value. 6 - DARLIN'S DELIGHT -- Never worse than second; good last week off a sick scratch, and could be even better here.

2YO COLT TROT (race 4) 5 - R C ROYALTY -- Daley won this race in '99 with overlay Master Lavec; he and the favorite are the only solid early speedsters here. 2 - MAKE YOU MINE -- Has fine closing ability; from top connections; shouldn't be too far back here. 1 - CHOCOLATIER -- Only one flat race since October 6; fine trotter, but may be overbet.

3YO COLT TROT (race 5) 3 - STRONG YANKEE -- Tired for Knute the handicapper in the Hambletonian, but he's improved a lot since then; he just may be the best now. 5 - VIVID PHOTO -- Pennsylvania, you can shout "I TOLD YOU SO!" at me if our hero wins; will Hammer revert to off-the-pace tactics that won Hambo? 7- SIR PERSEVERANCE -- Fine in Lexington, and did well after a layoff in elim.

3-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT (race 7) 5 - HER CULESE -- Closed well in return, and may sweep by all of these to help make Pelling's farewell a memorable one. 3 - BLUR -- Was game in elim; can't shake the vision of her losing that big lead in the Hambo Oaks. 7 - COURTNEY HALL -- Might race in the cover flow behind the top choice; gimmick consideration.

3-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE (race 8) 5 - BELOVED ANGEL -- McIntosh knows his way to the Breeders Crown winners circle; had a good speed tightener; let's try for a price. 10 - CABRINI HANOVER -- May well have been the choice from a kinder draw. 3 - RESTIVE HANOVER -- Passed many horses in elimination; is she really all the way back?

2-YEAR-OLD COLT PACE (race 9) 1 - WESTERN ACE -- Terrifically game colt will give a good accounting of himself; slight edge if the trip works out for him. 7 - JEREME'S JET -- Last certainly excusable; Metro and Governor's Cup winner can take the divisional title with a victory. 2 - WESTERN CYCLONE -- Defeated "Jet" after a great trip; must avoid first-over.

3-YEAR-OLD COLT PACE (race 10) 2 - ROCKNROLL HANOVER -- Always right there; has post draw edge on main rival; could make Pelling's swan song a rockin' tune. 9 - AMERICAN IDEAL -- Hard-luck horse of 2005; may have to be used too much to get in position from the outer slot. 7 - CAM'S FOOL -- Won stake here on Hambo Day; can be close if there's a good outer flow. GOOD LUCK!

Keith Gisser
Webmaster/Assistant Publicity Director
Northfield Park

Race 2-2yr filly trot:
Macaria Hanover- hot at the right time
Pure Ivory-WEG horses often overlays at M1
Miss Wisconsin- One for the cheeseheads

Race 3-2yr filly pace:
Darlin's Delight- Appears best in here
Little Miss K- Hasn;t won half a million by accident
Western Gallie- Maiden could control fractions with a breaTHER

Race 4-2yr colt trot:
Chocolatier- The best
RC Royalty- The richest
Capetoen Hall- The bad drwa

Race 5-3yr colt trot
Vivid Photo- Best Bet
Strong Yankee- Any other year
Self Professed

Race 7- 3yr filly trot
Blur- Hunch in a wide-oepn group
Jalopy-Better than her numbers
Her Culese-Never discount Pierce

Race 8- 3 yr filly pace
Belovedangel- solid all year
Cabrini Hanover- Post hurts
Just Wait Kate-poisd for big effort

Race 9: 2 yr colt pace
Western Ace -11 of 13; nuff said
Jereme's Jet-License to step up
Blissed Out-disappointing so far

Race 10:3 yr colt pace
Gryffindor-Upset special; ignore the elim
Rocknroll Hanover- Nothinbg wrong with him
American Ideal- a logical pick

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Jason M. Settlemoir
United States Trotting Association
Advertising Director