There are occasions in the standardbred world when an actual sporting event takes place. Such was the case this past Saturday night at The Meadowlands. Set apart from some of the humdrum races we’ve seen uncontested throughout the year, Saturday’s TVG Final combined with 2-year-old Final Four action was an all too rare blend of performance and competition. It was the kind of night that rain couldn’t dampen. In fact, one could say it enhanced the final times of a few of the races as the moisture converted the track to what I would say is “wet fast” conditions and created some miles previously unheard of in the north in late November. In the winners and losers category, you’d have to put the fans that watched and wagered as the big winners. On the losers side, most definitely will be those voting for harness racing’s Horse of the Year for 2019. That puzzle was supposed to end at the Breeders Crown but didn’t. Then the TVG Opens were expected to point voters in the appropriate direction. The waters only became murkier as the top-rated horses went down to defeat, if not dramatically but certainly emphatically. It would be wrong to cast any negative aspersions at this time on Shartin N for losing a race by a nose, but that goes with the territory when you draw the rail and get sent off at incredibly low odds. Certainly driver Tim Tetrick got exactly what he was looking for when he offered rival Caviart Ally a wide opening into the first turn. Driver Andy McCarthy had expected to land behind the favorite but Tetrick baited him into making two moves without cover before he put Shartin N into gear. Despite the fact that Caviart Ally carried Shartin N a short distance before letting her clear, the scorecard at the half showed Caviart Ally with two moves and the theoretical leading candidate for Horse of the Year with just one. Advantage Shartin N. So when Caviart Ally and McCarthy made a third move and edged Shartin N, it was impossible not to conclude the better horse over the last eight weeks. It was a narrow victory, but considering the post positions at the start gave Shartin N the edge as it did in the Breeders Crown, 2019 will end with Caviart Ally enjoying three straight major victories in this class. That Bettor’s Wish did not capture the TVG Open final racing against older horses for the first time is perhaps a combination of a conservative game plan and the actions of those in front of him. Clearly driver Dexter Dunn has rarely allowed others to dictate his behavior on the racetrack but the most notable factor coming out of the decisive victory by Always A Prince was the activity at the start of the race. Breeders Crown winner American History had the advantage of the pole position but driver Joe Bongiorno did exactly the opposite of what he chose to do at Woodbine Mohawk Park on November 26. Bongiorno pushed American History out of the gate in 25 4/5 on that night intent to get the lead. This past Saturday, a different approach would not only prove costly to him but would seriously impact those behind him. Adding to the confusion that occurred in the second quarter when Always A Prince and Yannick Gingras managed to get away with a 28 second fraction, was the placement of McWicked. Bongiorno and American History had given up position by not leaving in order to put McWicked in front of him and look for a second-over trip. That move would keep all challengers at bay during the second quarter since McWicked’s driver Brian Sears knew full well that the two horses following him (American History and Bettor’s Wish) were waiting on him to move. That slow play gave Gingras and Always A Prince such an edge at the half that he was able to speed away uncontested with a 53 2/5 final half. With both McWicked and American History struggling to keep pace on through the 27 1/5 third quarter, Dunn was going nowhere in third-over position with Bettor’s Wish. That the 3-year-old survived the outer tier logjam and finished full of pace for the place spot was something to behold. While Bettor’s Wish did not come away with the win, he did complete an incredible season with 13 wins and 6 seconds in 19 starts. He also ends his season with the most earnings by a wide margin of any standardbred racing in North America. While Six Pack’s record in 2019 was not top-heavy in wins and will likely make him a bit-player in Horse of the Year balloting, the 4-year-old by Muscle Mass gave driver Ake Svanstedt yet another 1:50 or better performance with his win in the TVG Open final. Six Pack never really had a chance against Bold Eagle in the Breeders Crown as he got stuck with an overland trip from post 10. Svanstedt, who has proven time and time again that he can get horses ready to race at the highest level without racing them, had Six Pack ready for battle on four weeks rest. Clearly his job was made a little easier by the actions of Guardian Angel As. Driver Tim Tetrick had complained that Guardian Angel As had been compromised by two second tier draws (International Trot and Caesars) and that all he needed was to get the 5-year-old’s nose on the gate. That Guardian Angel As was around his five rivals to the inside moments after the gate folded and well on his way to a 26 3/5 opening quarter, set the table for the night’s best race. Manchego and Dexter Dunn were outsprinted early and in seriously tight quarters on the opening bend as Dunn was sandwiched between Six Pack to his inside and Lindy The Great to his outside. Lindy The Great and driver Louis Roy gave up his three-high bid for the lead midway on the opening turn, but Dunn, after clearing a wheel issue with Manchego, would continue on a prolonged bid for the lead. That Manchego had the lead before the half was really no comfort for Dunn and the 53 4/5 half was proof of that. While Manchego was allowed to back down the three quarters a bit (29), Tetrick was already moving his horse out of the pocket before the field hit head-stretch. While Guardian Angel As and Manchego battled head-to-head most of the stretch, Six Pack was poised and reserved, marching by with ease. That Manchego held second given her journey was near-miraculous. The sophomore Gimpanzee finished fourth and off the board for just the third time in his 23-race career. It was a great night to be a racing fan because the races had meaning and the drivers weren’t just reading the odds-board and letting it do their talking. For those looking to better market the sport, a good first step would be to create more nights like this one.