This Friday The Meadowlands will begin its first full weekend of racing action in 2021 and trainer Darran Cassar hopes to kick off the year in style with five horses entered over the two-day period. For Cassar, who has developed some quality imports in recent years, the action unfolds on Friday night when Its Mesmerise N faces nine rivals in the $15,500 conditioned event for mares in the ninth race. "The trip wasn't ideal last week" said Cassar of the two-move effort by the daughter of American Ideal that led to a ninth-place finish. Its Mesmerise N had a solid season in 2020 winning 11 times in 32 starts, with seven of those victories coming in the last half of the year upon her arrival on the Northern Hempisphere. "We paid a little more for her," said Cassar of the purchase. "She was on the way up the class ladder at the time." On Friday night Its Mesmerise N drops in class and lands post three against a solid group of mares, but Cassar believes his mare should do well. "I think versatility is her strongest suit," said Cassar. "She does what she has to do." As has been the case with many imports, Seeuinnashville A has had to overcome a few obstacles for Cassar before finding his form. A more recent arrival, Seeuinnashville A drew post four in Saturday's fifth race, a mid-level conditioned affair. "He got sick," said Cassar of the early challenges. "Then when we started racing him he was in a bit tough, so we really didn't find out much about him. The last race at Yonkers (12/12) we knew he hadn't yet recovered." Cassar gave Seeuinnashville A some time off, and when the 7-year-old son of Mach Three debuted last week at The Meadowlands, he appeared to have turned the corner. "I was very happy with his last start. I think we finally saw what he can do," said Cassar. Seeuinnashville A paced in 1:51 in his big-track debut and finished with a broken headpole. A year ago at this time Italian Delight N was making his Meadowlands debut and the son of Bettor's Delight showed the talent that seemed to indicate he was headed for the top classes in 2020. Much of that changed, although he did finish the year with $71K in earnings. "He was racing very well and then COVID happened," said Cassar. "We tried to work him hard to bring him back when the tracks re-opened but it was difficult." Ultimately Italian Delight N would find his way down the class ladder racing on December 27 at Harrah's Philadelphia in the non-winners of $4,000 class. "That was his best race in a long time," said Cassar of the 1:52 virtual wire-to-wire victory. "I think it was the kind of confidence booster he needed." On Saturday Italian Delight N drew post four in the evening's seventh race, a conditioned contest at the non-winners of $4,500 level, a class far below where he began his 2020 season. The veteran American Boy N has been a solid earner for Cassar and company over the last three years and the now-10-year-old hopes to get in the win column in the eighth race on Saturday. "He's just a classy horse. He got a little sick and I was surprised how well he raced in his last start," said Cassar. After missing five weeks of action, American Boy N was a hard-charging fourth in his return on December 26 at The Meadowlands. He drew post two for Saturday's contest and moves up in class a notch, but Cassar believes he's got the talent to compete in this group. Yankee Osborne has won two of his four starts since joining the Cassar stable. "He's got some back class," said Cassar of the 6-year-old by Yankee Cruiser, a horse that was winning in Open company at Northfield last year during the winter. Despite the appearance of Yankee Osborne as being an ideal fit for Yonkers Raceway, Cassar was more than encouraged by the gelding's first outing at The Meadowlands last week. "I'm not sure where we will race him now. He looked solid finishing here last week," said Cassar. Yankee Osborne drew post eight in the ninth race on Saturday. For Cassar, the recent scheduling change that has Yonkers racing Monday through Friday figures to work to his benefit this year. "I've got 17 horses and I want to be there to race them. Now that Yonkers has moved those races to Monday it will give me the chance to race horses in at both tracks," said Cassar. The $500K winning Alicorn is now a 4-year-old mare that Cassar will give as much time as necessary to return. "We tried her at Yonkers and she fell and skinned herself up pretty good," said Cassar of the daughter of Bettor's Delight that was among the elite 2-year-olds in North America in 2019 but struggled somewhat as a 3-year-old to regain that form. "We're going to give her as much time as she needs and bring her back." The return could come in late spring with Cassar suggesting she could be entered in a few stakes contests.