The stakes season for 4-year-olds begins on Saturday night with the first leg of the Graduate Series for both pacers and trotters featured on an action-packed night of racing at the Meadowlands. With one $75,000 division for trotters and two $50,000 divisions for pacers, the 13-race program has many options. For those looking at first glimpse of last year's Horse of the Year Test Of Faith, a $40,000 Open for mares puts the daughter of Art Major behind the gate for the first time this season. Test Of Faith's trainer Brett Pelling will first send out South Beach Star in the first of two $50,000 Graduate Series divisions (race six). The altered son of Somebeachsomewhere drew post two of 11 and will be making just his second start of the season. "I'm very excited to bring this horse back this year," said Pelling of South Beach Star. "There was a big change in him between his 2- and 3-year-old season and likewise there's been a big change from 3 to 4." Whether South Beach Star will be up to the first major test of the year remains to be seen since Pelling had few options in getting him prepared. "It's not easy finding a race for a 4-year-old that has 10 lifetime wins and over $125,000 earned," said Pelling, who put South Beach Star in a 4-year-old Open on April 23 and saw his horse finish seventh. "I wish he had one more start in him." While South Beach Star may need some conditioning, the same can't be said for Charlie May, who landed post nine in this division following a powerhouse performance in his 2022 debut last Saturday night (April 30). Charlie May scored in 1:48 3/5 against Open company and returns to his own age group as the likely favorite in this division. A field of 11 is scheduled in the second Graduate for pacers marked as race eight on the card, and its makeup is a blend of horses that have been racing in the recently completed MGM Borgata Series at Yonkers, as well as some returning sophomores who were among the best in North America a year ago. Dean B Hanover (post one), Chase H Hanover (post three) and Whichwaytothebeach (post eight) try the mile oval on for size after seeing action at Yonkers over the last month. Lou's Pearlman (post four), Abuckabett Hanover (post six) and Rockyroad Hanover (post 10) all earned in excess of $589K as 3-year-olds last year. The threesome has each qualified twice in advance of Saturday's 4-year-old debuts. With just 10 horses entered, the Graduate Series for 4-year-old trotters goes in just one $75,000 division, race seven on the card. Trainer Jim Campbell isn't exactly sure where his altered son of Creatine by the name of Take All Comers will fit right now. "I'm happy with the way he raced at Chester [Harrah's Philadelphia] last week," said Campbell. "You just don't know how the other horses are coming back." Take All Comers (post seven) showed an extreme burst of speed in winning a non-winners of five races event on April 28 in 1:55. Saturday's contest figures to be a bit faster, but Take All Comers has proven over the last couple of years that he can compete at this level. Trainer Ake Svanstedt has three of the 10 entered with Ambassador Hanover (post three), Delayed Hanover (post five) and Rattle My Cage (post nine) all making their initial pari-mutuel starts in 2022. Ambassador Hanover's last victory came in a Breeders Crown elimination at the Meadowlands in October. Cuatro De Julio was also a Breeders Crown elimination winner here last year, and the 4-year-old by Trixton makes his seasonal debut from post 2 in the Graduate. Sonofamistery (post six) has captured both of his starts this season while unstressed in New Jersey Breeders Maturity competition at the Meadowlands. The Marcus Melander-trained son of Muscle Hill will get tested in this group. Trainer Tony Alagna sends out Ahundreddollarbill, an eight-time winner as a 3-year-old in 2021, from post four. Ahundreddollarbill had two strong qualifiers in preparation for the Graduate. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter Meanwhile, Test Of Faith landed post nine (race nine) in the $40,000 Open event for mares, and her trainer has the utmost confidence in last year's champion. "It's a solid field and she drew outside," said Pelling. "I think if she can somehow get a third-over trip or better, she can sprint past them in the stretch." Test Of Faith's blinding speed was on display in her most recent April 30 qualifier at the Meadowlands where she kicked into high gear in the stretch to pass the classy Hot Mess Express with ease. Whether Test Of Faith can actually find that cover trip remains to be seen given the caliber and conditioning of some of her nine rivals in the field. Racine Bell and Easy To Please finished second and third, respectively, in the Blue Chip Matchmaker final, and they arrive at the Meadowlands in fine form. Racine Bell (post six) has four wins and four seconds in eight starts this year with over $200K banked thus far. Easy To Please (post three) has been rock-solid for trainer Cory Stratton with three wins and three seconds in her eight starts this year. The Mares Open has an interesting collection of Down Under-bred mares with Amazing Dream N (post one), a winner in her North American debut here on April 9, on the inside of the group, and Majorca N (post 10), a winner in four of her five starts this year, on the outside. Racing kicks off at 6:20 p.m. on Saturday.