HARRINGTON — Harness racing trainer Eddie Dennis usually remains quiet when watching his horses compete.

But as Hellabalou charged down the stretch on his way to an 81-1 upset in his Meadowlands Pace elimination last Saturday, the trainer from Harrington made an exception.

“I don’t ever holler for a horse, but I hollered for him the other night,” Dennis said with a laugh. “It was a nice treat. We thought we could make the final. We didn’t realize we might maybe have that big of a shot to win.

“He just responded. That’s him. If he’s in that position and he’s healthy and everything is going his way, he responds. He likes to pass horses when he’s on his game. He knows what that’s all about.”

Hellabalou won his elimination by a half-length over Charlie May. His time was a career-best 1:49.2 over a sloppy track at the Meadowlands and propelled Dennis and owner Eric Good of Denton, Maryland, into the $700,000 Meadowlands Pace final in their first appearance in the event, which is for 3-year-old pacers.

The race is slated to be held today.

“He had an issue with his breathing last year and we shut him down and got it fixed,” Dennis said. “He’s been good ever since. He’s a good little horse, he really is. I think he’s getting better and better. He’s getting tighter and more used to these kinds of miles. He tries the whole time.”

Hellabalou, who has won three of eight races this season and $93,886 in purses lifetime, will start the Meadowlands Pace final from post two. He is 8-1 on the morning line. Southwind Gendry, who won the second elimination, is the 3-1 favorite for trainer Ron Burke.

“It’ll be something I take in probably a little more than I did the other night,” the 53-year-old Dennis, who trains a stable of 14 horses, said about going to the final.

“I’ll just feel a little bit different walking into the paddock this time. To win an elimination of the Meadowlands Pace, that’s a pretty good achievement for a little guy like me. They can’t take it away from me.”

Dennis is one of four trainers making their first appearance in the Meadowlands Pace. The others are Steve Carter with Charlie May, Scott Cox with Chase H Hanover, and Travis Alexander with American Courage.

Post time on Meadowlands Pace Night will be earlier than usual as the first race will get underway at 6 p.m. The Meadowlands Pace and several other stakes will be part of a live two-hour telecast on Fox Sports 2 beginning at 8 p.m.

Ken Weingartner is the Media Relations manager for the U.S. Trotting Association.