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East Rutherford, NJ – There’s a shakeup at the top of the Week 10 — and final — edition of Dave Little’s “Road to The Meadowlands Pace”, as American Courage nosed out One Eight Hundred for the top spot while last week’s No. 1, Abuckabett Hanover, fell to No. 3. A pair of $50,000 Pace Eliminations take place this Saturday while the $700,000 (est.) harness racing final is slated for July 17. For everything Meadowlands Pace visit MeadowlandsPace.com. #Pace21
| Rank | Horse
(Earnings – Mark) |
Driver, Trainer
Owner(s) |
Dave Little’s Comments |
1 |
American Courage($468,633 – 1:49.4) |
M. Kakaley, T. AlexanderFiddler’s Creek Stables |
Grabs the top spot (up from No. 5) in the final poll off a superb six-hole speed score at Yonkers in The Messenger as the 6-5 favorite. So what did his trainer think? “Not bad,” said Alexander. “He looked fine. He actually trained better [Wednesday] than he did last week. He’s just getting into shape. I think he’ll be just fine [on a mile track]. He knows what it’s all about.”
Breeding: American Ideal-Nota Fool Bluechip Last Race: 7/2 – YR – Messenger Final – 1st (1:51.4) |
2 |
One Eight Hundred($106,708 – 1:48) |
T. Tetrick, N. TakterBrixton Medical, Nancy Takter |
I almost bumped this Takter trainee to the top spot (stays at No. 2) because he has Meadowlands experience while American Courage does not. Took last week off after a marvelous 1:48 mile that featured a back half in :52.2. Takter: “He’s super. He couldn’t be any better than he is right now and trained really well [Wednesday].” Takter normally uses Gingras or Dunn, so why Tetrick? “The other guys had horses in this division, and I wanted someone who would stick with the horse all year long.”
Breeding: Somebeachsomewhere-Economy Terror Last Race: 6/26 – M1 – Non-Winners of $12,500L5 – 1st (1:48) |
3 |
Abuckabett Hanover($255,021 – 1:49.1) |
A. McCarthy, T. AlagnaCrawford Farms Racing,Alagna Racing, Jablonsky HeldStable, Barbera N Wienick Stable |
Drops from No. 1 to No. 3 off a tough outing in the slop at Yonkers, where he left from post 8, never saw the rail and then broke on the far turn after starting the year perfect in four starts. What happened in The Messenger? There were no excuses from the trainer. “The post position (8) didn’t help but the track was fine,” said Alagna. “He went into that far turn and started to lean out and he went off stride. But [for The Pace] we are feeling good.”
Breeding: Betting Line-All Tucked Up Last Race: 7/2 – YR – Messenger Final – 8th (—-) |
4 |
Perfect Sting($629,977 – 1:48.1) |
D. Miller, J. HollowayBrittany Farms,Val D’Or Farms |
Drops a notch to No. 4. Maybe he hasn’t had the year the masses expected thus far but the winter-book Pace favorite is the 2-1 early choice nonetheless over American Courage in the 2nd elim. Holloway: “We are ready to go. He trained as usual and should be in good shape.”
Breeding: Always B Miki-Shebestingin Last Race: 6/26 – Mea – Pennsylvania Sire Stakes – 2nd pl 1st (1:49.4) |
5 |
Charlie May($503,627 – 1:49.3) |
B. Miller, S. CarterDon Tiger |
Up two spots from No. 7 after a solid performance in The Messenger. Carter: “I thought he raced very well and we were glad to be second. I think he’s getting better every week.”
Breeding: McArdle-Stipple Hanover Last Race: 7/2 – YR – Messenger Final – 2nd (1:51.4) |
6 |
Southwind Gendry($709,841 – Q1:49.3) |
Y. Gingras, R. BurkeBurke Racing, Phillip Collura,Knox Services, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby |
Drops two spots to No. 6 after losing ground when a parked-out trip did him in at The Meadows. Burke: “I’m not happy with him. We are going full-out to try and get it turned around. You know it when you see it. You know when a horse is sharp and you know when he’s not.”
Breeding: Always B Miki-Gambler’s Passion Last Race: 6/26 – Mea – Pennsylvania Sire Stakes – 3rd pl 2nd (1:50.2) |
7 |
Lawless Shadow($276,104 – 1:50) |
B. McClure, I. MooreIan Moore, R G McGroup Ltd,Serge Savard, Frank Cannon |
Drops a notch to No. 7 after failing as the 4-5 choice in Ontario Sire Stakes action. Moore: “We were disappointed in last week’s race. I thought everything was good going into it. But I would not have sent him to New Jersey for The Pace if he wasn’t good enough.”
Breeding: Shadow Play-Ladycino Last Race: 7/3 – Wbsb – Ontario Sire Stakes (Gold) – 3rd (1:49.4) |
8 |
Heart Of Chewbacca($288,848 – 1:48.4) |
G. Brennan, R. BurkeDennis Owens,Norman Rae Racing |
Took last week off after failing to qualify for The Messenger Final and remains at No. 8. Burke: “Everything is super with him. [His last start] was just a tough spot. He got pushed three-wide.” Why the switch to Brennan? “That was totally Danny [Noble], who has some Sire Stakes drives in Ohio. I think George will fit this horse perfectly.”
Breeding: Bring On The Beach-JT’s Chewbacca Last Race: 6/25 – YR – Messenger Elimination – 7th (1:51.3) |
9 |
Exploit($432,402 – 1:50.3) |
T. McCarthy, T. AlagnaLeBlanc and Kribbs,Joe Sbrocco, In The Gym Partners,Joseph Barbera |
After failing to make it to The Messenger Final, took the week off and remains at No. 9. Alagna: “He had a bad draw and got stuck behind a breaker in his last start. Two starts before that, he was second in a 48 and change mile at The Meadowlands.”
Breeding: Somebeachsomewhere-Time On My Hands Last Race: 6/25 – YR – Messenger Elimination – 6th (1:52.3) |
10 |
Rockyroad Hanover($47,051 – 1:52.2) |
D. Dunn, T. Alagna,Riverview Racing, Brad Grant,Ken Jacobs, Plouffe Headand VJ Stable |
Has been beaten to the wire twice this year – both times by One Eight Hundred. DQ’d in last from 1st to 5th after a strong finish. Makes debut in the poll. Alagna: “His last start [when he outsprinted Perfect Sting to the wire before being taken down] was an indication of him peaking at the right time.”
Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Romantic Moment Last Race: 6/26 – Mea – Pennsylvania Sire Stakes – 1st pl 5th (TDIS) |
KEY PREP RACES
MEADOWLANDS PACE ELIGIBLES IN CAPS – Supplements are permitted per the conditions of the race
| Date | Stakes | Site | Winner | Trainer | Driver | 2nd Horse | 3rd Horse | Time |
| 5/1 | Pa. Sire Stakes
Pa. Sire Stakes |
Mea
Mea |
LITERL LAD HANOVER
SOUTHWIND GENDRY |
R. Burke
R. Burke |
D. Miller
Y. Gingras |
STONEBRIDGE REEF
CHASE H HANOVER |
Water Sports Teen
Sweet Angel Boy |
1:51.1
1:49.4 |
| 5/8
|
Pa. All-Stars
Pa. All-Stars Pa. All-Stars Pa. All-Stars |
PcD
PcD PcD PcD |
HELLABALOU
Emblaze Hanover Gamblin Mo ONE EIGHT HUNDRED |
E. Dennis
R. Burke J. Butenschoen N. Takter |
A. McCarthy
J. Bongiorno T. Buter T. Tetrick |
Komodo Beach
Crunch Hanover STONEBRIDGE REEF Water Sports Teen |
Six Degrees
RED RIGHT HAND CAPTAINS PLACE Warrawee Whynot |
1:52.1
1:50.2 1:50.1 1:50.1 |
| 5/16
|
Pa. Sire Stakes
Pa. Sire Stakes Pa. Sire Stakes |
PcD PcD PcD | EXPLOIT
ABUCKABETT HANOVER ONE EIGHT HUNDRED |
T. Alagna
T. Alagna N. Takter |
J. Bongiorno
A. McCarthy T. Tetrick |
Gamblin Mo
PERFECT STING SOUTHWIND GENDRY |
LITERL LAD HANOVER
RED RIGHT HAND ROCKYROAD HANOVER |
1:50.3
1:50.0 1:50.3 |
| 5/30
|
Pa. Sire Stakes
Pa. Sire Stakes |
Phil
Phil |
ABUCKABETT HANOVER
SOUTHWIND GENDRY |
T. Alagna
R. Burke |
A. McCarthy
Y. Gingras |
Gamblin Mo
HELLABALOU |
RED RIGHT HAND
BILLY CLYDE |
1:51.1
1:51.0 |
| 6/25
|
Messenger Elim.
Messenger Elim. |
YR
YR |
AMERICAN COURAGE
ABUCKABETT HANOVER |
T. Alexander
T. Alagna |
M. Kakaley
A. McCarthy |
CHARLIE MAY
I’LL DRINK TO THAT |
CHASE H HANOVER
HIGHLANDBEACHSBEST |
1:50.4
1:51.3 |
| 6/26 | Pa. Sire Stakes | Mea | PERFECT STING (2P1) | J. Holloway | D. Miller | SOUTHWIND GENDRY (3P2) | Lou’s Pearlman (4P3) | 1:49.4 |
| 7/2 | Messenger Final | YR | AMERICAN COURAGE | T. Alexander | M. Kakaley | CHARLIE MAY | CHASE H HANOVER | 1:51.4 |
| 7/10 | Mead. Pace Elim. | M1 | ||||||
| 7/17 | Mead. Pace Final | M1 |
by Dave Little, for The Meadowlands
