EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — A swift backside brush landed 2-5 favorite Beach Glass (Somebeachsomewhere) on the point, from which he held his ground and posted a 1:49 harness racing victory to win the $275,000 Cane Pace at the Meadowlands on Saturday afternoon (Aug. 6).
Mad Max Hanover, the second choice at 3-2, pushed off the wings but landed third as Night Hawk powered past Fourever Boy to the lead after a :27.2 first quarter. As the speed settled, Mad Max Hanover flung out of third to take over the lead just before Beach Glass pushed along the rim to then snag the lead into a :54.3 half.
Beach Glass had his foes at his whim while Fourever Boy attacked first-over with Mad Max Hanover waiting for room by three-quarters in 1:22. He then spun for home with Fourever Boy retreating and Mad Max Hanover laying siege to the pacesetter into the final eighth. But Beach Glass stayed game to the pylons to keep Mad Max Hanover at bay by a half length.
Night Hawk slipped through a seam inside to finish third, and Early Action closed for fourth.
BEACH GLASS REPLAY
“I really didn’t want to have him on the front, I was trying to get away fourth or fifth,” said driver Yannick Gingras after the race. “But a :27.2 first quarter … it was going to be a :55-and-change half probably, so I had to make a move and make things happen. He’s all class, a great horse and the class did it today.”
Conditioned by Brent MacGrath, Beach Glass collected his fifth win from eight starts this season and his eighth from 13 overall. The son of Somebeachsomewhere has now banked $783,020 for owner-breeder Schooner II Stable.
“I’m very happy, but he does need a week off,” said MacGrath after Beach Glass scored his fourth win from five straight weeks. “I thought about going to the Milstein, but I’m not going to — he needs a week. I want to go to Pocono with him [for the Max Hempt]. Then, with a few weeks off, he’ll go to the Simcoe and after that to Lexington.”
Beach Glass paid $2.80 to win.
To read stories from all the action on Hambo Day, click here.
For complete race results, click here.
by Ray Cotolo, Meadowlands Media Relations