Diamond Creek Farms sweeps Meadowlands Pace elims

A pair of Sweet Lou homebreds, both owned by Diamond Creek Farm, and both out of A Rocknroll Dance broodmares, captured the two $50,000 Meadowlands Pace harness racing eliminations Saturday night, July 8 at The Meadowlands.

Cannibal gobbled up ground in the late going to emerge victorious in a career best 1:48.1 in the first Meadowlands Pace elim.

Driven by Scott Zeron for trainer Nancy Takter, Cannibal was content to sit fifth, before pulling second-over through fractions of :26; :53; and 1:21.2 set by the leading Fulton (Heston Blue Chip), before posting a :26.2 final brush to score his fourth straight victory. Cannibal finished half a length in front of Voukefalas (Lazarus N), while It’s a Me Marion (American Ideal) was third.

“I think my horse braved up racing against cheaper horses (early this season) and was super brave today,” said Zeron.  “I was in a good position tonight and the fractions were nice and fast and kept my horse pretty brave. I didn’t have to do any heavy lifting throughout the mile and in the final turn, I had a lot of horse.”

CANNIBAL REPLAY

Cannibal, the first of four foals out of the A Rocknroll Dance mare No More Losses p, 2, 1:54.3s ($14,948), earned $123,298 at 2, winning three of eight starts for his connections, including a 1:50.2 score at Lexington, en route to capturing the $100,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series Final at The Red Mile.

This season began with triumphs at Pocono Downs at (on May 21 in 1:50.3); Harrah’s Philadelphia (on May 28 in 1:48.3); and at The Meadowlands (on June 24 in 1:49.1).  Zeron said he is not surprised that the colt has returned stronger for his 3-year-old campaign.

“I drove him in his Breeders Crown elim last year and knew he had potential, so I wasn’t surprised that he has come into himself this year,” Zeron confirmed, adding that, “Post position will be key in the final of this race.”

With this latest victory, Cannibal now has $175,798 in career earnings. Hungry Angel Boy (Stay Hungry) was fourth, while Fulton held on for fifth-place honors.  The first five finishers from each elimination will earn a starting berth in the Meadowlands Pace Final.

Confederate bested seven rivals in the second $50,000 Meadowlands Pace elimination with a heart-stopping 1:47.3 clocking for trainer Bret Pelling and driver Tim Tetrick.

After Christchurch and 99-1 longshot Lyons Surfing slugged it out through early fractions of :25.4 and :52.1, Confederate, the 1-5 favorite, came three-wide around the last turn and a 1:20.1 three-quarter clocking to take command, drawing clear from his rivals to notch his third win of the year in four starts.

El Rey, an 11-1 choice, closed well to be second, while Christchurch, who left the gate at 6-1 odds, held on for third. Longshot (30-1) Ammo (Sweet Lou) was fourth, while Save America (Captaintreacherous) was moved up from sixth to fifth after Stockade Seelster (State Treasurer) was disqualified from fifth and placed eighth.

CONFEDERATE REPLAY

“Confederate has got high speed and he loves to go quick,” trainer Pelling said. “Tim (Tetrick) thinks this horse can move either way, but his best run has been coming off a helmet. I think he’ll be the best he can possibly be in next week’s final.”

If Confederate should win the Meadowlands Pace Final, it would give trainer Pelling his fifth trophy in the classic.

“It’s been a lot of years in between wins in this race,” Pelling laughed. “I can’t remember number four!”

Confederate was bred and is owned by Diamond Creek Farm and has amassed career earnings of $665,950 from eight wins, two seconds and a third in 11 lifetime starts.

“He got the job done, he chased big speed, he’s been perfect, he’s very consistent,” said driver Tetrick. “Post position is huge in the final, it’s about the right horse drawing the right spot.  My horse can do it on the lead, but I prefer to come from off the pace.”

Prior to his Meadowlands Pace elim victory, he was second in the $760,000 North America Cup on June 17, clocked in 1:47.4.  At two he won the $400,000 Kentucky Championship Series Final in 1:49.2 and was second in the $600,000 Breeders Cup Final, earning $443,700. He is the first of four foals out of the unraced A Rocknroll Dance mare Geothermal.

The draw for the Meadowlands Pace is below:

1-Fulton (Heston Blue Chip, 8-1)

2-Voukefalas (Lazarus N, 7-2)

3-Christchurch (Always B Miki, 15-1)

4-Cannibal (Sweet Lou, 4-1)

5-Confederate (Sweet Lou, 6-5)

6-Hungry Angel Boy (Stay Hungry, 20-1)

7-El Rey (Captaintreacherous, 6-1)

8-Its A Me Mario (American Ideal, 20-1)

9-Ammo (Sweet Lou, 30-1)

10-Save America (Captaintreacherous, 30-1)

For complete race results, click here.

by Kimberly Rinker, for Harnesslink