East Rutherford, NJ – The action is reaching the boiling point. Nine of the horses in the Week 8 edition of Dave Little’s “Road to The Meadowlands Pace” Top 10 poll will be on the track this weekend with the marquee showdown taking place at The Meadows on Saturday when top-ranked Southwind Gendry battles No. 3 Perfect Sting. Visit MeadowlandsPace.com for all the Pace night details. #Pace21

Rank

Horse

(Earnings – Mark)

Driver, Trainer

Owner(s)

Dave Little’s Comments

1 Southwind Gendry

($672,758 – Q1:49.3)

Y. Gingras, R. Burke

Burke Racing, Phillip Collura,

Knox Services, J&T Silva-

Purnel & Libby

“My horse was good in his qualifier [Saturday morning at The Meadowlands],” said Burke. “But [Perfect Sting] was unbelievable [Saturday night at The Big M].” Those two giants of the 3-year-old colt pacing division will hook up Saturday at The Meadows in Sire Stakes action for a purse of $148,332. “You’ve got to beat [Perfect Sting] sooner or later but I’m still not thrilled with where Gendry is,” said Burke of the tough task that awaits in the 10^th-race showdown where ‘Gendry’ has drawn post 2.

Breeding: Always B Miki-Gambler’s Passion

Last Race: 6/19 – M1 – Qualifier – 1^st (1:49.3)

2 Abuckabett Hanover

($235,021 – 1:49.1)

A. McCarthy, T. Alagna

Crawford Farms Racing,

Alagna Racing, Jablonsky Held

Stable, Barbera N Wienick Stable

Like five others in the Top 10, his Road to the Pace will go through Yonkers Raceway and the Messenger Eliminations Friday night (Race 9, Post 4). “Abuckabett trained very well over the track at Yonkers,” said Alagna. “When they upped the purse to $500,000, it made you take a second look. My horse is doing great.”

Breeding: Betting Line-All Tucked Up

Last Race: 5/30 – Phl – Pennsylvania Sire Stakes – 1^st (1:51.1)

3 Perfect Sting

($555,811 – 1:48.1)

D. Miller, J. Holloway

Brittany Farms,

Val D’Or Farms

Battled back after getting passed to win in 1:48.1 in scintillating fashion Saturday night at The Big M against older foes. “Overall, I’m pleased,” said Holloway. “You can now see why I did not want to face older horses. He had to come back. Not a lot of horses can do that. He’s where I want him to be. I would have stayed home had The Meadowlands 3-year-old Open filled.” Instead, on to The Meadows and a date with ‘Gendry’ (Race 10, Post 7).

Breeding: Always B Miki-Shebestingin

Last Race: 6/19 – M1 – NW$12,500L5 – 1^st (1:48.1)

4 One Eight Hundred

($97,958 – 1:48.4)

T. Tetrick, N. Takter

Brixton Medical, Nancy Takter

“He’s good and the trip worked out perfect,” said Takter of her horse’s conquest of South Beach Star in a 3-year-old conditioned pace at The Big M Saturday. “He needs one more start. I’m going to make some changes.” Off a win!!?? “A pair of aluminum shoes and a UFO bike. It could be the difference between first and second [in the big races].” He’ll take on older horses Saturday night at The Big M in Race 8 from Post 7.

Breeding: Somebeachsomewhere-Economy Terror

Last Race: 6/19 – M1 – Winners of 2 Non-Winners of 6 – 1^st (1:48.4)

5 Exploit

($432,402 – 1:50.3)

T. McCarthy, T. Alagna

LeBlanc and Kribbs,

Joe Sbrocco, In The Gym Partners,

Joseph Barbera

Looks ready for The Messenger (Race 9, Post 6) off a 7-hole speed score at Yonkers a week ago Tuesday. “He went a very big trip in that race and has been very consistent,” said Alagna. Five wins from 18 lifetime starts and nine on-the-board finishes back that up. A big four-week stretch awaits.

Breeding: Somebeachsomewhere-Time On My Hands

Last Race: 6/15 – YR – Non-Winners of 6 – 1^st (1:53.2)

6 Heart Of Chewbacca

($288,848 – 1:48.4)

D. Noble, R. Burke

Dennis Owens,

Norman Rae Racing

Finished second last week after his remarkable 1:48.4 score, but his trainer seems unconcerned. “We got a screwy trip. He kind of missed the gate. I was thrilled with his effort. Now the question is: Do we storm out of there [from Post 6 in Race 8 in The Messenger] and try to take our shot? Danny’s [Noble] aggressive, as anyone who watches him race knows.”

Breeding: Bring On The Beach-JT’s Chewbacca

Last Race: 6/19 – ScD – Ohio Sire Stakes – 2^nd (1:49.3)

7 Always A Miki

($349,911 – 1:50.2)

D. Dunn, N. Takter

Christina Takter, Goran Anderberg,

Herb Liverman, Rojan Stables

“He’s going to race in The Messenger [Race 8, Post 1] first and then we will see about The Pace,” said Takter. “He raced super in his last start. He’s an overachiever with a great attitude.” Winner of two straight will show how he stacks up is in this division Friday night.

Breeding: Always B Miki-Beach Gal

Last Race: 6/13 – Phl – Winners of 5 Non-Winners of 7 – 1^st (1:50.4)

8 American Courage

($198,633 – 1:49.4)

M. Kakaley, T. Alexander

Fiddler’s Creek Stables

Another in the Top 10 who is Yonkers bound Friday (Race 8, Post 2). “Track size does not matter,” said Alexander. “He gets around all sizes. He’s won in 1:52 already on a ½ -mile track. I think he can go 1:47 or 1:48 on a mile track.”

Breeding: American Ideal-Nota Fool Bluechip

Last Race: 6/12 – PcD – Non-Winners of $12,500L5 – 1st (1:49.4)

9 Lawless Shadow

($260,669 – 1:50)

B. McClure, I. Moore

Ian Moore, R G McGroup Ltd,

Serge Savard, Frank Cannon

Back in the Top 10 off a blowout 5-length score at his home track, Mohawk. “We were very pleased,” said Moore. “It had been a month since his previous race. He’ll go next a week from Saturday in the Ontario Sire Stakes Gold and then we will be on our way to The Pace. That’s a given.”

Breeding: Shadow Play-Ladycino

Last Race: 6/19 – Wbsb – Non-Winners of $16,500L5 – 1^st (1:50.2)

10 Charlie May

($368,627 – 1:49.3)

B. Miller, S. Carter

Don Tiger

Winner of nine-of-14 lifetime returns to the Top 10 off a 1:49.3 score over Heart Of Chewbacca. “I wasn’t surprised,” said Carter. “My horse was locked in the week before.” Next stop: The Messenger (Race 8, Post 7).

Breeding: McArdle-Stipple Hanover

Last Race: 6/19 – ScD – Ohio Sire Stakes – 1^st (1:49.3)

KEY PREP RACES

MEADOWLANDS PACE ELIGIBLES IN CAPS – Supplements are permitted per the conditions of the race

Date	Stakes	Site	Winner	Trainer	Driver	2^nd Horse	3^rd 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 Elims	YR
6/26	Pa. Sire Stakes	Mea
7/2	Messenger Final	YR
7/17	Meadowlands Pace	M1

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