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East Rutherford, NJ – With nine of the harness racing horses in action at Woodbine Mohawk Park in the eliminations for the North America Cup, the sixth edition of Dave Little’s Road to The Meadowlands Pace Weekly Top 10 poll has a big chance to look a lot different than it will one week from now.
| Rank | Horse
(Earnings – Mark) |
Driver, Trainer
Owner(s) |
Dave Little’s (and trainer’s) Comments |
| 1 |
Captain Albano($491,230 – 1:49.2)
|
T. McCarthy, N. DaleyPatricia Stable, L A Express & Sjoblom Inc, Michael E Dolan |
(N.A. Cup Elim 1, Post 4) Can the Captain stay atop the poll for a seventh straight week, and is there an advantage to being stabled in Canada? Daley: “I have no complaints about the field we are in. We’re going to have to meet them at some stage. I think [U.S. horses] are at a disadvantage. If you don’t have to ship, it’s better for your horse. Some horses get nervous [before a race], but once I warm my horse up, he’s pretty low key.”
Breeding: Captaintreacherous-AngelouLast Race: 5/26/2024 – Phl – PaSS – 1st (1:49.4) |
| 2 |
Captain’s Quarters($411,956 – 1:49.3) |
J. Jamieson, H. HollandRich P Stiles |
(Elim 1, Post 6) No shame in his last outing, a second-place finish to Nijinsky. Holland: “I would not say it’s an advantage [for the horses stabled in Canada]. It comes down to who has the best horse that day. There are probably five or six horses who can go sub-1:48. my horse? I’m hoping his last start was enough to stretch him out.”
Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Prescient BeautyLast Race: 6/1/2024 – Wbsb – Somebeachsomewhere – 2nd (1:49.1) |
| 3 |
Legendary Hanover($335,234 – 1:48.3) |
J. MacDonald, A. BeatonEric K Good, West Wins Stable,Mark B Dumain |
(Elim 2, Post 3) Had too much ground to make up in a second-place finish to the superb Funtime Bayama. Beaton: “I think we stack up well. He came out of the race last week feeling great. We think we have the horse to get the job done but there are targets on everybody’s back.”
Breeding: Huntsville-Lillian HanoverLast Race: 6/1/2024 – Wbsb – Somebeachsomewhere – 2nd (1:49.3) |
| 4 |
Gem Quality($486,576 – 1:50) |
D. Dunn, C. RyderLet It Ride Stables Inc,Odds On Racing, Bradley J Grant,Enviro Stables Ltd |
(Elim 1, Post 8) His lone 2024 blemish is a good second-place finish to this poll’s top-ranked horse. Ryder: “I’m goosebumps all over,” said the trainer with a laugh. “You gotta be relaxed. As for my horse? We’ll give them a run. I’m happy with every race he’s had.”
Breeding: Captain Crunch-TwinkleLast Race: 5/26/2024 – Phl – PaSS – 2nd (1:50) |
| 5 |
Nijinsky($146,640 – 1:49) |
L. Roy, A. BeatonWest Wins Stable,John D Fielding, Mark B Dumain |
(Elim 3, Post 3) Makes a big splash by debuting in the poll at No. 5 after winning a division of the SBSW to stay unbeaten in three starts this year. Hey Tony, you train Legendary Hanover and Nijinsky. Which one is better? Beaton: “I wouldn’t trade either one of my horses. I think they are both very good. Nijinsky is as quick as any horse out there right now.”
Breeding: Bettor’s Delight-Pirouette HanoverLast Race: 6/1/2024 – Wbsb – Somebeachsomewhere – 1st (1:49) |
| 6 |
Funtime Bayama($284,858 – 1:49.1) |
S. Filion, R. MoreauBayama Farms Inc |
(Elim 2, Post 6) Back in the Top 10 after a dominant win over Legendary Hanover. His one loss this year came to Nijinsky by a head. Filion: “Legendary Hanover is a very nice horse. He got caught behind dead cover and flew home, but my horse raced really well, too. He seems to never get tired.” Hey Sylvain, I’m sorry I left your horse out of the Top 10 last week. “Yeah, I saw that. Maybe after next week, you’ll have to make him No. 1.”
Breeding: He’s Watching-Tymal SugrbabydollLast Race: 6/1/2024 – Wbsb – Somebeachsomewhere – 1st (1:49.1) |
| 7 |
McCrunch($35,775 – 1:49) |
Y. Gingras, N. Takter3 Brothers Stable,Caviart Farms,Joe Sbrocco, JAF Racing LLC |
(Not in The N.A. Cup) The horse for the course was at it again, winning by 8 lengths last week, to make it five wins at The Meadowlands in as many 2024 tries. Takter: “He didn’t race at 2, so I thought the N.A. Cup might be too ambitious. He’s a June foal, so he’s really not even 3 yet. I am going to look for one more start before the Pace eliminations.”
Breeding: Captain Crunch-McGibsonLast Race: 5/31/2024 – M1 – W1-NW3 – 1st (1:49) |
| 8 |
Captain Luke($342,494 – 1:49.3) |
S. Zeron, T. AlagnaRobert J Leblanc, Pryde Stables Inc,Bradley J Grant, Steven Head |
(Elim 2, Post 1) Will his huge 10-hole win set him up well for The Cup? Alagna: “[The division we are in] doesn’t sound like fun,” said the trainer with his tongue in cheek. “We’ll see where we are at. [As for shipping to Canada] I think if you have the right horse, it really doesn’t matter.”
Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Bodacious HanoverLast Race: 5/25/2024 – M1 – 3YO NW3 – 1st (1:49.3) |
| 9 |
Clever Cody($448,372 – 1:50.1) |
D. Miller, Dr. I. MooreClever Cody Stable |
(Elim 1, Post 3) There were no equipment mishaps last week in an easy score at Northfield. Moore: “Everything has been good. His last start was basically a training mile.” For a horse who has had temperament issues, he was calm as could be in the Buckeye State. “In Ohio, he was the first one in the paddock. He was looking outside and couldn’t have cared less.”
Breeding: The Panderosa-Cams Van GoLast Race: 6/1/2024 – Nfld – OhSS – 1st (1:52) |
| 10 |
Mirage Hanover($177,393 – 1:49.3) |
T. Tetrick, J. LeamonMarvin J Rounick |
(Elim 2, Post 4) Usually, races of the magnitude of the N.A. Cup are won from off the pace. Hey Jake, that suits Mirage Hanover perfectly, no? Leamon: “His closing style makes me optimistic. I don’t think there is a weak division among the three Saturday night, so it doesn’t really matter. If you can’t beat them in the elimination, you can’t beat them in the final.”
Breeding: Bettor’s Delight-Mayhem SeelsterLast Race: 5/25/2024 – M1 – NW14,000 – 2nd (1:48.4) |
From The Meadowlands
