East Rutherford, NJ – Both harness racing pacers and Voukefalas made big moves upward in Week 2 of Dave Little’s “Road to The Meadowlands Pace” as each won impressively last week. Fulton is now at No. 3 in the Top 10 Poll, while Voukefalas is No. 4.

ROAD TO THE MEADOWLANDS PACE

Week 2 (of 10) – Thursday, May 11

The Meadowlands Pace is on Saturday, July 15, 2023

Rank

Horse

(Earnings – Mark)

Driver, Trainer

Owner(s)

Dave Little’s (and trainer’s) Comments

Stockade Seelster

($686,268 – 1:49.3)

J. Jamieson, I. Moore

Sally MacDonald, Paul MacDonald

The trainer is happy with his horse. With his circumstances? Not so much. “I don’t like doing it,” said Moore. “But we will qualify Friday (at Mohawk) since the SBOA of Ontario does not have enough for elims. We will then race on May 20 in the final.” Moore says the first time his student will race outside of Ontario will be in the Pace eliminations.

Breeding: State Treasurer-Soiree Seelster

Last Race: 4/21/2023 – SOTC – Qualifier – 1^st (1:50.2)

2 Ammo

($391,095 – 1:50.4)

D. Miller, J. Holloway

Val D’Or Farms, Ted Gewertz

Makes his seasonal debut today at Harrah’s Philadelphia in the third race. “He’ll probably be 1-9 in there,” said Holloway. “He’s tough to get along with but he’s super sharp.”

Breeding: Sweet Lou-Beach Gal

Last Race: 5/2/2023 – Phl – Qualifier – 1^st (1:51)

3 Fulton

($288,085 – 1:49.2)

D. Dunn, L. Toscano

Let It Ride Stables Inc,

Bottom Line Racing LLC

Moves up six spots off a marvelous first start of the season, a 1:49.2 mile, the fastest by any 3-year-old thus far this year. “He was really good,” said Toscano. “The key is to leave some in the tank, and (driver) Dex (Dunn) did a beautiful job with him. He finished with the plugs in.” Next up is more PaSS action in two weeks.

Breeding: Heston Blue Chip-Bettor Be Steamin

Last Race: 5/6/2023 – Mea – PaSS – 1^st (1:49.2)

4 Voukefalas

($256,088 – 1:50)

J. Stratton, M. Russo

Michael Pagonas

Vaults from 8^th to 4^th in the Top 10 after an eye-popping 1:50.3 score on the front end. Russo: “He trained really well (Wednesday). It seems like everything’s fine. I’m looking to keep him fit. He was real keen to go, real sharp and stayed focus. This is a prove-it business. Every week he’s got to prove that he belongs.” ‘Vouk’ is back in the NJSS on Saturday.

Breeding: Lazarus N-Inittowinafortune

Last Race: 5/6/2023 – M¹ – NJSS – 1^st (1:50.3)

5 Confederate

($443,700 – 1:49.2)

T. Tetrick, B. Pelling

Diamond Creek Racing

The plan is to qualify next week (May 19) at The Big M. “I had him out (Wednesday) morning,” said Pelling. “You could train him blind-folded. He’s very responsive and professional and doesn’t seem to have any quirks to him.”

Breeding: Sweet Lou-Geothermal

Last Race: 5/2/2023 – Phl – Qualifier – 2^nd (1:51.2)

6 Handlelikeaporsche

($276,850 – 1:50.1)

D. Dunn, C. Ryder

Chris Ryder, William Ezzo,

Robert Mondillo, Barry Spak

“I was happy to be second to Voukefalas,” said Ryder. “That horse couldn’t have looked any better. We didn’t want to be pushing our horse right off the bat. My horse? I’m happy with him. He’s an easy keeper with plenty of gate speed.” ‘Porsche’ and ‘Vouk’ will square off again on Saturday.

Breeding: Lazarus N-The Signature

Last Race: 5/6/2023 – M¹ – NJSS – 2^nd (1:51)

7 Combustion

($292,275 – 1:49.3)

T. McCarthy, B. Pelling

Diamond Creek Racing,

Thomas Dillon, Scott Dillon,

Cooper Silva Stables

“He’s a lot bigger than Confederate,” said Pelling. “If you want to get his attention, you have to call out to him or he’ll just fluff around. He’s a very strong horse. Confederate is quick, but this horse, he’s got to get his whole body into it (to get going).” Like his stablemate, he, too, will qualify at The Meadowlands on May 19.

Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Acquavella

Last Race: 5/9/2023 – Phl – Qualifier – 1^st (1:53.1)

8 El Rey

($284,400 – 1:49.2)

S. Zeron, T. Alagna

Brittany Farms LLC, El Rey Racing

Will qualify Saturday morning at The Meadowlands. His first qualifier? “That one went well,” said Alagna. “It was his first time, and he was facing horses who were out for the second time. He’ll qualify one more time, then get a prep race before the North America Cup. I think there are a lot of colts who can be best on any day in this group, but in the coming weeks, you’ll see some separation.”

Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Mystery Game

Last Race: 5/5/2023 – M¹ – Qualifier – 2^nd (1:51.3)

9 Save America

($347,005 – 1:49.4)

Y. Gingras, N. Takter

3 Brothers Stables, Caviart Farms

“His qualifier was very good,” said Takter. “He didn’t find any room down the stretch. I was very happy with him. He’s a big boy. It takes him a couple of strides to get going. He’ll go to Pocono for his first start in the sire stakes on May 21.”

Breeding: Captaintreacherous-My Lady Day

Last Race: 5/5/2023 – M¹ – Qualifier – 4^th (1:51.4)

10 Ants Marching

($79,667 – 1:50.1)

J. Fonseca, N. Takter

Howard Taylor, Nancy Takter,

Joseph Patrick McLead,

William Walters

“He was a little bit too anxious scoring down (before his second-place finish last week),” said Takter. “That may have taken something out of him. We’ll have to see what we can do to settle him down.” He’s been firing away from the gate in his starts this year, but the trainer is hoping for a race or two where he can go a little less than full throttle from the get-go. Takter will look for a race for next week at The Meadowlands.

Week 2 Dave Little’s “Road to The Meadowlands Pace”