Ubrute Moves Three Spots on Dave Little’s Road to the 2026 Meadowlands Pace Week 2
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Ubrute made the biggest advance in the second edition of Dave Little’s Road to The Meadowlands Pace, moving up three spots in the weekly Top 10 after a good-looking win last Saturday at The Meadows. Top-ranked Beau Jangles, who has a gaudy lifetime record of 12 wins from 12 starts, will hit the track for the first time this year at Mohawk Saturday night in his quest for a second consecutive Dan Patch Horse of the Year trophy.
ROAD TO THE MEADOWLANDS PACE
Week 2 (of 10) – Thursday, May 7
The Meadowlands Pace is on Saturday, July 11, 2026
| Rank |
Horse(Earnings – Mark) |
Driver, Trainer,Owner(s) |
Dave Little’s (and trainer’s) comments |
| 1 |
Beau Jangles($1,227,326 – 1:48.3) |
B. McClure, Dr. I. MooreGraham Grace Stables LLC, Kiwi Stables LLC, Bolton Stables |
Moore: “I guess I’m a little bit surprised that there are eliminations (for the WEG/SBOA event this Saturday at Mohawk). I just figured there wouldn’t be.” Are you feeling the pressure? “The pressure is on. Last year, there was no added pressure at any time. As we approach the start of a new season, I think there is some pressure now to continue to do what he’s been doing. We are still very optimistic competing at this level.”
Breeding: Cattlewash-Mrs Major HillLast Race: 4/17/2026 – SOTC – Qualifier – 1st (1:50.4) |
| 2 |
Odds On Mr Mamba($314,405 – 1:47.4) |
D. Dunn, M. WrennOdds On Racing |
Pete Wrenn: “He had a great week. He’s ready to qualify again and step it up just a touch. We are going to qualify him Saturday for the (May 25) Indiana Sires Stakes. It’s supposed to be a beautiful day. This horse is so manageable.”
Breeding: Odds On Equuleus-Honky Tonk WomanLast Race: 4/29/2026 – HoP – Qualifier – 1st (1:53.2) |
| 3 |
Gentleman’s Club($239,756 – 1:50.2) |
A. McCarthy, A. LambertAnthony Licastro |
Lambert: “He’s the absolute best. His manners, it’s like he’s half human. He’s like a big dog. He’s the smartest horse I’ve ever been around.” What about the race against older stock he’s in at Pocono Saturday? “It’s hard to find a race for these horses. This one is the best option.”
Breeding: Downbytheseaside-See You At Peelers Last Race: 5/1/2026 – M1 – Qualifier – 1st (1:51.3) |
| 4 |
Brandon Blvd($439,397 – 1:48.4) |
D. Dunn, A. HarrisPunisher 11 Stable LLC |
Won the Paul Revere easily as the 1-20 favorite and will take this week off. Harris: “Where else can you get a first start of the year like that for $100,000? The horse came out of the race great. Right now, we are very happy with things. We’re hoping for a 3-year-old open next week at The Meadowlands before heading (to Mohawk) for the (May 30) Somebeachsomewhere.”
Breeding: Downbytheseaside-Alexis Faith Last Race: 5/2/2026 – PRc – Paul Revere – 1st (1:51.1) |
| 5 |
Ubrute($368,507 – 1:49.4) |
Y. Gingras, R. BurkeBurke Racing Stable LLC,Weaver Bruscemi LLC,Hatfield Stables,Phil Collura |
Moves up three spots after winning a Pa Stallion Series dash on Saturday in 1:52.3. He will take this week off. Burke: “He got around there and paced to the wire but I don’t think 5/8ths tracks are his ultimate place. I raced him against the lower-caliber (Stallion Series) horses because I was trying to make it as easy as possible. I’ll get him on a 7/8ths in Canada in the Somebeachsomewhere and North America Cup.”
Breeding: Tall Dark Stranger-Warrawee UbeautLast Race: 5/2/2026 – Mea – Pa Stallion Series – 1st (1:52.3) |
| 6 |
Al Papi($409,654 – 1:48.1)
|
Y. Gingras, R. BurkeBurke Racing Stable LLC,J&T Silva – Purnel & Libby,Lawrence Karr,Weaver Bruscemi LLC |
Finished third at The Meadows in a PaSS event, winner Sneaky Squeaky won in 1:50.1. Burke: “He kicked home better than in his second qualifier and I was happy with his effort.” Al Papi will take this week off.
Breeding: Papi Rob Hanover-Baron RemyLast Race: 5/2/2026 – Mea – PaSS – 3rd (1:50.2) |
| 7
|
Melillo($399,607 – 1:48.4) |
R. Wrenn Jr., R. BurkeBurke Racing Stable LLC,Jason Melillo,Weaver Bruscemi LLC |
Missed a nose to Sneaky Squeaky in the same dash as Al Papi and is also not in this week. Burke: “Same as Al Papi, he took a step forward. Maybe he hung just a little. I’m going to make a bridle change, (because) I think once he gets clear, he’ll keep on going. Sometimes, he has a tendency to wait on them.”
Breeding: Sweet Lou-Rosemary RoseLast Race: 5/2/2026 – Mea – PaSS – 2nd (1:50.1) |
| 8 |
Bookie J($243,368 – 1:50) |
D. Dunn, C. RyderKen Jacobs |
Moves up one spot after remaining unbeaten in 2026 after winning a third-straight race to begin his season. Ryder: “I’m happy with him. He’ll get the week off now and go in the NJSS final (on May 23). We’re working on trying to improve him, but he’s always pretty good. We’ll stay at The Meadowlands and go in the New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund on June 12 (eliminations) and June 20 (final). Then, the Meadowlands Pace.”
Breeding: Perfect Sting-SkyyLast Race: 5/2/2026 – M1 – NJSS – 1st (1:50) |
| 9 |
Lindy Dragonwater($313,840 – 1:51) |
C. Page, R. BurkeBurke Racing Stable LLC,Knox Services Inc,Beasty LLC,Brad Grant |
Finished fourth in OhSS action on Saturday. not in this week. Burke: “I’m not real happy with him, so it’s back to the drawing board. I have to get him to the mile track.”
Breeding: Downbytheseaside-Imagine DragonLast Race: 5/2/2026 – MVR – OhSS – 4th (1:53.2) |
10 |
Windor($160,575 – 1:51.2) |
D. McNair, M. VanderkempDianna Secord |
Won a Mohawk qualifier last Saturday and is racing this Saturday at Mohawk. Vanderkemp: “When you consider it was cold with snow flurries, the qualifier was pretty good. He pretty much has got the SBOA/WEG (this week), then the (OnSS) Gold, then the North America Cup.”
Breeding: Bulldog Hanover-WinxLast Race: 5/2/2026 – Wbsb – Qualifier – 1st (1:54.3) |
MEADOWLANDS PACE ELIGIBLES IN CAPS – Supplements are permitted per the conditions of the race
| Date | Stakes | Site | Winner | Trainer | Driver | 2nd Horse | 3rd Horse | Time |
| 5/2
|
PaSS | Mea | Sneaky Squeaky
Another C Note |
J. Bongiorno
R. Burke |
T. Tetrick
R. Wrenn Jr. |
MELILLO
Frantic Hanover |
AL PAPI
Twin B Thriller |
1:50.1
1:51.2 |
| 5/2 | NJSS | M1 | BOOKIE J | C. Ryder | D. Dunn | AZRAEL BLUE CHIP | Thisbeestings Deo | 1:50 |
| 5/9 | NJSS | M1 | ||||||
| 5/9 | Pa All-Stars | PcD | ||||||
| 5/9 | WEG/SBOA elims | Wbsb | ||||||
| 5/16 | WEG/SBOA final | Wbsb | ||||||
| 5/16 | PaSS | PcD | ||||||
| 5/23 | NJSS final | M1 | ||||||
| 5/24 | PaSS | Phl | ||||||
| 5/30 | Somebeachsomewhr | Wbsb | ||||||
| 6/6 | N.A. Cup elims | Wbsb | ||||||
| 6/13 | N.A. Cup finals | Wbsb | ||||||
| 6/19 | Messenger elims | YR | ||||||
| 6/26 | Messenger final | YR | ||||||
| 7/4 | Meadowlands Pace elims | M1 | ||||||
| 7/11 | Meadowlands Pace final | M1 |
Track Conditions
Updated
05/02/2026
Fast
Variant:
