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New Leader in Dave Little’s Week Road to the Meadowlands Pace Presented by Genova Burns

Thursday, June 11, 2026

Odds On Mr Mamba pulled off the upset, handing Beau Jangles his first career defeat, and now sits in the top spot in Dave Little’s Road to the Meadowlands Pace weekly poll. Seven of the horses in the Top 10 will go to the gate for the C$1 million North America Cup Saturday night at Mohawk.

ROAD TO THE MEADOWLANDS PACE presented by Genova Burns LLC

Week 7 (of 10) – Thursday, June 11

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	Odds On Mr Mamba ($380,405 – 1:47.4)	J. MacDonald, M. Wrenn Odds On Racing	The new top dog in the poll rocked the harness racing world with his win over “Beau” in a stacked North America Cup elimination to up his lifetime stats to 9 wins in 10 tries. Has drawn post 3 for the final. Wrenn: “If you watch him, 100 yards from the wire he had another gear. He dug just a little bit more. I knew that Mamba would not embarrass himself but there’s been so much hype about Beau Jangles. There’s a lot more pressure now.” Breeding: Odds On Equuleus-Honky Tonk Woman Last Race: 6/6/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup elimination – 1^st (1:48.2)
2	Beau Jangles ($1,339,159 – 1:48.3)	B. McClure, Dr. I. Moore Graham Grace Stables LLC, Kiwi Stables LLC, Bolton Stables	Saw his winning streak end at the hands of the new No. 1 in his North America Cup elimination when third. But he did well at the post draw for the final. He’ll leave from post 5. Moore: “He was not really put in a position to win. I knew it was bound to happen. Those are two really good horses he finished behind. He didn’t race poorly, but he got beat. Hopefully, that’s a one-time thing.” Breeding: Cattlewash-Mrs Major Hill Last Race: 6/6/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup elimination – 3^rd (1:48.3)
3	Brandon Blvd ($498,977 – 1:48.1)	D. Dunn, A. Harris Punisher 11 Stable LLC	Finished second in that thriller of a first North America Cup elim. Now has two big-time tighteners over the track. Drew post 10 for the final. Did you think you had won the elim? Harris: “I thought for 20 seconds, I did. In the final, I think Beau will go to the front, but I think there will be some racing. ‘Brandon’ has been loud and talking in the field. He seems good.” Breeding: Downbytheseaside-Alexis Faith Last Race: 6/6/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup elimination – 2^nd (1:48.2)
4	Sweet Lovin Lou ($226,237 – 1:48.2)	S. Zeron, D. Lagace Lagace Stables, Edwin Buhler, Big Als Stables, Brittany Farms Micki Rae	After a pair of good efforts to start the year, won his first race of 2026 in a lifetime best in the other Cup elim, which vaulted him into the Top 10 all the way up to No. 4. James MacDonald has opted to drive Odds On Mr Mamba, so Scott Zeron will guide this one from post 4 in the final. Lagace: “It’s kind of what we were expecting. He needed to be stretched out. We knew he was ready after he went 1:51 in Florida but wanted to space out how aggressive we would be. We wanted to start out on the right foot.” Breeding: Sweet Lou-Lover’s Dream Last Race: 6/6/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup elimination – 1^st (1:48.2)
5	Melillo ($430,387 – 1:48.4)	R. Wrenn Jr., R. Burke Burke Racing Stable LLC, Jason Melillo, Weaver Bruscemi LLC	Left in :26.2 to the lead, finished 4th in the strong elim. Has drawn the rail for the final. Burke: “he was good. He got caught in a bad spot. I thought he raced fine. Hopefully, this week he gets away where he needs to be.” Breeding: Sweet Lou-Rosemary Rose Last Race: 6/6/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup elimination – 4^th (1:49)
6	Bookie J ($355,868 – 1:50)	D. Dunn, C. Ryder Ken Jacobs	Will watch The Cup after he races Friday in the New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund at The Big M. Ryder: “No shipping. No change of environment. And we don’t have to squeeze the lemon until we have to. I think he’s much better off staying home. I think everything is good for him.” Breeding: Perfect Sting-Skyy Last Race: 5/23/2026 – M1 – New Jersey Sire Stakes final – 1^st (1:50.2)
7	Azrael Blue Chip ($151,350 – 1:51)	A. McCarthy, B. Odza CT Stables LLC	Rallied for third in his elim and will depart from post 7 in the final. Odza: “I was happy with him. I wasn’t quite thrilled with how he was pacing. It was different from The Meadowlands. He’ll be shod differently Saturday. He was struggling to get into gear. I’m going to slap the aluminums on him.” Breeding: Perfect Sting-Bathsheba Last Race: 6/6/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup elimination – 3^rd (1:48.4)
8	Always B Charlie ($32,768 – 1:51)	S. Zeron, N. Takter Upstart Racing	Will not head to the North America Cup, but continued to prepare for the Pace by winning at Pocono. Not in to go this week. Takter: “He’s good. He’s doing exactly what I expect of him. He’s the world’s laziest horse. If they went in 1:58, he’d go 1:58. If they went in 1:49, he’d go 1:49. I’m hoping to find a race for him next week at The Meadowlands.” Breeding: Always B Miki-My Little Delight Last Race: 6/6/2026 – PcD – W2-5PM – 1^st (1:51.2)
9	Al Papi ($424,980 – 1:48.1)	Y. Gingras, R. Burke Burke Racing Stable LLC, J&T Silva – Purnel & Libby, Lawrence Karr, Weaver Bruscemi LLC	The trainer liked his start before his solid second at Mohawk in his Cup elim, in which he went out in :54.1 and back in :54.2. Leaves from post 8 in the final. Burke: “He’s been better lately. We got aggressive with him (in the elimination) and we have to be aggressive with him again this week.” Breeding: Papi Rob Hanover-Baron Remy Last Race: 6/6/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup elimination – 2^nd (1:48.3)
10	Gentleman’s Club ($256,481 – 1:50.2)	A. McCarthy, A. Lambert Anthony Licastro	Reached three-quarters in 1:21.1 but could not hack it from there, finishing 7^th in the Odds On Mr Mamba elimination. Not in this week. Lambert: “When Beau Jangles came to him, he over raced. He grabbed on pretty good.” So, what now? “We’ll try and get a race for him before the Meadowlands Pace eliminations.” Breeding: Downbytheseaside-See You At Peelers Last Race: 6/6/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup elimination – 7^th (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
5/2	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	Sonofanutcracker	T. Cancelliere	D. Dunn	AZRAEL BLUE CHIP	ROCKNACIOUS	1:50
5/9	Pa All-Stars	PcD	Another C Note Captain Apple Treacherous Lou Toast Of The Town	R. Burke C. Ryder R. Cleary N. Daley	T. Buter P. Ryder T. Tetrick T. McCarthy	Papi Rick Southwind Spencer Easy Breeze Superchamp Hanover	Spunky Hanover Really Bright TALBOT ANDRETTI Good Friday	1:52.2 1:54.1 1:53.4 1:52.2
5/9	Ontario SBOA elims	Wbsb	BEAU JANGLES Borderline Mobby	Dr. I. Moore D. Menary	B. McClure J. MacDonald	Tilthecowscomehome WINDOR	Mega Moves Redland Rocket Man	1:51 1:50.4
5/16	Ontario SBOA final	Wbsb	BEAU JANGLES	Dr. I Moore	B. McClure	Borderline Mobby	WINDOR	1:49.3
5/16	PaSS	PcD	APOCALYPSEBLUECHIP Sneaky Squeaky Another C Note	J. Bongiorno J. Bongiorno T. Buter	J. Bongiorno J. Bongiorno R. Burke	Superchamp Hanover Captain Apple MELILLO	Southwind Spencer Silent Investor Papi Rick	1:50.3 1:51.1 1:50.4
5/23	NJSS final	M1	BOOKIE J	C. Ryder	D. Dunn	AZRAEL BLUE CHIP	Thisbeestings Deo	1:50.2
5/24	PaSS	Phl	MELILLO Another C Note Papi Rick	R. Burke R. Burke N. Daley	T. Tetrick Y. Gingras A. McCarthy	Easy Breeze ALWAYS B CHARLIE Sneaky Squeaky	TALBOT ANDRETTI Thai Hanover AL PAPI	1:48.4 1:50.3 1:50.3
5/30	Somebeachsomewhr	Wbsb	BRANDON BLVD	A. Harris	J. Bartlett	SWEET LOVIN LOU	No Waitlist	1:48.1
6/6	N.A. Cup elims	Wbsb	SWEET LOVIN LOU ODDS ON MR MAMBA	D. Lagace M. Wrenn	J. MacDonald J. MacDonald	AL PAPI BRANDON BLVD	AZRAEL BLUE CHIP BEAU JANGLES	1:48.2 1:48.2
6/13	N.A. Cup final	Wbsb
6/19	Messenger elims	YR
6/26	Messenger final	YR
7/4	Meadowlands Pace elims	M1
7/11	Meadowlands Pace final	M1