Home / Pace News / Odds On Mr Mamba, Brandon Blvd and Beau Jangles 1-2-3 in Dave Little’s Road to the Meadowlands Pace presented by Genova Burns LLC

Odds On Mr Mamba, Brandon Blvd and Beau Jangles 1-2-3 in Dave Little’s Road to the Meadowlands Pace presented by Genova Burns LLC

Thursday, June 18, 2026

By finishing 1-2-3 in both the elimination and final, Odds On Mr Mamba, Brandon Blvd and Beau Jangles sit atop — in that order — the eighth edition of Dave Little’s weekly Road to the Meadowlands Pace presented by Genova Burns LLC Top 10 poll.

ROAD TO THE MEADOWLANDS PACE

Week 8 (of 10) – Thursday, June 18

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 ($740,405 – 1:47.4)	J. MacDonald, M. Wrenn / Odds On Racing	The North America Cup winner rose to the top spot with an elimination win and stays at the top of the heap after taking Canada’s big one. Wrenn: “He shipped into Mohawk like a champion. He ate his food and drank. Shipping can knock horses right off their game. Nearing the wire in the Cup, James said he found another gear. He wants to win. It was a fun weekend. We’ll race in Indiana in sire stakes on the 26th.” Breeding: Odds On Equuleus-Honky Tonk Woman Last Race: 6/13/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup – 1st (1:48.1)
2	Brandon Blvd ($660,977 – 1:48.1)	D. Dunn, A. Harris / Punisher 11 Stable LLC	Raced giant from post 10, finished second in the Cup. Harris: “I’m thrilled with the horse. He couldn’t have raced any better. That’s the problem with the 10 hole, you can’t make your own luck. He’ll take two weeks off. He just paced three starts in a row in 1:48.1. How much sharper does he have to get?” Breeding: Downbytheseaside-Alexis Faith Last Race: 6/13/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup – 2nd (1:48.1)
3	Beau Jangles ($1,416,919 – 1:48.3)	B. McClure, Dr. I. Moore / Graham Grace Stables LLC, Kiwi Stables LLC, Bolton Stables	Put in another big try, but finished third for a second straight start, behind this poll’s Top 2 once again. There’s no shame in that. Moore: “I thought he got a great drive. He was in a place to win this time. Brandon Blvd went the best of all three of them. Odds On Mr Mamba had a perfect trip behind him. I checked everything, and my horse, he’s good. His next start will be a week from Saturday in the Ontario Sire Stakes Gold.” Breeding: Cattlewash-Mrs Major Hill Last Race: 6/13/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup – 3rd (1:48.1)
4	Al Papi ($476,820 – 1:48.1)	Y. Gingras, R. Burke / Burke Racing Stable LLC, J&T Silva – Purnel & Libby, Lawrence Karr, Weaver Bruscemi LLC	No wins this year, but hasn’t put in a bad effort among his 5. Clearly good, but clearly in the pack that isn’t quite as good as the Top 3. Heading to the Messenger. Burke: “He’s closed the gap every week on the best colts and he’s the one doing the work. He’s a length-and-a-half from the three best colts and he had the eight hole. With no eliminations, we will go in the Messenger, and then the Meadowlands Pace.” Breeding: Papi Rob Hanover-Baron Remy Last Race: 6/13/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup – 4th (1:48.2)
5	Melillo ($462,787 – 1:48.4)	R. Wrenn Jr., R. Burke / Burke Racing Stable LLC, Jason Melillo, Weaver Bruscemi LLC	Burke trainee is having a nice year. grabbed a check in the Cup. Another member of the brigade heading to YR for the Messenger. Burke: “He got locked in. I think Ronnie would have pulled first over if he had another chance. It worked out fine. In the Cup, the horses that finished 1-2-3 got the three best trips.” Breeding: Sweet Lou-Rosemary Rose Last Race: 6/13/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup – 5th (1:49)
6	Bookie J ($360,868 – 1:48.4)	D. Dunn, C. Ryder / Ken Jacobs	Made it 5 wins in as many tries this year in a NJSDF dash and will be favored Saturday night at The Big M in the final. Are things going the way you’d hoped? Ryder: “Hell yeah! He’s on the right path. He raced great last week, and he drew the rail again for this week. We’ll take next week off for sure. I like our setup. The horse hasn’t had to travel. The ball is in my court.” Breeding: Perfect Sting-Skyy Last Race: 6/12/2026 – M1 – NJSDF – 1st (1:48.4)
7	Sweet Lovin Lou ($233,437 – 1:48.2)	S. Zeron, D. Lagace / Lagace Stables, Edwin Buhler, Big Als Stables, Brittany Farms Micki Rae	Finished 6^th in the Cup, but wasn’t anywhere near 100%. Lagace: “I was disappointed. He didn’t fire. He had quite a bit of mucus after the race and had a puss pocket before the race. He’s a lot more chipper (Thursday). We’ll keep working on the foot and qualify next Friday.” Breeding: Sweet Lou-Lover’s Dream Last Race: 6/13/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup – 6th (1:49.1)
8	Always B Charlie ($32,768 – 1:51)	S. Zeron, N. Takter / Upstart Racing	Qualifying Friday morning at The Big M. Takter: “The Meadowlands had no race for him this week, so we’ll qualify. They will have a race for him next week. The horse is good but it’s been difficult getting him raced.” Breeding: Always B Miki-My Little Delight Last Race: 6/6/2026 – PcD – W2-5PM – 1st (1:51.2)
9	Azrael Blue Chip ($158,550 – 1:51)	A. McCarthy, B. Odza / CT Stables LLC	Things did not go well at Mohawk. Now, it’s time to prepare for the Pace, which is on his home turf. Odza: “After the elimination, Andy suggested the horse needed more grab, so I changed the shoes to aluminum all around, but it was the wrong call. It’s one of those things where you’re going for a million. You look for every edge you can. I’m going to keep him happy and sound and look for a race or a qualifier during the last week of June.” Breeding: Perfect Sting-Bathsheba Last Race: 6/13/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup – 10th (1:54.1)
10	Gentleman’s Club ($256,481 – 1:50.2)	A. McCarthy, A. Lambert / Anthony Licastro	Two weeks until the Pace eliminations. What’s the plan after failing to make the North America Cup final. Lambert: “He’s good. We’ll probably look to race him or qualify him next week.” Breeding: Downbytheseaside-See You At Peelers Last Race: 6/6/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup elimination – 7th (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	ODDS ON MR MAMBA	M. Wrenn	J. MacDonald	BRANDON BLVD	BEAU JANGLES	1:48.1
6/26	Messenger	YR
7/4	Meadowlands Pace elims	M1
7/11	Meadowlands Pace final	M1