Ammo Tops Dave Little’s Road to the Meadowlands Pace Week 4

Thursday, May 25, 2023


A Sunday stroll down victory lane in the Poconos has fired Ammo to the top of the Week 4 edition of Dave Little’s “Road to the Meadowlands Pace” Top 10 poll.

ROAD TO THE MEADOWLANDS PACE

Week 4 (of 10) – Thursday, May 25

The Meadowlands Pace is on Saturday, July 15, 2023

Rank Horse

(Earnings – Mark)  

Driver, Trainer

Owner(s)

Dave Little’s (and trainer’s) Comments
1
Ammo
($416,938 – 1:50.3)
D. Miller, J. Holloway
Val D’Or Farms, Ted Gewertz
Takes over the top spot off a decisive score in the Pocono mountains. Used a burst of speed to get the lead at the three-eighths to stay perfect in two seasonal starts. Holloway: “He was a little aggressive behind the gate. You don’t want to waste any energy. We’ll have to deal with that. We’re heading to (Philadelphia) this Sunday for the sire stakes. Then, we’ll have 13 days to prepare for the North America Cup.”

Breeding: Sweet Lou-Beach Gal

Last Race: 5/21/2023 – PcD – PaSS – 1st (1:50.3)

2
Fulton
($307,428 – 1:49.2)
D. Dunn, L. Toscano
Let It Ride Stables Inc,
Bottom Line Racing LLC
Moves up to No. 2 after recording his second win of the season against no losses in Keystone State sire stakes action, holding off Lyons Surfing at the wire. He’s now won 8-of-11 lifetime starts and hit the board 100% of the time. He is not racing this week.

Breeding: Heston Blue Chip-Bettor Be Steamin

Last Race: 5/21/2023 – PcD – PaSS – 1st (1:50.2)*

3
Voukefalas
($271,088 – 1:50)
J. Stratton, M. Russo
Michael Pagonas
Will be a heavy favorite Saturday night in the NJSS final at The Big M. What can we expect? Russo: “He trained really well and I’m looking forward to Saturday. Everything looks like it’s setting up well.”

Breeding: Lazarus N-Inittowinafortune

Last Race: 5/13/2023 – M¹ – NJSS – 1st (1:50)

4
Stockade Seelster
($711,576 – 1:49.3)
J. Jamieson, I. Moore
Sally MacDonald, Paul MacDonald
Drops from the top spot off a heart-breaking nose loss after going a big mile in the Ontario SBOA. Moore: “I’m a little disappointed but not going to push the panic button yet. This colt needs some races now. I’m getting tired of training him, but still, I have no race for him this week. The (June 3) Somebeachsomewhere will be next.”

Breeding: State Treasurer-Soiree Seelster

Last Race: 5/20/2023 – WMP – Ontario SBOA – 2nd (1:51.2)

5
Christchurch
($24,475 – 1:49.3)
D. Dunn, N. Takter
Diamond Creek Racing,
Farhi Standardbreds Corp.,
Spreydon Lodge Ltd
Burst onto the 3-year-old pacing scene with an eye-popping score at The Big M and makes his debut in the Top 10 at No. 5. His trainer said the night before the stunning score that “If that horse keeps his mind right there isn’t a single (3-year-old) in the country who can beat him.” What’s next? “He’ll probably qualify at The Meadowlands next week.”

Breeding: Always B Miki-Darlinonthebeach

Last Race: 5/19/2023 – M¹ – NW2 – 1st (1:49.3)

6
Confederate
($443,700 – 1:49.2)
T. Tetrick, B. Pelling
Diamond Creek Racing
Sprinted home in :25.2 to win his qualifier over his stablemate. Now, it’s time to race. Saturday. The Big M. Post 5. Race 5. Pelling: “I’m going to go in against older stock. I chose to race one (Confederate) and qualify the other (Combustion). I’m not going to race Confederate the following week (before the June 10 North America Cup eliminations).”

Breeding: Sweet Lou-Geothermal

Last Race: 5/19/2023 – M¹ – Qualifier – 1st (1:52.3)

7
Combustion
($292,275 – 1:49.3)
T. McCarthy, B. Pelling
Diamond Creek Racing,
Thomas Dillon, Scott Dillon,
Cooper Silva Stables
Actually paced a faster final quarter (:25.1) than his stablemate when second Friday morning. The plan is to find a race for this one on June 3. Pelling: “I believe Combustion will do well racing the week before the North America Cup elims.” Combustion will qualify Saturday afternoon (the 5 qualifiers begin at 4 p.m.) and face his superstar stablemate Allywag Hanover when he does.

Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Acquavella

Last Race: 5/19/2023 – M¹ – Qualifier – 2nd (1:52.4)

8
El Rey
($288,775 – 1:49.2)
S. Zeron, T. Alagna
Brittany Farms LLC, El Rey Racing
Could not keep Pace-ineligible For Once Inmy Life at bay, but still put forth a good effort in his first outing of 2023. Alagna: “I was not disappointed. We always want to win but as far as his performance, we were glad to get it done. He’ll take the week off and then head to Canada for the Somebeachsomewhere.”

Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Mystery Game

Last Race: 5/20/2023 – M¹ – W2-NW5 – 2nd (1:51.2)

9
Handlelikeaporsche
($284,350 – 1:50.1)
D. Miller, C. Ryder
Chris Ryder, William Ezzo,
Robert Mondillo, Barry Spak
Had the week off after two straight seconds to Voukefalas. Can he beat that one in the NJSS final Saturday? Ryder: “He’s good. He could be a touch better this week. He’s a push-button horse, so after two starts, you want him to be better. Is he going to be better? We’ll find out.”

Breeding: Lazarus N-The Signature

Last Race: 5/13/2023 – M¹ – NJSS – 2nd (1:50.1)

10
Ants Marching
($81,067 – 1:50.1)
J. Fonseca, N. Takter
Howard Taylor, Nancy Takter,
Joseph Patrick McLead,
William Walters
Finished fifth (placed fourth) in his last start but didn’t race poorly. Takter: “He raced great. I told Josert to race him off the pace. He’ll go in the Somebeachsomewhere next week.”

Breeding: Downbytheseaside-Passionate Beauty
Last Race: 5/20/2023 – M¹ – W2-NW5 – 5th pl 4th (1:52)

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
5/6 NJ Sire Stakes M1 VOUKEFALAS M. Russo J. Stratton HANDLELIKEAPORSCHE Lifes A Puzzle 1:50.3
 

 

Pa. Sire Stakes Mea BAMBOOZLER

Ken Hanover

Annapolis Hanover

FULTON

V. Morgan

R. Mallar

M. York

L. Toscano

D. Dunn

D. Miller

H. Myers

D. Dunn

Loubet

Ervin Hanover

NAZARE

Flight Craft

SEVEN COLORS

All Class

Just Bet It All

ADMIRAL HILL

1:50.1

1:49.4

1:50.3

1:49.2

5/13 NJ Sire Stakes M1 VOUKEFALAS M. Russo J. Stratton HANDLELIKEAPORSCHE Laz 1:50
5/14 Pa. All-Stars

 

 

PcD Idiosyncratic

Command

Ken Hanover

R. Burke

B. Pelling

R. Mallar

S. Allard

T. McCarthy

D. Miller

MAMBA

Hunters Hero

LYONS SURFING

Stay Grounded

Panettone Hanover

IM HUNGRY

1:50.3

1:51.1

1:51.4

5/21 Pa. Sire Stakes

 

PcD AMMO

FULTON

It’s My Show

Ken Hanover

J. Holloway

L. Toscano

L. Toscano

R. Mallar

D. Miller

D. Dunn

S. Zeron

D. Miller

Flite Craft

LYONS SURFING

BAMBOOZLER

Larceny

Just Bet It All

Annapolis Hanover

Captain Batboy

All Class

1:50.3

1:50.2

1:49.2

1:49

5/27 NJ Sire Stakes M1            
5/28 Pa. Sire Stakes Phl            
6/3 Somebchsomewhere Wbsb            
6/7 NY Sire Stakes BR            
6/10 N.A. Cup elims Wbsb            
6/16 NY Sire Stakes VD            
6/17 N.A. Cup final Wbsb            
6/23 Messenger elims YR            
6/24 NY Sire Stakes Stga            
6/30 Messenger final YR            
7/8 Meadowlands Pace elim. M1            
7/15 Meadowlands Pace Final M1