Beau Jangles Tops Dave Little’s 2026 Road to the Meadowlands Pace Week 1
Thursday, April 30, 2026
The defending Dan Patch and O’Brien Award-winning Horse of the Year Beau Jangles tops the first Road to The Meadowlands Pace poll, which is compiled by The Big M’s Dave Little. The Top 10 will be sent out every Thursday until the eliminations for the 50th edition of The Meadowlands Pace.
ROAD TO THE MEADOWLANDS PACE
Week 1 (of 10) – Thursday, April 30
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 |
On the way to the 2025 Horse of the Year trophy, “Beau” went unbeaten in 12 tries, which included victories in the $700,000 Breeders Crown and $730,000 Metro. He has never raced outside of Canada. The plan calls for his first race in the U.S. coming in his Pace elimination. Moore: “He’s in good shape. He had a good spring. His first start will be in the WEG/SBOA eliminations on May 9.”
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 |
Last year, put up a 1:47.4 effort on October 2 in Indiana Sire Stakes action to become the only 2-year-old ever to break the 1:48 barrier for Melanie and Pete Wrenn. Pete: “He had a great winter. He’s a low-key horse. Never misses a meal. Seems to like his work. (Wednesday) was his first qualifier and it was very impressive. We’ll qualify again in 7-10 days, then we have Indiana Sires Stakes before the North America Cup.”
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 |
His big win last year was when he held off Melillo to win the $334,000 Governor’s Cup in a lifetime best. Everything for this year appears to be in place. Lambert: “He had a great winter. He came back looking good. We’ll see how his qualifier at The Meadowlands on Friday goes and then look to get a race there.”
Breeding: Downbytheseaside-See You At Peelers Last Race: 4/21/2026 – Phl – Qualifier – 1st (1:53.1) |
| 4 |
Brandon Blvd($389,397 – 1:48.4) |
D. Dunn, A. HarrisPunisher 11 Stable LLC |
Harris: “I have no complaints. He came out of both qualifiers well. He is racing at Plainridge on Saturday in the Paul Revere. He’s eligible to Ohio and Kentucky and I didn’t want to ship too far before the North America Cup eliminations. I’m looking to get four starts before The Pace. These horses go in 1:48, with last quarters in :26, so you need more recovery time.”
Breeding: Downbytheseaside-Alexis Faith Last Race: 4/24/2026 – M1 – Qualifier – 1st (1:51.3) |
| 5 |
Al Papi($403,102 – 1:48.1)
|
Y. Gingras, R. BurkeBurke Racing Stable LLC,J&T Silva – Purnel & Libby,Lawrence Karr,Weaver Bruscemi LLC |
Burke: “I was happy with that first start, that qualifier was great. The second qualifier? blah.” Racing on May 2 at The Meadows in a PaSS event.
Breeding: Papi Rob Hanover-Baron RemyLast Race: 4/21/2026 – Phl – Qualifier – 2nd (1:53.2) |
| 6
|
Melillo($385,957 – 1:48.4) |
R. Wrenn Jr., R. BurkeBurke Racing Stable LLC,Jason Melillo,Weaver Bruscemi LLC |
Burke: “He was great in his first start and then trained great.” Will face Al Papi on Saturday.
Breeding: Sweet Lou-Rosemary RoseLast Race: 4/22/2026 – Mea – W2NW4 – 1st (1:51.1) |
| 7 |
Lindy Dragonwater($307,840 – 1:51) |
C. Page, R. BurkeBurke Racing Stable LLC,Knox Services Inc,Beasty LLC,Brad Grant |
Won the 2025 Ohio Sire Stakes final for $300,000 as the 3-5 favorite over Dayton’s five-eighths-mile oval on Sept. 27, yet that is not his strongest track size. Burke: “This horse trained great and is a mile-track horse.”
Breeding: Downbytheseaside-Imagine DragonLast Race: 4/23/2026 – MVR – Hackett – 5th (1:51) |
| 8 |
Ubrute($358,507 – 1:49.4) |
Y. Gingras, R. BurkeBurke Racing Stable LLC,Weaver Bruscemi LLC,Hatfield Stables,Phil Collura |
Big 2025 win was the $400,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes final, beating Brandon Blvd. Racing Saturday at The Meadows in a Pa Stallion Series dash. Burke: “Qualified great both times. The breeding is there for this one to be something special.”
Breeding: Tall Dark Stranger-Warrawee UbeautLast Race: 4/18/2026 – M1 – Qualifier – 1st (1:52) |
9 |
Bookie J($230,868 – 1:51.1) |
D. Dunn, C. RyderKen Jacobs |
The 2025 Kindergarten and NJ Classic winner has never raced anywhere but The Big M. Ryder: “He came out of the race Saturday night very well. His driver is enthusiastic. He’s been finishing up strong in his miles. I think he’s going to be around when he faces the better horses in the division but he does have a way to go.” Races Saturday at The Big M in the NJSS.
Breeding: Perfect Sting-SkyyLast Race: 4/25/2026 – M1 – Home Grown – 1st (1:52) |
10 |
Windor($160,575 – 1:51.2) |
D. McNair, M. VanderkempDianna Secord |
Finished 2nd to Beau Jangles at 34-1 in the 2025 Ontario Sire Stakes Super Final. Vanderkemp: “We are 100 percent heading to The Pace. We are going to qualify this Friday at Mohawk, then race in an elimination for the WEG/SBOA on May 9. He’s a lot wider than he was last year and filled out a lot. He’s got more life. A little stronger. In the barn, he’s a bit of a handful. Don’t get too close, he might bite.”
Breeding: Bulldog Hanover-WinxLast Race: 4/24/2026 – Wbsb – Qualifier – 5th (1:56.1) |
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 | ||||||
| 5/2 | NJSS | M1 | ||||||
| 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
04/25/2026
Sloppy
Variant: -2
