Dave Little’s Final Road to the 2025 Meadowlands Pace
Thursday, July 3, 2025
There were no changes in the final edition of Dave Little’s Road to the Meadowlands Pace Top 10. The horses in the 10th and final weekly poll are the 10 that will go to the gate next Saturday (July 12) in the $656,000 event. There are no eliminations for the first time in the race’s history, but nine of the horses will be in action this week to prepare for the classic one-mile dash.
ROAD TO THE MEADOWLANDS PACE
Final – Week 10 (of 10) – Thursday, July 3
The Meadowlands Pace is on Saturday, July 12, 2025
Rank | Horse
(Earnings – Mark) |
Driver, Trainer
Owner(s) |
Dave Little’s (and trainer’s) Comments |
1 |
Louprint($1,187,071 – 1:47.1)
|
R. Wrenn Jr., R. BurkeBurke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Phillip Collura, Lawrence R. Karr |
With no eliminations needed for the Pace, the conditioners have all had to adjust their plans. Louprint will qualify Friday morning. I asked the trainer why qualify rather than race in the Saturday night Pace prep. Burke: “Why not? I don’t race horses to finish fourth. I don’t think it’s fair to the fans. I’m not going to go [1]:47 for $30,000, and if I’m not going to go for money, I’m going to do what I want to do. For me, not having a race is better.”
Breeding: Sweet Lou-Rockin RacerLast Race: 6/14/2025 – Wbsb – North America Cup – 1st (1:47.1) |
2 |
Madden Oaks($205,187 – 1:51.3) |
B. Boyd, C. CaponeSamir A. Tawil,Paul V. Kautz,Alexander P. Henn,Nathan J. Fullmer |
Racing on Sunday at Tioga. Capone: “I wanted to go to the prep race, but after talking to my dad [Mark], we agreed to go in an overnight at Tioga. Your back in 6 days, it’s like a qualifier, so you’re keeping conditioning without being hard on him. Not having eliminations was big for me. I feel like I have a real contender, but he’s still green. As the season goes on, he’ll get better.”
Breeding: Huntsville-Hard EightLast Race: 6/28/2025 – Wbsb – NW$15,000 – 2nd (1:49.3) |
3 |
Captain Optimistic($536,440 – 1:49) |
D. Dunn, N. Takter3 Brothers Stables,Marvin Katz,Caviart Farms |
Has drawn post 4 in the dash for Meadowlands Pace eligibles Saturday night (Race 8). Takter: “I like no eliminations because I like knowing I’m in the final. We are racing because I made some equipment changes and want to see how that goes. He trained the other day in 1:51.3.”
Breeding: Captaintreacherous-CinamonyLast Race: 6/14/2025 – Wbsb – North America Cup – 4th (1:47.3) |
4 |
Fallout($594,700 – 1:48.4) |
T. Tetrick, T. AlagnaRobert J. LeBlanc,Pryde Stables Inc,Caviart Farms |
Post 2 in the prep, one of six in the Top 10 who will be behind the gate. Alagna: “He had a good week and got a great start in him last week. We are looking forward to the prep. The good thing is, with the short field, everybody will be close, or should be, at the head of the lane and everybody should get what they need.”
Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Aria HanoverLast Race: 6/21/2025 – M1 – W2NW5 – 1st (1:49.1) |
5 |
Prince Hal Hanover($358,324 – 1:49.3) |
J. Jamieson, Dr. I. MoorePrince Hal Hanover Stable |
Post 6 at Mohawk in an overnight Saturday (Race 2). Moore: “Both [of my horses] are ready to go. Hal is racing up here [at Mohawk on] Saturday. [Mohawk] wasn’t sure if they would have a race, so I figured I might as well keep him here for another week, then they wrote a race where he fit.”
Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Percy BluechipLast Race: 6/14/2025 – Wbsb – North America Cup – 8th (1:48) |
6 |
Manolete($334,243 – 1:50.3) |
S. Zeron, B. SaundersM and L of Delaware LLC,M & M Harness Racing LLC |
Post 6 at The Meadowlands in the prep after finishing 3rd in the Messenger.
What about only 10 horses dropping into the Pace? Saunders: “I guess Louprint and some of the others have intimidated some of the others. As far as I’m concerned, we wanted to race. I’m happy to draw the outside this week [in the prep] to give us an opportunity to race a little differently. My horse had a nice week. he trained a few slow trips.” Breeding: Cattlewash-GlancewithmeLast Race: 6/27/2025 – YR – Messenger – 3rd (1:51.3) |
7 |
Joel And The Jets($73,846 – 1:51.3) |
T. McCarthy, Dr. I. MooreJoel and the Jets Stable |
Post 3 at The Meadowlands in the prep. The Doc is happy to have both of his colts racing this week, since neither has been on the track in 3 weeks. ‘Joel’ has had some issues with his lungs, but is ready to go now. Moore:
“I gave him 10cc of Lasix. That’s the max you can use. He’s had tie-up issues before.” Breeding: Stay Hungry-Betty And The JetsLast Race: 6/14/2025 – Wbsb – North America Cup – 10th (1:50.2) |
8 |
Papis Pistol($209,952 – 1:48) |
D. Miller, S. DePintoShannon C. DePinto,Chris Arvanitis,Anthony Perretti,Brad Shackman |
Post 1 at The Meadowlands in the prep. DePinto: “He scoped clean after his qualifier but he came back sick, so he was on antibiotics. He didn’t eat the day after, which is unusual for him, but he’s OK. I’d like to see a nice trip [Saturday in the prep] and just finish strong.”
Breeding: Papi Rob Hanover-Bang BangLast Race: 6/27/2025 – M1 – Qualifier – 4th (1:52.3) |
9 |
Papi’s Rocket($336,851 – 1:50.4) |
Y. Gingras, R. BurkeBurke Racing Stable LLC,Weaver Bruscemi LLC,Knox Services Inc,Slaughter Racing Stable LLC |
Taking the week off. Burke: “[The Messenger] was a disaster. He went parked the whole mile. He’ll train on Saturday and should be plenty tight enough.”
Breeding: Papi Rob Hanover-Real TouchLast Race: 6/27/2025 – YR – Messenger – 5th (1:54.2) |
10
|
Knockout Round($87,517 – 1:50.4) |
A. McCarthy, T. AlagnaMicki Rae Stables LLC,Riverview Racing LLC
|
Post 5 at The Meadowlands in the prep. Alagna: “He got off on the wrong foot earlier this year in Canada. We still have faith in him. His qualifier went really well the other day. This step dictates what his next step is.”
Breeding: Sweet Lou-Can’t Stop Me NowLast Race: 6/20/2025 – M1 – Qualifier – 2nd (1:53.2) |
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 |
5/3
|
PaSS | Mea | Twisted Destiny
LOUPRINT Go Go Grasshopper |
C. Ryder
R. Burke J. Bongiorno |
D. Dunn
R. Wrenn Jr. D. Palone |
Railroad Station
Dreamboat Hanover PAPI’S ROCKET |
PRINCE HAL HANOVER
WILD BILL WYATT Shipmaster |
1:49.1
1:49.3 1:50 |
5/3
|
NJSS | M1 | MAKING HISTORY
Smooth Dream |
T. Alagna
N. Daley |
B. Beckwith
T. McCarthy |
MANOLETE
Twin Fury |
Expedited Service
TOM HORN |
1:52.1
1:49.3 |
5/10 | Pa All-Stars | PcD | Beach Club Monty
Lou’s Starr Snack Attack Railroad Station Makes Sense |
B. Pelling
S. Warnick J. Bongiorno R. Burke R. Cleary |
S. Zeron
M. Kakaley J. Bartlett Y. Gingras A. McCarthy |
Shipmaster
WAFFLE BLUE CHIP PAPI’S ROCKET Odds On No Limit Bulldozer |
SEAWORTHY HANOVER
Wedlock Blue Chip Delray Beach Federer Dreamboat Hanover |
1:51.2
1:51.2 1:51.1 1:50.4 1:51.4 |
5/10 | NJSS | M1 | MANOLETE
Smooth Dream |
B. Saunders
N. Daley |
S. Zeron
T. McCarthy |
Odds On Broward
Twin Fury |
Expedited Service
MAKING HISTORY |
1:50.3
1:50.4 |
5/17
|
PaSS
|
PcD | LOUPRINT
Wedlock Blue Chip PRINCE HAL HANOVER |
R. Burke
R. Mallar Dr. I. Moore |
R. Wrenn
D. Miller D. Miller |
Twisted Destiny
PAPI’S ROCKET Railroad Station |
Th Kay C Crunch
Shipmaster Lou’s Starr |
1:50.2
1:51.3 1:49.3 |
5/24 | NJSS final | M1 | Smooth Dream | N. Daley | T. McCarthy | MANOLETE | MAKING HISTORY | 1:50.3 |
5/24 | OnSS Gold
|
Wbsb | Sterling Choice
Control Rocks |
B. MacIntosh
J. Darling |
B. Davis Jr.
T. Borth |
SET SHOT
Tip Of Time |
Aquinas Hanover
Fifth And Five |
1:50.4
1:50.1 |
5/25
|
PaSS
|
Phl | Twisted Destiny
Wedlock Blue Chip LOUPRINT |
C. Ryder
R. Mallar R. Burke |
T. McCarthy
D. Miller R. Wrenn Jr. |
CAPTAIN OPTIMISTIC
Railroad Station FALLOUT |
PAPI’S ROCKET
Charge Me Up Go Go Grasshopper |
1:49.4
1:50.3 1:50.2 |
5/31
|
Somebchsomewhere | Wbsb | PRINCE HAL HANOVER
Bourbon Country |
Dr. I. Moore
P. Reid |
D. McNair
T. Henry |
Ayeaye Captain Deo
Lite Up The World |
MADDEN OAKS
Courts On Fire |
1:49.4
1:50.1 |
6/7
|
N.A. Cup elims | Wbsb | CAPTAIN OPTIMISTIC
Lite Up The World LOUPRINT |
N. Takter
A. Beaton R. Burke |
D. Dunn
J. MacDonald R. Wrenn Jr. |
JOEL AND THE JETS
Crack Shot PRINCE HAL HANOVER |
Swingtown
MADDEN OAKS Dandy Ideal |
1:50.2
1:48.3 1:49.1 |
6/14 | N.A. Cup final | Wbsb | LOUPRINT | R. Burke | R. Wrenn Jr. | MADDEN OAKS | Fast Choice | 1:47.1 |
6/20
|
Messenger elims | YR | Twisted Destiny
Odds On No Limit |
C. Ryder
T. Alexander |
D. Dunn
M. Kakaley |
Dandy Ideal
PAPI’S ROCKET |
MANOLETE
World Of Wishes |
1:53
1:52.4 |
6/27 | Messenger final | YR | Twisted Destiny | C. Ryder | D. Dunn | Dandy Ideal | MANOLETE | 1:51.2 |
6/28
|
OnSS Gold | Wbsb | Crack Shot
SET SHOT |
R. McNair
Dr. I. Moore |
D. McNair
J. Jamieson |
Boxer Seelster
Aquinas Hanover |
Blue Bar
Allstar Maniac |
1:50.2
1:51 |
7/5 | Meadowlands Pace prep | M1 | ||||||
7/12 | Meadowlands Pace final | M1 |