Dave Little’s Final Road to the Meadowlands Pace

Thursday, July 6, 2023


Dave Little’s Final Road to the Meadowlands Pace

ROAD TO THE MEADOWLANDS PACE

Final – Week 10 (of 10) – Thursday, July 6

The Meadowlands Pace is on Saturday, July 15, 2023

 

Meadowlands Racetrack

East Rutherford, NJ – With the eliminations set for Saturday night, here is the 10th and final edition of Dave Little’s “Road to The Meadowlands Pace” weekly Top 10 poll for 2023. The top five finishers from each dash will return for the $668,000 Meadowlands Pace final on July 15.

 

Rank Horse

(Earnings – Mark)  

Driver, Trainer

Owner(s)

Dave Little’s (and trainer’s) Comments
1
Confederate
($640,950 – 1:48.4)

 

T. Tetrick, B. Pelling

Diamond Creek Racing

Has post 1 in the 2nd Meadowlands Pace elimination Saturday night. The trainer is the all-time leader in Pace wins with 4. Pelling: “He’s doing well. Nice and fresh.” What’s the Pace’s significance? “It’s the biggest race for a pacing trainer living here. It’s the signature race.” How’s your confidence level? “Confident is not a good way to be. You are more relieved when they get it done. But. There is no horse in this field that I would trade for mine.”

Breeding: Sweet Lou-Geothermal

Last Race: 6/17/2023 – WMP – North America Cup – 2nd (1:47.4)

2
Fulton
($422,133 – 1:48.2)
D. Dunn, L. Toscano
Let It Ride Stables Inc,
Bottom Line Racing LLC
Post 3 in Elim 1. The trainer’s Best In Show was an upset winner in 2019 and has a big shot at another Pace win. Toscano: “He’s fine. I kind of expected (that there wouldn’t be a lot of horses drop in). I couldn’t see more than two divisions. the right horses are in the race. With short fields you have a little bit more leeway as far as not killing your horse.”

Breeding: Heston Blue Chip-Bettor Be Steamin

Last Race: 6/17/2023 – WMP – North America Cup – 3rd (1:48.1)

3
Voukefalas
($455,183 – 1:49.4)
J. Stratton, M. Russo
Michael Pagonas
Post 1 in Elim 1. Russo: “I’ve been wanting to win this race since McKinzie Almahurst (a personal favorite as a fan) didn’t win the race. I can’t imagine it. I know if we were to win The Pace, I would probably get emotional. Voukefalas trained great (Wednesday).”

Breeding: Lazarus N-Inittowinafortune

Last Race: 7/1/2023 – M1 – Qualifier – 1st (1:50.4)

4
Stockade Seelster
($810,478 – 1:49.3)
J. Jamieson, Dr. I. Moore
Sally MacDonald, Paul MacDonald
Post 3 in Elim 2. Moore: “He’s coming into the race good. I normally would have trained him (today) but we went (Wednesday) because of the heat. We’ll ship (today).”

Breeding: State Treasurer-Soiree Seelster

Last Race: 7/1/2023 – WMP – Ontario Sire Stakes Gold – 1st (1:49.3)

5
Christchurch
($65,825 – 1:48.2)

 

D. Dunn, N. Takter
Diamond Creek Racing,
Farhi Standardbreds Corp.,

Spreydon Lodge Ltd

Post 6 in Elim 2. Off a strong lifetime-best score at The Big M. Was that precisely what you were looking for? Takter: “I trained him (Wednesday) morning and was really happy with him. He went a good mile last week. I was most happy to see him dig in and not let anybody by. I think he’s pretty versatile but he’s going to need a little bit of pace.”

Breeding: Always B Miki-Darlinonthebeach

Last Race: 7/1/2023 – M1 – 3YO Open – 1st (1:48.2)

6

 

 

Cannibal
($150,798 – 1:48.3)
S. Zeron, N. Takter
Diamond Creek Racing
Post 2 in Elim 1. To this author, this one’s stock is up. Takter: “He’s undefeated this year and has done everything I have asked him to do. Out of all my horses, he’s the most versatile. In his last start, he came first up and beat older horses and he’s so much sounder this year as compared to last.”

Breeding: Sweet Lou-No More Losses

Last Race: 6/24/2023 – M1 – NW$10,000L4 – 1st (1:49.1)

7
Save America
($401,780 – 1:48.1)
A. McCarthy, N. Takter
3 Brothers Stables, Caviart Farms
Post 7 in Elim 2. Finished an uninspiring fourth in his final tune up last week. Takter: “I pulled blood on him last week since I was a little disappointed in his effort. His white blood count was off. I think that would be a legit excuse for last week. That being said, I hope we can have him at 100 percent this week. He’s a little bit too inconsistent.”

Breeding: Captaintreacherous-My Lady Day

Last Race: 7/7/2023 – M1 – NW$10,000L4 – 4th (1:49.4)

8
Ammo
($448,308 – 1:50.3)
D. Miller, J. Holloway
Val D’Or Farms, Ted Gewertz
Post 2 in Elim 2. Had no shot in The North America Cup, and he is, after all, the Breeders Crown champion from last year. Holloway: “He’s coming into the race fine. He raced horrible last week but that was my fault. I’ve made some changes. I have to try and make him better.”

Breeding: Sweet Lou-Beach Gal

Last Race: 7/1/2023 – M1 – 3YO Open – 5th (1:49)

9
Hungry Angel Boy
($43,655 – 1:50.2)
Y. Gingras, T. Alagna
Alagna Racing LLC,
Pryde Stables Inc.,
Pit Bull Stable LLC,
Brittany, Head, Riverview Racing
Post 4 in Elim 1. Yannick Gingras gets in the bike with Todd McCarthy driving Combustion. Alagna: “I have to worry about this race, and that’s why I think Yannick is a good fit. I think he’s a tactical driver who knows what he needs to do to get the horse into the final. The horse had a great week. After bleeding a little, we’ll be adding Lasix for the first time.”

Breeding: Stay Hungry-Angel Scent

Last Race: 7/1/2023 – M1 – NW2 – 2nd (1:49.1)

10
Its a Me Mario
($111,811 – 1:49.4)
L. Tritton, S. Tritton
Joshua Jay Graber
Post 7 in Elim 1. After starting the year 5-for-5, finished 6th in the Messenger. What happened? Shane: “Last year, I said he’s the real deal, but then he had an injury. When he came back as a 3YO he reached the potential he had as a 2YO. I think his last start was his best run. He was unlucky not to get money. The horse is still learning.”

Breeding: American Ideal-Nf Salsa

Last Race: 6/30/2023 – YR – Messenger – 6th (1:58.4 – 1 1/16 miles)

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
5/6

 

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 final M1 VOUKEFALAS M. Russo J. Stratton VICI Lifes A Puzzle 1:49.4
5/28

 

Pa. Sire Stakes Phl It’s My Show

Ervin Hanover

SEVEN COLORS

L. Toscano

R. Burke

B. Brown

S. Zeron

Y. Gingras

T. Tetrick

AMMO

BAMBOOZLER

Annapolis Hanover

LYONS SURFING

Larceny

Tip Top Cat

1:49.1

1:49.2

1:48.1

6/3

 

 

Somebchsomewhere Wbsb Redwood Hanover

Annapolis Hanover

STOCKADE SEELSTER

A.Beaton

M. York

I. Moore

J. MacDonald

D. Miller

J. Jamieson

FULTON

BAMBOOZLER

Moment Is Here

DUPREE HANOVER

ANTS MARCHING

GUNG HO

1:49

1:49.3

1:50.1

6/10

 

 

 

N.A. Cup elims Wbsb CHRISTCHURCH

FULTON

It’s My Show

CONFEDERATE

N. Takter

L. Toscano

L. Toscano

B. Pelling

D. Dunn

D. Dunn

S. Zeron

T. Tetrick

VOUKEFALAS

AMMO

SAVE AMERICA

LYONS SURFING

Moment Is Here

Redwood Hanover

STOCKADE SEELSTER

HUNGRY ANGEL BOY

1:48.4

1:48.2

1:48

1:48.4

6/16

 

NY Sire Stakes VD Thunder Hunter Joe

Huntinthelastdolar

ITS A ME MARIO

N. DeVita

G. McNair

S. Tritton

T. Buter

S. Zeron

B. Sears

American Fling

I Was Tricked

PACINO HANOVER

Peppermint Man

Taste Of Honey

Goldin Greatness

1:49.2

1:49.2

1:49.4

6/17 N.A. Cup final Wbsb It’s My Show L. Toscano S. Zeron CONFEDERATE FULTON 1:47.4
6/30 Messenger YR Captain Batboy T. Fanning J. Stratton Strengthfromabove Thunder Hunter Joe 1:57.4*
7/8 Meadowlands Pace elim. M1                                 *1 1/16 miles  
7/15 Meadowlands Pace Final M1