Dave Little’s Week 6 Road to the Meadowlands Pace
Thursday, June 8, 2023
ROAD TO THE MEADOWLANDS PACE
Week 6 (of 10) – Thursday, June 8
The Meadowlands Pace is on Saturday, July 15, 2023
Meadowlands Racetrack
East Rutherford, NJ – With all 10 horses in the Week 6 edition of Dave Little’s “Road to The Meadowlands Pace” in action at Woodbine Mohawk Park in four North America Cup eliminations, it’s a safe bet that next week’s poll will look different from this week’s with the countdown to The Pace at just 37 days.
| Rank | Horse
(Earnings – Mark) |
Driver, Trainer
Owner(s) |
Dave Little’s (and trainer’s) Comments |
| 1 |
Voukefalas($391,088 – 1:49.4)
|
J. Stratton, M. RussoMichael Pagonas |
All horses in this Top 10 will be at Mohawk Saturday competing in 4 North America Cup eliminations. When the dust clears, will ‘Vouk’ still be in the top spot? Is he versatile enough to pass this test? Russo: “He’s in great spirits. I don’t really care if he goes to the lead or not. he trained down and he was a monster passing horses. He loves coming off a helmet anytime you train him, his speed is incredible.” He’s got PP 4 in Elim 1.
Breeding: Lazarus N-InittowinafortuneLast Race: 5/27/2023 – M¹ – NJSS – 1st (1:49.4) |
| 2 |
Christchurch($24,475 – 1:49.3) |
D. Dunn, N. TakterDiamond Creek Racing,Farhi Standardbreds Corp.,Spreydon Lodge Ltd |
Can he live up to the hype? His lone start of the year raised eyebrows, but now the test is super-tough. Takter: “I’m feeling really good about him. He trained really well (Wednesday) morning. I made some equipment changes and was thrilled with the results. PP 1 in Elim 1.
Breeding: Always B Miki-DarlinonthebeachLast Race: 5/19/2023 – M¹ – NW2 – 1st (1:49.3) |
| 3 |
Confederate($451,200 – 1:49.2) |
T. Tetrick, B. PellingDiamond Creek Racing |
Took last week off after a fast-closing win in his lone start of the season. PP 5 in Elim 4. Pelling: “They (Confederate and Combustion) did as I expected. One’s quick (Confederate), one’s strong (Combustion). (Confederate) will love that big sweeping last turn (at Mohawk). They do a lot of racing in the last turn there.”
Breeding: Sweet Lou-GeothermalLast Race: 5/27/2023 – M¹ – NW$10,000 – 1st (1:50.1) |
| 4 |
Stockade Seelster($739,326 – 1:49.3) |
J. Jamieson, I. MooreSally MacDonald, Paul MacDonald |
Looked good holding off Pace-ineligible Moment Is Here in the SBSW. A good time to record your first win of the year, right Dr. Moore? “We were very pleased with his effort. The race was a little slower than the other two (divisions of the SBSW), it got pretty cold and windy as the night went on, but Jody said he was in hand. He did pull plugs at the head of the stretch.” PP 2 in Elim 3.
Breeding: State Treasurer-Soiree SeelsterLast Race: 6/3/2023 – WMP – Somebeachsomewhere – 1st (1:50.1) |
| 5 |
Fulton($321,303 – 1:49.2) |
D. Dunn, L. ToscanoLet It Ride Stables Inc,Bottom Line Racing LLC |
Despite closing in :27, got gunned down at Mohawk to suffer his first loss of the year in what was still a solid effort. PP 6 in Elim 2.
Breeding: Heston Blue Chip-Bettor Be SteaminLast Race: 6/3/2023 – WMP – Somebeachsomewhere – 2nd (1:49.1) |
6 |
Combustion($298,525 – 1:49.3) |
T. McCarthy, B. PellingDiamond Creek Racing,Thomas Dillon, Scott Dillon,Cooper Silva Stables |
Made a move to the lead down the backside at The Big M on the way to an easy score in his only start of the year. PP 3 in Elim 2. Pelling: “I thought he was very, very good. The difference between that run and the qualifier? He did work on the first turn. (Down the backstretch, when he made the lead) He was just trying to do it the right way, without using full gas. I was happy with him.”
Breeding: Captaintreacherous-AcquavellaLast Race: 6/3/2023 – M¹ – NW$7,500 – 1st (1:51.1) |
7 |
Ammo($429,833 – 1:50.3) |
D. Miller, J. HollowayVal D’Or Farms, Ted Gewertz |
A Loss to It’s My Show is nothing to be ashamed of, but in this poll, it’s easy to lose ground when others are winning. PP 5 in Elim 2. Holloway: “He’s good. I wanted to beat It’s My Show but I think by the end of the year, we will. During the next couple of weeks, things will sort themselves out. the big miles, the road, everything will start to take its toll.”
Breeding: Sweet Lou-Beach GalLast Race: 5/28/2023 – Phl – PaSS – 2nd (1:49.2) |
8 |
Save America($357,005 – 1:48.1) |
Y. Gingras, N. Takter3 Brothers Stables, Caviart Farms |
Heads into Elim 3 from PP 3 after a week off after a start where he stopped the clock in a co-seasonal-best 1:48.1 for a 3-year-old male. Takter: “He trained very well (Wednesday) morning. I’m thinking we finally have him figured out.”
Breeding: Captaintreacherous-My Lady DayLast Race: 5/28/2023 – Phl – Pa Stallion Series – 1st (1:48.1) |
9 |
Seven Colors($76,209 – 1:48.1) |
T. Tetrick, B. BrownCountry Club Acres Inc.,Joe Sbrocco, Bill Elliot,Milton Leeman |
A winner of 4-of-6 starts this year is the other 1:48.1 3YO male pacer during 2023. PP 6 in Elim 3. Brown: “We are leaving for Mohawk on Friday. I like to keep them at home as long as I can. he’s not an overly tall horse, but he’s very thick. when you get the hobbles on and go any kind of speed, he is really good gaited. other than that, it’s guts. he wants to be a horse.”
Breeding: Stay Hungry-RainbowinthedarkLast Race: 5/28/2023 – Phl – PaSS – 1st (1:48.1) |
10 |
Bamboozler($227,184 – 1:50.1) |
D. McNair, V. Morgan Jr.QT Stables, LLC |
Has made four starts this season and has hit the board every time. Lone win came in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action and he’s knocked heads with solid foes in all other outings. Will race from PP5 in Elim 1.
Breeding: Captaintreacherous-DeceptionLast Race: 6/3/2023 – WMP – Somebeachsomewhere – 2nd (1:50) |
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 | 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 | ||||||
| 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 |
Track Conditions
Updated
11/16/2024
Fast
Variant:
43°F