Home / MRE News / No new names in the Week 3 edition of Dave Little’s “Road to The Meadowlands Pace”

No new names in the Week 3 edition of Dave Little’s “Road to The Meadowlands Pace”

Friday, May 19, 2023

There was just a minor shuffle and no new names in the Week 3 edition of Dave Little’s “Road to The Meadowlands Pace”. However, next week, there figures to be changes, as eight of the Top 10 are either racing or qualifying over the next few days, including No. 1 Stockade Seelster, who makes his debut at his home track, Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Rank

Horse

(Earnings – Mark)

Driver, Trainer

Owner(s)

Dave Little’s (and trainer’s) Comments

Stockade Seelster

($686,268 – 1:49.3)

J. Jamieson, I. Moore

Sally MacDonald, Paul MacDonald

Qualified in 1:51 at his home track, featuring a back half of :53.4. What did you think? Moore: “That was what I wanted to do, so it was good. We’re racing in the SBOA at Mohawk on Saturday.” How about the North America Cup and Meadowlands Pace? “Winning either would be awful good. Winning both would be an awful lot more.”

Breeding: State Treasurer-Soiree Seelster

Last Race: 5/12/2023 – WMP – Qualifier – 1^st (1:51)

2 Ammo

($397,395 – 1:50.4)

D. Miller, J. Holloway

Val D’Or Farms, Ted Gewertz

Jogged in his seasonal debut last Thursday at a nickel on the dollar by 6¼ lengths. What did you think? Holloway: “Good work. It was a fairly easy start.” Now, the trainer finds himself trying to find the right balance. “(The 3-year-old season) It’s not an easy ride. This Sunday, he’s in Sire Stakes at Pocono, then the following week at (Philadelphia), then the North America Cup elims, then the final. That’s a lot. You have to think. I could always skip next week. It’s a fine line.”

Breeding: Sweet Lou-Beach Gal

Last Race: 5/11/2023 – Phl – NW3 – 1^st (1:51.2)

3 Fulton

($288,085 – 1:49.2)

D. Dunn, L. Toscano

Let It Ride Stables Inc,

Bottom Line Racing LLC

Took the week off after a sub-1:50 score at The Meadows. Toscano: “We’re racing again Sunday in the Sire Stakes at Pocono. Those horses provide the level of competition needed to compete in The Pace. Fulton is an easy horse to be around. He’s a professional horse. The North America Cup is our first goal. There’s quite a few nice horses, but right now, I can’t say that anybody has the kind of horse that would scare anybody away.”

Breeding: Heston Blue Chip-Bettor Be Steamin

Last Race: 5/6/2023 – Mea – PaSS – 1^st (1:49.2)

4 Voukefalas

($271,088 – 1:50)

J. Stratton, M. Russo

Michael Pagonas

Was nothing short of sensational in taking a second straight NJSS dash. Russo: “He came out of the race really well. I don’t have him scheduled for a lot of back to backs, I only did it once last year. I was concerned after doing it last week until Monday morning, when he let me know he was completely fine. I have very few back-to-back races scheduled for this year. I want him to race as a 4-year-old.” Next up is the NJSS final next week.

Breeding: Lazarus N-Inittowinafortune

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

5 Confederate

($443,700 – 1:49.2)

T. Tetrick, B. Pelling

Diamond Creek Racing

Confederate and Combustion are in the same Friday morning qualifier at The Big M. What about it? Pelling: “It doesn’t make any difference. I’m not into qualifiers. If I get my way, we’ll sit last and next to last and then sprint home to show some high speed.”

Breeding: Sweet Lou-Geothermal

Last Race: 5/2/2023 – Phl – Qualifier – 2^nd (1:51.2)

6 Combustion

($292,275 – 1:49.3)

T. McCarthy, B. Pelling

Diamond Creek Racing,

Thomas Dillon, Scott Dillon,

Cooper Silva Stables

Pelling: “He’s big and strong, like a truck. He’s in the same situation as Confederate. We’re hoping to get a race in at The Meadowlands on May 27 or June 3. We’ll go up against older if we have too.”

Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Acquavella

Last Race: 5/9/2023 – Phl – Qualifier – 1^st (1:53.1)

7 El Rey

($284,400 – 1:49.2)

S. Zeron, T. Alagna

Brittany Farms LLC, El Rey Racing

Makes his debut Saturday at The Big M against a solid field, which includes Nos. 9 and 10 in this poll. Is that too tough a spot to begin the year? Alagna: “Not really. I think he’s ready for whatever. We are going to race him smart. He’s going to kick home (from off the pace). We are not going to abuse the horse.”

Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Mystery Game

Last Race: 5/13/2023 – M¹ – Qualifier – 1^st (1:50.2)

8 Handlelikeaporsche

($284,350 – 1:50.1)

D. Dunn, C. Ryder

Chris Ryder, William Ezzo,

Robert Mondillo, Barry Spak

Drops two notches off consecutive second-place finishes, but remains in the Top 10 because those second-place finishes came at the hands of Voukefalas. Ryder: “I’m happy with him. So now, we miss a week and we go the (NJSS) final. My horse is doing fine.”

Breeding: Lazarus N-The Signature

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

9 Save America

($347,005 – 1:49.4)

Y. Gingras, N. Takter

3 Brothers Stables, Caviart Farms

Makes his first start of the year in the 10^th race at The Big M Saturday night facing Ants Marching and El Rey. Takter: “He wasn’t finishing his races well last year. We want to give him a good race and finish the mile strong.”

Breeding: Captaintreacherous-My Lady Day

Last Race: 5/5/2023 – M¹ – Qualifier – 4^th (1:51.4)

10 Ants Marching

($79,667 – 1:50.1)

J. Fonseca, N. Takter

Howard Taylor, Nancy Takter,

Joseph Patrick McLead,

William Walters

“He’s a fast horse,” said Takter. “He’s gone (1):50 quite a few times this year. It’s going to be nice that he has a good post position (3) and will get a trip and not have to do all the work. I think he’s better off cover.”

Breeding: Downbytheseaside-Passionate Beauty

Last Race: 5/5/2023 – M¹ – NW2 – 2^nd (1:50.3)

Date	Stakes	Site	Winner	Trainer	Driver	2^nd Horse	3^rd 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
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

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