Odds On Mr Mamba, Brandon Blvd and Beau Jangles 1-2-3 in Dave Little’s Road to the Meadowlands Pace presented by Genova Burns LLC
Thursday, June 18, 2026
By finishing 1-2-3 in both the elimination and final, Odds On Mr Mamba, Brandon Blvd and Beau Jangles sit atop — in that order — the eighth edition of Dave Little’s weekly Road to the Meadowlands Pace presented by Genova Burns LLC Top 10 poll.
ROAD TO THE MEADOWLANDS PACE
Week 8 (of 10) – Thursday, June 18
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 |
Odds On Mr Mamba($740,405 – 1:47.4) |
J. MacDonald, M. WrennOdds On Racing |
The North America Cup winner rose to the top spot with an elimination win and stays at the top of the heap after taking Canada’s big one. Wrenn: “He shipped into Mohawk like a champion. He ate his food and drank. Shipping can knock horses right off their game. Nearing the wire in the Cup, James said he found another gear. He wants to win. It was a fun weekend. We’ll race in Indiana in sire stakes on the 26th.”
Breeding: Odds On Equuleus-Honky Tonk WomanLast Race: 6/13/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup – 1st (1:48.1) |
| 2 |
Brandon Blvd($660,977 – 1:48.1) |
D. Dunn, A. HarrisPunisher 11 Stable LLC |
Raced giant from post 10, finished second in the Cup. Harris: “I’m thrilled with the horse. He couldn’t have raced any better. That’s the problem with the 10 hole, you can’t make your own luck. He’ll take two weeks off. He just paced three starts in a row in 1:48.1. How much sharper does he have to get?”
Breeding: Downbytheseaside-Alexis Faith Last Race: 6/13/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup – 2nd (1:48.1) |
| 3 |
Beau Jangles($1,416,919 – 1:48.3) |
B. McClure, Dr. I. MooreGraham Grace Stables LLC, Kiwi Stables LLC, Bolton Stables |
Put in another big try, but finished third for a second straight start, behind this poll’s Top 2 once again. There’s no shame in that. Moore: “I thought he got a great drive. He was in a place to win this time. Brandon Blvd went the best of all three of them. Odds On Mr Mamba had a perfect trip behind him. I checked everything, and my horse, he’s good. His next start will be a week from Saturday in the Ontario Sire Stakes Gold.”
Breeding: Cattlewash-Mrs Major HillLast Race: 6/13/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup – 3rd (1:48.1) |
| 4 |
Al Papi($476,820 – 1:48.1) |
Y. Gingras, R. BurkeBurke Racing Stable LLC,J&T Silva – Purnel & Libby,Lawrence Karr,Weaver Bruscemi LLC |
No wins this year, but hasn’t put in a bad effort among his 5. Clearly good, but clearly in the pack that isn’t quite as good as the Top 3. Heading to the Messenger. Burke: “He’s closed the gap every week on the best colts and he’s the one doing the work. He’s a length-and-a-half from the three best colts and he had the eight hole. With no eliminations, we will go in the Messenger, and then the Meadowlands Pace.”
Breeding: Papi Rob Hanover-Baron RemyLast Race: 6/13/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup – 4th (1:48.2) |
| 5
|
Melillo($462,787 – 1:48.4) |
R. Wrenn Jr., R. BurkeBurke Racing Stable LLC,Jason Melillo,Weaver Bruscemi LLC |
Burke trainee is having a nice year. grabbed a check in the Cup. Another member of the brigade heading to YR for the Messenger. Burke: “He got locked in. I think Ronnie would have pulled first over if he had another chance. It worked out fine. In the Cup, the horses that finished 1-2-3 got the three best trips.”
Breeding: Sweet Lou-Rosemary RoseLast Race: 6/13/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup – 5th (1:49) |
| 6 |
Bookie J($360,868 – 1:48.4) |
D. Dunn, C. RyderKen Jacobs |
Made it 5 wins in as many tries this year in a NJSDF dash and will be favored Saturday night at The Big M in the final. Are things going the way you’d hoped? Ryder: “Hell yeah! He’s on the right path. He raced great last week, and he drew the rail again for this week. We’ll take next week off for sure. I like our setup. The horse hasn’t had to travel. The ball is in my court.”
Breeding: Perfect Sting-SkyyLast Race: 6/12/2026 – M1 – NJSDF – 1st (1:48.4) |
| 7 |
Sweet Lovin Lou($233,437 – 1:48.2) |
S. Zeron, D. LagaceLagace Stables,Edwin Buhler,Big Als Stables,Brittany Farms Micki Rae |
Finished 6th in the Cup, but wasn’t anywhere near 100%. Lagace: “I was disappointed. He didn’t fire. He had quite a bit of mucus after the race and had a puss pocket before the race. He’s a lot more chipper (Thursday). We’ll keep working on the foot and qualify next Friday.”
Breeding: Sweet Lou-Lover’s Dream Last Race: 6/13/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup – 6th (1:49.1) |
| 8 |
Always B Charlie($32,768 – 1:51) |
S. Zeron, N. TakterUpstart Racing |
Qualifying Friday morning at The Big M. Takter: “The Meadowlands had no race for him this week, so we’ll qualify. They will have a race for him next week. The horse is good but it’s been difficult getting him raced.”
Breeding: Always B Miki-My Little DelightLast Race: 6/6/2026 – PcD – W2-5PM – 1st (1:51.2) |
| 9 |
Azrael Blue Chip($158,550 – 1:51) |
A. McCarthy, B. OdzaCT Stables LLC |
Things did not go well at Mohawk. Now, it’s time to prepare for the Pace, which is on his home turf. Odza: “After the elimination, Andy suggested the horse needed more grab, so I changed the shoes to aluminum all around, but it was the wrong call. It’s one of those things where you’re going for a million. You look for every edge you can. I’m going to keep him happy and sound and look for a race or a qualifier during the last week of June.”
Breeding: Perfect Sting-BathshebaLast Race: 6/13/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup – 10th (1:54.1) |
| 10 |
Gentleman’s Club($256,481 – 1:50.2) |
A. McCarthy, A. LambertAnthony Licastro |
Two weeks until the Pace eliminations. What’s the plan after failing to make the North America Cup final. Lambert: “He’s good. We’ll probably look to race him or qualify him next week.”
Breeding: Downbytheseaside-See You At Peelers Last Race: 6/6/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup elimination – 7th (1:49.3) |
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 | Sneaky Squeaky
Another C Note |
J. Bongiorno
R. Burke |
T. Tetrick
R. Wrenn Jr. |
MELILLO
Frantic Hanover |
AL PAPI
Twin B Thriller |
1:50.1
1:51.2 |
| 5/2 | NJSS | M1 | BOOKIE J | C. Ryder | D. Dunn | AZRAEL BLUE CHIP | Thisbeestings Deo | 1:50 |
| 5/9 | NJSS | M1 | Sonofanutcracker | T. Cancelliere | D. Dunn | AZRAEL BLUE CHIP | ROCKNACIOUS | 1:50 |
| 5/9 | Pa All-Stars
|
PcD | Another C Note
Captain Apple Treacherous Lou Toast Of The Town |
R. Burke
C. Ryder R. Cleary N. Daley |
T. Buter
P. Ryder T. Tetrick T. McCarthy |
Papi Rick
Southwind Spencer Easy Breeze Superchamp Hanover |
Spunky Hanover
Really Bright TALBOT ANDRETTI Good Friday |
1:52.2
1:54.1 1:53.4 1:52.2 |
| 5/9 | Ontario SBOA elims
|
Wbsb | BEAU JANGLES
Borderline Mobby |
Dr. I. Moore
D. Menary |
B. McClure
J. MacDonald |
Tilthecowscomehome
WINDOR |
Mega Moves
Redland Rocket Man |
1:51
1:50.4 |
| 5/16 | Ontario SBOA final | Wbsb | BEAU JANGLES | Dr. I Moore | B. McClure | Borderline Mobby | WINDOR | 1:49.3 |
| 5/16 | PaSS
|
PcD | APOCALYPSEBLUECHIP
Sneaky Squeaky Another C Note |
J. Bongiorno
J. Bongiorno T. Buter |
J. Bongiorno
J. Bongiorno R. Burke |
Superchamp Hanover
Captain Apple MELILLO |
Southwind Spencer
Silent Investor Papi Rick |
1:50.3
1:51.1 1:50.4 |
| 5/23 | NJSS final | M1 | BOOKIE J | C. Ryder | D. Dunn | AZRAEL BLUE CHIP | Thisbeestings Deo | 1:50.2 |
| 5/24
|
PaSS | Phl | MELILLO
Another C Note Papi Rick |
R. Burke
R. Burke N. Daley |
T. Tetrick
Y. Gingras A. McCarthy |
Easy Breeze
ALWAYS B CHARLIE Sneaky Squeaky |
TALBOT ANDRETTI
Thai Hanover AL PAPI |
1:48.4
1:50.3 1:50.3 |
| 5/30 | Somebeachsomewhr | Wbsb | BRANDON BLVD | A. Harris | J. Bartlett | SWEET LOVIN LOU | No Waitlist | 1:48.1 |
| 6/6 | N.A. Cup elims
|
Wbsb | SWEET LOVIN LOU
ODDS ON MR MAMBA |
D. Lagace
M. Wrenn |
J. MacDonald
J. MacDonald |
AL PAPI
BRANDON BLVD |
AZRAEL BLUE CHIP
BEAU JANGLES |
1:48.2
1:48.2 |
| 6/13 | N.A. Cup final | Wbsb | ODDS ON MR MAMBA | M. Wrenn | J. MacDonald | BRANDON BLVD | BEAU JANGLES | 1:48.1 |
| 6/26 | Messenger | YR | ||||||
| 7/4 | Meadowlands Pace elims | M1 | ||||||
| 7/11 | Meadowlands Pace final | M1 |
Track Conditions
Updated
06/12/2026
Wet-Fast
Variant:
