Voukefalas Takes Top Spot in Week 5 of Dave Little’s Road to the Meadowlands Pace

Thursday, June 1, 2023


Off a powerhouse win in the New Jersey Sire Stakes final, Voukefalas has risen to the top of the Week 5 edition of Dave Little’s “Road to The Meadowlands Pace” Top 10 poll.

ROAD TO THE MEADOWLANDS PACE

Week 5 (of 10) – Thursday, June 1

The Meadowlands Pace is on Saturday, July 15, 2023

 

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. Russo
Michael Pagonas
Gets bumped up to No. 1 after putting on another dazzling display Saturday night at The Meadowlands to complete a three-race sweep of the New Jersey Sire Stakes. Russo: “I thought he came out of the race really well. He’ll take this week off. I’d like to train him Tuesday and then ship to Canada Wednesday for the North America Cup. that’s my plan.”

Breeding: Lazarus N-Inittowinafortune

Last Race: 5/27/2023 – M¹ – NJSS – 1st (1:49.4)

2
Fulton
($307,428 – 1:49.2)
D. Dunn, L. Toscano
Let It Ride Stables Inc,
Bottom Line Racing LLC
Opted to take last week off. The colt with the big lifetime stats (8 wins, 11 starts) is now off to Canada, where he will race in the Somebeachsomewhere Saturday night.

Breeding: Heston Blue Chip-Bettor Be Steamin

Last Race: 5/21/2023 – PcD – PaSS – 1st (1:50.2)

3
Christchurch
($24,475 – 1:49.3)
D. Dunn, N. Takter
Diamond Creek Racing,
Farhi Standardbreds Corp.,
Spreydon Lodge Ltd
Moves up to No. 3 off a week off, his eye-popping seasonal debut still fresh in this poll-compiler’s mind. What now? Takter: “He’s going to qualify (race 9) Saturday morning at The Meadowlands. Then, he’ll head to the North America Cup if he qualifies well, which I expect him too.”

Breeding: Always B Miki-Darlinonthebeach

Last Race: 5/19/2023 – M¹ – NW2 – 1st (1:49.3)

4
Confederate
($451,200 – 1:49.2)
T. Tetrick, B. Pelling
Diamond Creek Racing
It appeared he had too much to do in his first start of the year last week facing older foes, but after swinging three-wide at three-quarters, he used a final quarter of :25.4 to keep the chalk players smiling. Is his trainer smiling? Pelling: “He did what I expected, less can go wrong when you are coming off the pace. he’s ready to go.” The N.A. Cup is next.

Breeding: Sweet Lou-Geothermal

Last Race: 5/27/2023 – M¹ – NW$10,000 – 1st (1:50.1)

5
Ammo
($429,833 – 1:50.3)
D. Miller, J. Holloway
Val D’Or Farms, Ted Gewertz
Slips to No. 5 after finishing second to the superb, but Pace ineligible, It’s My Show, who may turn out to be the best 3YO in the country. Holloway: “I was a little disappointed by the result but he raced well. He’s got to get a little bit better. We’ll take the week off and then head to the North America Cup.”

Breeding: Sweet Lou-Beach Gal

Last Race: 5/28/2023 – Phl – PaSS – 2nd (1:49.2)

6
Stockade Seelster
($711,576 – 1:49.3)
J. Jamieson, I. Moore
Sally MacDonald, Paul MacDonald
Why is this Top 10 so challenging to put together this year? Because the top 2YO in the game from a year ago would still be in the top spot were it not for a nose loss in his only start of 2023. Moore: “You said I was tired of training this horse,” explained Moore. “The truth is, the horse is tired of me training him. He wants to get out there and compete.” He’ll get that chance Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park in the Somebeachsomewhere.

Breeding: State Treasurer-Soiree Seelster

Last Race: 5/20/2023 – WMP – Ontario SBOA – 2nd (1:51.2)

7
Combustion
($292,275 – 1:49.3)
T. McCarthy, B. Pelling
Diamond Creek Racing,
Thomas Dillon, Scott Dillon,
Cooper Silva Stables
Sprinted home in :26 to take his qualifier. Is there a race for Combustion to participate in? The North America Cup eliminations are next week. Pelling: “he’s going to race Saturday night at The Meadowlands (Race 7), Combustion is robust, so racing back-to-back is less of a problem for him.”

Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Acquavella

Last Race: 5/27/2023 – M¹ – Qualifier – 1st (1:52.2)

8
El Rey
($288,775 – 1:49.2)
S. Zeron, T. Alagna
Brittany Farms LLC, El Rey Racing
Took last week off after a second to the tough, but Pace ineligible, For Once Inmy Life. Alagna: “He came out of the race well. So, we are on our way to Canada. It’ll be nice to get a start over the track this week (in the Somebeachsomewhere) before the North America Cup.”

Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Mystery Game

Last Race: 5/20/2023 – M¹ – W2-NW5 – 2nd (1:51.2)

9
Save America
($357,005 – 1:48.1)
Y. Gingras, N. Takter
3 Brothers Stables, Caviart Farms
Put up an opening half of :54 before a back half of :54.1 made him the first of two colts on the Sunday card at Chester to pace in a 3YO season’s-best 1:48.1. As a result, he makes his return to the Top 10. Takter: “I actually switched up his training. I think I’ve been a little bit too nice to him. we knew he had the ability to do that. He’s heading to the North America Cup.”

Breeding: Captaintreacherous-My Lady Day

Last Race: 5/28/2023 – Phl – Pa Stallion Series – 1st (1:48.1)

10
Seven Colors
($76,209 – 1:48.1)
T. Tetrick, B. Brown
Country Club Acres Inc.,
Joe Sbrocco, Bill Elliot,
Milton Leeman
Makes his debut in the poll after taking his fourth victory of the year last week over the “Chester Drag Strip” in a season’s-best-equaling (for a 3YO) 1:48.1. Is this one a real Pace player? Brown: “This horse has not had a bad race this year. he’s matured and tries hard. He’s turning into a really nice horse. in fact, I think he’s there already. We’re getting ready for the North America Cup.”

Breeding: Stay Hungry-Rainbowinthedark
Last Race: 5/28/2023 – Phl – PaSS – 1st (1:48.1)

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            
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