Captain Albano Tops Dave Little’s 2024 Road to the Meadowlands Pace Week 1

Thursday, May 2, 2024


He didn’t need a Figure-Four Leg Lock or a Stone-Cold Stunner to do it, but on pure pacing power, Captain Albano has grabbed the top spot in the first edition of Dave Little’s Road to The Meadowlands Pace weekly Top 10 poll.

 

ROAD TO THE MEADOWLANDS PACE

Week 1 (of 10) – Thursday, May 2

The Meadowlands Pace is on Saturday, July 13, 2024

Rank Horse

(Earnings – Mark)  

Driver, Trainer

Owner(s)

Dave Little’s (and trainer’s) Comments
1
Captain Albano
($445,680 – 1:49.2)

 

T. McCarthy, N. Daley

Patricia Stable,

L A Express & Sjoblom Inc,

Michael E Dolan

 

Last year, finished second to Gem Quality in the Breeders Crown as the 2-5 favorite; took his mark of 1:49.2 in the Bluegrass at The Red Mile. Will make his first appearance of 2024 Friday in a Big M qualifier. Daley: “We’re just going to follow along there. Looking to qualify from off the pace. Just let him run home, then, next week, be a little bit more aggressive.”

Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Angelou

Last Race: 10/27/2023 – HoP – Breeders Crown Final – 2nd (1:50.1)—DONE

2
Better Is Nice
($510,120 – 1:50.3)
A. McCarthy, T. Alagna
Alagna Racing LLC,
Pryde Stables Inc,
Birnam Wood Farms
During 2023, took mark of 1:50.3 in the KySS final at The Red Mile; won the NJSS final in 1:50.4 at The Big M. Shows two qualifiers on his card thus far in 2024, and makes his first parimutuel start Saturday at The Big M. Alagna: “He wasn’t as sharp in his second qualifier but had a little bit of a foot issue. I think he can go with the best colts when he’s on his game.”

Breeding: Bettor’s Wish-Thatsoveryverynice

Last Race: 4/27/2024 – M1 – Qualifier – 4th (1:53.2)—QUOTES?

3
Captain’s Quarters
($389,143 – 1:49.3)
J. Jamieson, H. Holland
Rich P Stiles
Won the 2023 edition of the $717,800 Metro at Mohawk in his lifetime best of 1:49.3. Holland: “There was nothing positive about [his April 29 qualifier]. My driver hooked wheels. We’ll qualify again Monday. He still qualifies for nw2, so I’ll try to get him that race around the 15th of the month.” What else? “I think this is the best colt in North America.”

Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Prescient Beauty

Last Race: 4/29/2024 – Wbsb – Qualifier – 6th (2:02.2)—DONE

4
Captain Luke
($332,109 – 1:51)
T. McCarthy, T. Alagna
Robert J Leblanc, Pryde Stables Inc,
Bradley J Grant, Steven Head
recorded his two wins of 2023 in his last two starts after Lasix was added; won the Governor’s Cup elim, and then the Governor’s Cup final. Alagna: “He was lights out in his first qualifier. We’ll play things by ear after [Friday’s] qualifier. Generally, With a Captaintreacherous, you get a good 3-year-old.”

Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Bodacious Hanover

Last Race: 4/20/2024 – M1 – Qualifier – 1st (1:52)—QUOTES?

5
Gem Quality
($438,940 – 1:50)

 

D. Dunn, C. Ryder
Let It Ride Stables Inc,
Odds On Racing, Bradley J Grant,
Enviro Stables Ltd
2023 Breeders Crown champion also won a leg of the PaSS before finishing 5th in the final. Ryder: “He’s feeling good, training well. We are where we think we should be. [In Friday’s qualifier] we want him to finish up strong, and look as good as he did last week.”

Breeding: Captain Crunch-Twinkle

Last Race: 4/27/2024 – M1 – Qualifier – 1st (1:52.1)—DONE

6

 

 

Legendary Hanover
($303,114 – 1:50)
J. MacDonald, A. Beaton
Eric K Good, West Wins Stable,
Mark B Dumain
finished second to Captain’s Quarters in the Metro as the even-money public choice; opened 2023 with six consecutive wins; 2nd in the Metro, then 2nd in his Breeders Crown elimination before a 9th-place finish in the final to finish his year. Beaton: “We were very happy with his [April 26] qualifier. They went slow up front. The main thing was to let him get around and do things properly. He’s a very professional horse.”

Breeding: Huntsville-Lillian Hanover

Last Race: 4/26/2024 – Wbsb – Qualifier – 5th (1:54.2)—DONE

7
Storm Shadow
($299,160 – 1:51.1)
B. McClure, Dr. I. Moore
R G McGroup Ltd, Serge A Savard,
Mac T Nichol, Bolton Stables
Won the 2023 Ontario Sire Stakes final on Oct. 13; followed that up with a Breeders Crown elimination score before finishing third in the final. Moore: “I am planning om training him [Thursday]. He didn’t change his stature a whole lot over the winter. We have high hopes for him.”

Breeding: Bettor’s Delight-Fade

Last Race: 4/19/2024 – SOTC – Qualifier – 1st (1:51.3)—DONE

8
Newsroom
($247,565 – 1:49.4)
D. Miller, J. Holloway
Val D’Or Farms
Reeled off six straight wins to start his 2YO season, which included victories in the New Jersey Classic at The Big M and Elevation at Hoosier. Holloway: “We’ll look to qualify in two weeks and his first start will be in the Somebeachsomewhere. He wintered very well.”

Breeding: Always B Miki-Well Hello There

Last Race: 11/25/2023 – M1 – Governor’s Cup – 7th (1:52.2)—DONE

9
Boston Rocks
($352,922 – 1:54.1)
T. Miller, S. Elliott
Peter R Blood, Rick Berks
won the $225,000 NYSS final at Yonkers on Sept. 9 last year before missing a neck in two straight stakes events at The Red Mile; all 2023 wins came on half-mile tracks in New York. He’s in at Tioga Saturday. Elliott: “He’s great-gaited and loves to go and never has a bad day. He grew and filled out from 2 to 3, and is blessed with speed and manners.”

Breeding: Boston Red Rocks-Scirocco Sarah

Last Race: 4/5/2024 – SGR – Qualifier – 1st (1:55.1)—DONE

10
McCrunch
($21,360 – 1:50.3)
Y. Gingras, N. Takter
3 Brothers Stables,
Caviart Farms,
Joe Sbrocco, JAF Racing LLC
Unraced at 2, but looks like he’s on his way with three wins under his belt already this year at The Big M. Takter: “He didn’t race as a 2-year-old because he was a very big colt who was very immature. He’s a June foal, so, technically, he’s not even 3 yet. He’s still learning how to race.”

Breeding: Captain Crunch-McGibson

Last Race: 4/27/2024 – M1 – NW2 – 1st (1:50.3)—DONE

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
5/4 PaSS Mea
5/4 NJSS M1
5/11 Pa All-Stars PcD
5/11 NJSS M1
5/18 PaSS PcD
5/25 NJSS Final M1
5/26 PaSS Phl
5/26 NYSS Stga
6/1 Somebchsomewhere Wbsb
6/5 NYSS BR
6/8 N.A. Cup eliminations Wbsb
6/14 NYSS VD
6/15 N.A. Cup final Wbsb
621 Messenger elims YR
6/28 Messenger final YR
7/6 Meadowlands Pace elims M1
7/13 Meadowlands Pace Final M1