Dave Little’s Final Road to the 2025 Meadowlands Pace
Thursday, July 3, 2025
There were no changes in the final edition of Dave Little’s Road to the Meadowlands Pace Top 10. The horses in the 10th and final weekly poll are the 10 that will go to the gate next Saturday (July 12) in the $656,000 event. There are no eliminations for the first time in the race’s history, but nine of the horses will be in action this week to prepare for the classic one-mile dash.
ROAD TO THE MEADOWLANDS PACE
Final – Week 10 (of 10) – Thursday, July 3
The Meadowlands Pace is on Saturday, July 12, 2025
| Rank | Horse (Earnings – Mark) | Driver, Trainer Owner(s) | Dave Little’s (and trainer’s) Comments |
| 1 | Louprint ($1,187,071 – 1:47.1) | R. Wrenn Jr., R. Burke Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Phillip Collura, Lawrence R. Karr | With no eliminations needed for the Pace, the conditioners have all had to adjust their plans. Louprint will qualify Friday morning. I asked the trainer why qualify rather than race in the Saturday night Pace prep. Burke: “Why not? I don’t race horses to finish fourth. I don’t think it’s fair to the fans. I’m not going to go [1]:47 for $30,000, and if I’m not going to go for money, I’m going to do what I want to do. For me, not having a race is better.” Breeding: Sweet Lou-Rockin Racer Last Race: 6/14/2025 – Wbsb – North America Cup – 1st (1:47.1) |
| 2 | Madden Oaks ($205,187 – 1:51.3) | B. Boyd, C. Capone Samir A. Tawil, Paul V. Kautz, Alexander P. Henn, Nathan J. Fullmer | Racing on Sunday at Tioga. Capone: “I wanted to go to the prep race, but after talking to my dad [Mark], we agreed to go in an overnight at Tioga. Your back in 6 days, it’s like a qualifier, so you’re keeping conditioning without being hard on him. Not having eliminations was big for me. I feel like I have a real contender, but he’s still green. As the season goes on, he’ll get better.” Breeding: Huntsville-Hard Eight Last Race: 6/28/2025 – Wbsb – NW$15,000 – 2nd (1:49.3) |
| 3 | Captain Optimistic ($536,440 – 1:49) | D. Dunn, N. Takter 3 Brothers Stables, Marvin Katz, Caviart Farms | Has drawn post 4 in the dash for Meadowlands Pace eligibles Saturday night (Race 8). Takter: “I like no eliminations because I like knowing I’m in the final. We are racing because I made some equipment changes and want to see how that goes. He trained the other day in 1:51.3.” Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Cinamony Last Race: 6/14/2025 – Wbsb – North America Cup – 4th (1:47.3) |
| 4 | Fallout ($594,700 – 1:48.4) | T. Tetrick, T. Alagna Robert J. LeBlanc, Pryde Stables Inc, Caviart Farms | Post 2 in the prep, one of six in the Top 10 who will be behind the gate. Alagna: “He had a good week and got a great start in him last week. We are looking forward to the prep. The good thing is, with the short field, everybody will be close, or should be, at the head of the lane and everybody should get what they need.” Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Aria Hanover Last Race: 6/21/2025 – M1 – W2NW5 – 1st (1:49.1) |
| 5 | Prince Hal Hanover ($358,324 – 1:49.3) | J. Jamieson, Dr. I. Moore Prince Hal Hanover Stable | Post 6 at Mohawk in an overnight Saturday (Race 2). Moore: “Both [of my horses] are ready to go. Hal is racing up here [at Mohawk on] Saturday. [Mohawk] wasn’t sure if they would have a race, so I figured I might as well keep him here for another week, then they wrote a race where he fit.” Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Percy Bluechip Last Race: 6/14/2025 – Wbsb – North America Cup – 8th (1:48) |
| 6 | Manolete ($334,243 – 1:50.3) | S. Zeron, B. Saunders M and L of Delaware LLC, M & M Harness Racing LLC | Post 6 at The Meadowlands in the prep after finishing 3rd in the Messenger. What about only 10 horses dropping into the Pace? Saunders: “I guess Louprint and some of the others have intimidated some of the others. As far as I’m concerned, we wanted to race. I’m happy to draw the outside this week [in the prep] to give us an opportunity to race a little differently. My horse had a nice week. he trained a few slow trips.” Breeding: Cattlewash-Glancewithme Last Race: 6/27/2025 – YR – Messenger – 3rd (1:51.3) |
| 7 | Joel And The Jets ($73,846 – 1:51.3) | T. McCarthy, Dr. I. Moore Joel and the Jets Stable | Post 3 at The Meadowlands in the prep. The Doc is happy to have both of his colts racing this week, since neither has been on the track in 3 weeks. ‘Joel’ has had some issues with his lungs, but is ready to go now. Moore: “I gave him 10cc of Lasix. That’s the max you can use. He’s had tie-up issues before.” Breeding: Stay Hungry-Betty And The Jets Last Race: 6/14/2025 – Wbsb – North America Cup – 10th (1:50.2) |
| 8 | Papis Pistol ($209,952 – 1:48) | D. Miller, S. DePinto Shannon C. DePinto, Chris Arvanitis, Anthony Perretti, Brad Shackman | Post 1 at The Meadowlands in the prep. DePinto: “He scoped clean after his qualifier but he came back sick, so he was on antibiotics. He didn’t eat the day after, which is unusual for him, but he’s OK. I’d like to see a nice trip [Saturday in the prep] and just finish strong.” Breeding: Papi Rob Hanover-Bang Bang Last Race: 6/27/2025 – M1 – Qualifier – 4th (1:52.3) |
| 9 | Papi’s Rocket ($336,851 – 1:50.4) | Y. Gingras, R. Burke Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Knox Services Inc, Slaughter Racing Stable LLC | Taking the week off. Burke: “[The Messenger] was a disaster. He went parked the whole mile. He’ll train on Saturday and should be plenty tight enough.” Breeding: Papi Rob Hanover-Real Touch Last Race: 6/27/2025 – YR – Messenger – 5th (1:54.2) |
| 10 | Knockout Round ($87,517 – 1:50.4) | A. McCarthy, T. Alagna Micki Rae Stables LLC, Riverview Racing LLC | Post 5 at The Meadowlands in the prep. Alagna: “He got off on the wrong foot earlier this year in Canada. We still have faith in him. His qualifier went really well the other day. This step dictates what his next step is.” Breeding: Sweet Lou-Can’t Stop Me Now Last Race: 6/20/2025 – M1 – Qualifier – 2nd (1:53.2) |
KEY PREP RACES
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 |
| 5/3 | PaSS | Mea | Twisted Destiny LOUPRINT Go Go Grasshopper | C. Ryder R. Burke J. Bongiorno | D. Dunn R. Wrenn Jr. D. Palone | Railroad Station Dreamboat Hanover PAPI’S ROCKET | PRINCE HAL HANOVER WILD BILL WYATT Shipmaster | 1:49.1 1:49.3 1:50 |
| 5/3 | NJSS | M1 | MAKING HISTORY Smooth Dream | T. Alagna N. Daley | B. Beckwith T. McCarthy | MANOLETE Twin Fury | Expedited Service TOM HORN | 1:52.1 1:49.3 |
| 5/10 | Pa All-Stars | PcD | Beach Club Monty Lou’s Starr Snack Attack Railroad Station Makes Sense | B. Pelling S. Warnick J. Bongiorno R. Burke R. Cleary | S. Zeron M. Kakaley J. Bartlett Y. Gingras A. McCarthy | Shipmaster WAFFLE BLUE CHIP PAPI’S ROCKET Odds On No Limit Bulldozer | SEAWORTHY HANOVER Wedlock Blue Chip Delray Beach Federer Dreamboat Hanover | 1:51.2 1:51.2 1:51.1 1:50.4 1:51.4 |
| 5/10 | NJSS | M1 | MANOLETE Smooth Dream | B. Saunders N. Daley | S. Zeron T. McCarthy | Odds On Broward Twin Fury | Expedited Service MAKING HISTORY | 1:50.3 1:50.4 |
| 5/17 | PaSS | PcD | LOUPRINT Wedlock Blue Chip PRINCE HAL HANOVER | R. Burke R. Mallar Dr. I. Moore | R. Wrenn D. Miller D. Miller | Twisted Destiny PAPI’S ROCKET Railroad Station | Th Kay C Crunch Shipmaster Lou’s Starr | 1:50.2 1:51.3 1:49.3 |
| 5/24 | NJSS final | M1 | Smooth Dream | N. Daley | T. McCarthy | MANOLETE | MAKING HISTORY | 1:50.3 |
| 5/24 | OnSS Gold | Wbsb | Sterling Choice Control Rocks | B. MacIntosh J. Darling | B. Davis Jr. T. Borth | SET SHOT Tip Of Time | Aquinas Hanover Fifth And Five | 1:50.4 1:50.1 |
| 5/25 | PaSS | Phl | Twisted Destiny Wedlock Blue Chip LOUPRINT | C. Ryder R. Mallar R. Burke | T. McCarthy D. Miller R. Wrenn Jr. | CAPTAIN OPTIMISTIC Railroad Station FALLOUT | PAPI’S ROCKET Charge Me Up Go Go Grasshopper | 1:49.4 1:50.3 1:50.2 |
| 5/31 | Somebchsomewhere | Wbsb | PRINCE HAL HANOVER Bourbon Country | Dr. I. Moore P. Reid | D. McNair T. Henry | Ayeaye Captain Deo Lite Up The World | MADDEN OAKS Courts On Fire | 1:49.4 1:50.1 |
| 6/7 | N.A. Cup elims | Wbsb | CAPTAIN OPTIMISTIC Lite Up The World LOUPRINT | N. Takter A. Beaton R. Burke | D. Dunn J. MacDonald R. Wrenn Jr. | JOEL AND THE JETS Crack Shot PRINCE HAL HANOVER | Swingtown MADDEN OAKS Dandy Ideal | 1:50.2 1:48.3 1:49.1 |
| 6/14 | N.A. Cup final | Wbsb | LOUPRINT | R. Burke | R. Wrenn Jr. | MADDEN OAKS | Fast Choice | 1:47.1 |
| 6/20 | Messenger elims | YR | Twisted Destiny Odds On No Limit | C. Ryder T. Alexander | D. Dunn M. Kakaley | Dandy Ideal PAPI’S ROCKET | MANOLETE World Of Wishes | 1:53 1:52.4 |
| 6/27 | Messenger final | YR | Twisted Destiny | C. Ryder | D. Dunn | Dandy Ideal | MANOLETE | 1:51.2 |
| 6/28 | OnSS Gold | Wbsb | Crack Shot SET SHOT | R. McNair Dr. I. Moore | D. McNair J. Jamieson | Boxer Seelster Aquinas Hanover | Blue Bar Allstar Maniac | 1:50.2 1:51 |
| 7/5 | Meadowlands Pace prep | M1 | ||||||
| 7/12 | Meadowlands Pace final | M1 |
Meadowlands Pace
Track Conditions
Updated
07/05/2025
Fast
Variant:
Weather
East Rutherford, US
3:08 pm,
July 9, 2025
91°F
broken clouds