Plan extra time due to soccer at MetLife 7/26 (games at 4pm & 7pm). Use Paterson Plank Road entrance and stay to right at toll plaza.

DAVE LITTLE’S MEADOWLANDS PACE WINTERBOOK TOP 10

Thursday, January 4, 2024


DAVE LITTLE’S MEADOWLANDS PACE WINTERBOOK TOP 10

  1. Captain Albano (PaSS final; 7-for-9, $445,680; Todd McCarthy/Noel Daley; son of Captaintreacherous, who won the 2013 Pace; second to Gem Quality in the Breeders Crown as the 2-5 favorite; took mark of 1:49.2 in the Bluegrass at the Red Mile)
  2. Better Is Nice (7-for-11, $510,120; Andy McCarthy/Tony Alagna; 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; son of Bettor’s Wish)
  3. Captain’s Quarters (2-for-5, $389,143; Jody Jamieson/Herbert Holland; won the $717,800 Metro at Mohawk in his lifetime best of 1:49.3; only other win came in an overnight as the Metro, which was on Sept. 23, was the son of Captaintreacherous’ final outing of the year)
  4. Captain Luke (Governor’s Cup; 2-for-12, $332,109; recorded his only two wins of the year in his last two starts after Lasix was added; won the Governor’s Cup elim, and then the Governor’s Cup final – in a lifetime-best 1:51 – for Todd McCarthy; Tony Alagna is the trainer of the son of Captaintreacherous)
  5. Boston Rocks (NYSS final, 4-for-13, $352,922; 11 OTB finishes; Tim Tetrick/Steve Elliott for the final four starts of the year, Jason Bartlett/Michael Deters before that while in New York; won the $225,000 NYSS final at Yonkers on Sept. 9 before missing a neck in two straight stakes events at the Red Mile; all 2023 wins came on half-mile tracks in New York)
  6. Lou Vuitton (4-for-14, $215,283; won the $179,200 Kindergarten at The Meadowlands in 1:51.1 getting up by a head over favorite Courtship; driven by a handful of different drivers for trainer Ron Burke; consistent sort cashed a check in every 2023 start; son of Sweet Lou)
  7. Legendary Hanover (6-for-9, $303,114; finished second to Captain’s Quarters in the Metro as the even-money public choice; son of Meadowlands Pace 2017 winner Huntsville opened 2023 with six consecutive wins; 2nd in the Metro, then 2nd in his Breeders Crown elimination before a 9th place finish in the Breeders Crown to finish his year; James MacDonald/Anthony Beaton; Linda Toscano in his final two starts)
  8. Wish You Well (6-for-14, $196,485; 11 OTB finishes; son of Bettor’s Wish; several different drivers/Nifty Norman; took LTB 1:52.3 in a NJSS preliminary before finishing third in the final)
  9. Maxim Hanover (4-for-12, $190,396; 9 OTB finishes; son of Captaintreacherous; several different drivers for Robert Cleary; pulled off an off-the-pace, 8-1 upset in the $145,000 Matron Stakes at Dover Downs)
  10. Ivy Park (2-for-9, $180,000; 5 OTB finishes; son of Captaintreacherous; Gingras/Takter; two wins, both in 1:53.4; one in the KySS, the other in the Pa All-Stars)