Dave Little’s Week 6 Road to the Meadowlands Pace

Thursday, June 8, 2023


ROAD TO THE MEADOWLANDS PACE

Week 6 (of 10) – Thursday, June 8

The Meadowlands Pace is on Saturday, July 15, 2023

 

Meadowlands Racetrack

East Rutherford, NJ – With all 10 horses in the Week 6 edition of Dave Little’s “Road to The Meadowlands Pace” in action at Woodbine Mohawk Park in four North America Cup eliminations, it’s a safe bet that next week’s poll will look different from this week’s with the countdown to The Pace at just 37 days.

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
All horses in this Top 10 will be at Mohawk Saturday competing in 4 North America Cup eliminations. When the dust clears, will ‘Vouk’ still be in the top spot? Is he versatile enough to pass this test? Russo: “He’s in great spirits. I don’t really care if he goes to the lead or not. he trained down and he was a monster passing horses. He loves coming off a helmet anytime you train him, his speed is incredible.” He’s got PP 4 in Elim 1.

Breeding: Lazarus N-Inittowinafortune

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

2
Christchurch
($24,475 – 1:49.3)
D. Dunn, N. Takter
Diamond Creek Racing,
Farhi Standardbreds Corp.,
Spreydon Lodge Ltd
Can he live up to the hype? His lone start of the year raised eyebrows, but now the test is super-tough. Takter: “I’m feeling really good about him. He trained really well (Wednesday) morning. I made some equipment changes and was thrilled with the results. PP 1 in Elim 1.

Breeding: Always B Miki-Darlinonthebeach

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

3
Confederate
($451,200 – 1:49.2)
T. Tetrick, B. Pelling
Diamond Creek Racing
Took last week off after a fast-closing win in his lone start of the season. PP 5 in Elim 4. Pelling: “They (Confederate and Combustion) did as I expected. One’s quick (Confederate), one’s strong (Combustion). (Confederate) will love that big sweeping last turn (at Mohawk). They do a lot of racing in the last turn there.”

Breeding: Sweet Lou-Geothermal

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

4
Stockade Seelster
($739,326 – 1:49.3)
J. Jamieson, I. Moore
Sally MacDonald, Paul MacDonald
Looked good holding off Pace-ineligible Moment Is Here in the SBSW. A good time to record your first win of the year, right Dr. Moore? “We were very pleased with his effort. The race was a little slower than the other two (divisions of the SBSW), it got pretty cold and windy as the night went on, but Jody said he was in hand. He did pull plugs at the head of the stretch.” PP 2 in Elim 3.

Breeding: State Treasurer-Soiree Seelster

Last Race: 6/3/2023 – WMP – Somebeachsomewhere – 1st (1:50.1)

5
Fulton
($321,303 – 1:49.2)
D. Dunn, L. Toscano
Let It Ride Stables Inc,
Bottom Line Racing LLC
Despite closing in :27, got gunned down at Mohawk to suffer his first loss of the year in what was still a solid effort. PP 6 in Elim 2.

Breeding: Heston Blue Chip-Bettor Be Steamin

Last Race: 6/3/2023 – WMP – Somebeachsomewhere – 2nd (1:49.1)

6
Combustion
($298,525 – 1:49.3)
T. McCarthy, B. Pelling
Diamond Creek Racing,
Thomas Dillon, Scott Dillon,
Cooper Silva Stables
Made a move to the lead down the backside at The Big M on the way to an easy score in his only start of the year. PP 3 in Elim 2. Pelling: “I thought he was very, very good. The difference between that run and the qualifier? He did work on the first turn. (Down the backstretch, when he made the lead) He was just trying to do it the right way, without using full gas. I was happy with him.”

Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Acquavella

Last Race: 6/3/2023 – M¹ – NW$7,500 – 1st (1:51.1)

7
Ammo
($429,833 – 1:50.3)
D. Miller, J. Holloway
Val D’Or Farms, Ted Gewertz
A Loss to It’s My Show is nothing to be ashamed of, but in this poll, it’s easy to lose ground when others are winning. PP 5 in Elim 2. Holloway: “He’s good. I wanted to beat It’s My Show but I think by the end of the year, we will. During the next couple of weeks, things will sort themselves out. the big miles, the road, everything will start to take its toll.”

Breeding: Sweet Lou-Beach Gal

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

8
Save America
($357,005 – 1:48.1)
Y. Gingras, N. Takter
3 Brothers Stables, Caviart Farms
Heads into Elim 3 from PP 3 after a week off after a start where he stopped the clock in a co-seasonal-best 1:48.1 for a 3-year-old male. Takter: “He trained very well (Wednesday) morning. I’m thinking we finally have him figured out.”

Breeding: Captaintreacherous-My Lady Day

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

9
Seven Colors
($76,209 – 1:48.1)
T. Tetrick, B. Brown
Country Club Acres Inc.,
Joe Sbrocco, Bill Elliot,
Milton Leeman
A winner of 4-of-6 starts this year is the other 1:48.1 3YO male pacer during 2023. PP 6 in Elim 3. Brown: “We are leaving for Mohawk on Friday. I like to keep them at home as long as I can. he’s not an overly tall horse, but he’s very thick. when you get the hobbles on and go any kind of speed, he is really good gaited. other than that, it’s guts. he wants to be a horse.”

Breeding: Stay Hungry-Rainbowinthedark

Last Race: 5/28/2023 – Phl – PaSS – 1st (1:48.1)

10
Bamboozler
($227,184 – 1:50.1)
D. McNair, V. Morgan Jr.
QT Stables, LLC
Has made four starts this season and has hit the board every time. Lone win came in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action and he’s knocked heads with solid foes in all other outings. Will race from PP5 in Elim 1.

Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Deception

Last Race: 6/3/2023 – WMP – Somebeachsomewhere – 2nd (1:50)

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 Redwood Hanover

Annapolis Hanover

STOCKADE SEELSTER

A.Beaton

M. York

I. Moore

J. MacDonald

D. Miller

J. Jamieson

FULTON

BAMBOOZLER

Moment Is Here

DUPREE HANOVER

ANTS MARCHING

GUNG HO

1:49

1:49.3

1:50.1

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