Making History Leaps into Dave Little’s Road to the 2025 Meadowlands Pace Week 2
Thursday, May 8, 2025
The second edition of Dave Little’s Road to The Meadowlands Pace saw a Tony Alagna trainee leap from obscurity all the way to No. 7 in the weekly poll.
Making History used an explosive final eighth-of-a-mile to pull off a surprise in a division of the New Jersey Sire Stakes in his career debut to make the biggest splash of the week as all horses in the top 10 either qualified or raced during the last seven days.
ROAD TO THE MEADOWLANDS PACE
Week 2 (of 10) – Thursday, May 8
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 ($758,499 – 1:48.4) | R. Wrenn Jr., R. Burke Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Phillip Collura, Lawrence R. Karr | Looked about as good as one can taking his 2025 debut at The Meadows. Burke: “The horse seems like he’s in mid-season form. He could go [1]:48 today if he wanted too. [Despite the tough trip,] it wasn’t that hard of a mile. The ear plugs were in all the way. He’ll be back in at Pocono on the 17th. This is the best colt I’ve had since Sweet Lou.” Breeding: Sweet Lou-Rockin Racer Last Race: 5/3/2025 – Mea – PaSS – 1st (1:49.3) |
| 2 | Captain Optimistic ($454,830 – 1:49) | D. Dunn, N. Takter 3 Brothers Stables, Marvin Katz, Caviart Farms | Followed cover before rolling past Fallout in a qualifier that featured 30% of the Top 10 (Papis Pistol was third). Thus, he takes over the second spot. Takter: “I was very happy with him. Dexter never pulled the plugs.” What’s his best characteristic, Nancy? “He’s very good at high speed.” The ‘Captain’ will be off this week and then qualify after that. Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Cinamony Last Race: 5/2/2025 – M1 – Qualifier – 1st (1:51.4) |
| 3 | Fallout ($568,600 – 1:48.4) | T. Tetrick, T. Alagna Robert J. LeBlanc, Pryde Stables Inc, Caviart Farms | Was gunned down, but looked good nonetheless in that qualifier. Alagna: “I was very happy with my horse. We still have an open bridle on him, which means we have him relaxed. When we put the cups on, it’ll fire him up. He’s off this week and, hopefully, then we find an overnight.” Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Aria Hanover Last Race: 5/2/2025 – M1 – Qualifier – 2nd (1:52) |
| 4 | Papi’s Rocket ($298,183 – 1:50.4) | T. Tetrick, R. Burke Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Knox Services Inc, Slaughter Racing Stable LLC | Went an inside trip, rallied for second to 1-5 Go Go Grasshopper in Western PA. A good first start? Burke: “He was good. Finished alertly. We’re trying to build some confidence with him because he’ll have to step his game up to beat these horses. We’ll be back in at Pocono on the 17th.” Breeding: Papi Rob Hanover-Real Touch Last Race: 5/3/2025 – Mea – PaSS – 2nd (1:50.3) |
| 5 | Papis Pistol ($184,867 – 1:49.3) | A. Miller, S. DePinto Shannon C. DePinto, Chris Arvanitis, Anthony Perretti, Brad Shackman | Raced along the inside to be third to Captain Optimistic. DePinto: “I thought it went pretty well. Andy came back with a smile on his face and said he was really good. We’ll qualify again on Saturday, then maybe we’ll go in the sire stakes at Pocono on the 17th. We’ll take it week by week.” Breeding: Papi Rob Hanover-Bang Bang Last Race: 5/2/2025 – M1 – Qualifier – 3rd (1:52.1) |
| 6 | American Son ($176,815 – 1:49.3) | D. Dunn, C. Ryder Henderson Farms | Sat a two-hole behind older foe Remember The Alamo, settled for third after being outkicked by fellow sophomore Sugar Man. Ryder: “We were very disappointed in his performance. We were mystified, so we did a minor surgery Tuesday. He’ll only be out for a week or two. We just wanted to remove some of the obstruction in his throat.” Breeding: American Ideal-Lady Captain Last Race: 5/3/2025 – M1 – W2N5 – 3rd (1:50.3) |
| 7 | Making History ($12,500 – 1:52.1) | B. Beckwith, T. Alagna Riverview Racing LLC | How’s this for bursting onto the scene? He won his first lifetime start taking down 2-5 Manolete with a remarkable late explosion to debut in the poll at No. 7. Hey Tony, where ya been keepin’ this one? Alagna: “He was a colt we were very high on last year. He ended up having a problem with an ankle. I was ultra-impressed. I know he’s as good as any of them when he’s on his game.” He’ll come right back this week in the sire stakes. Breeding: American History-Mystery Game Last Race: 5/3/2025 – M1 – NJSS – 1st (1:52.1) |
| 8 | Prince Hal Hanover ($292,255 – 1:51) | D. Miller, Dr. I. Moore Prince Hal Hanover Stable | Had to race 3-wide into the 1st turn, led in :26.1 before a :27.2 kicker got him third at The Meadows. Solid Try. Pace ineligible Twisted Destiny impressed at 3-5. Moore: “He was ready to go. [The trip] didn’t hurt him. I hadn’t planned on racing him this week anyway. I thought he raced well. We’ll race on May 17 at Pocono [in the sire stakes].” Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Percy Bluechip Last Race: 5/3/2025 – Mea – PaSS – 3rd (1:49.2) |
| 9 | Manolete ($238,493 – 1:50.4) | S. Zeron, B. Saunders M and L of Delaware LLC, M & M Harness Racing LLC | Got nailed on the wire by Making History, in what was a good effort no matter how you slice it. After all, he did close in :26.2 in his bid for a wire-to-wire win. Saunders: “I wasn’t disappointed in him at all. When you turn these races into a sprint, these things can happen. I was surprised that horse had that much brush. We’re not panicking. We’ll stay out of his way this week and race on Saturday [in the sire stakes at The Meadowlands].” Breeding: Cattlewash-Glancewithme Last Race: 5/3/2025 – M1 – NJSS – 2nd (1:52.1) |
| 10 | Fusion ($106,322 – 1:50.4) | T. McCarthy, B. Pelling Diamond Creek Racing | Finished a solid second in his qualifier at Chester. Pelling: “He went well and looked great out there gliding around. He’s a big, powerful horse. He’ll qualify at The Meadowlands next week.” Breeding: Always B Miki-Pure Country Last Race: 5/6/2025 – Phl – Qualifier – 2nd (1:53.1) |
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 | ||||||
| 5/10 | NJSS | M1 | ||||||
| 5/17 | PaSS | PcD | ||||||
| 5/17 | WEG/SBOA | WMP | ||||||
| 5/24 | NJSS final | M1 | ||||||
| 5/24 | OnSS Gold | WMP | ||||||
| 5/25 | PaSS | Phl | ||||||
| 5/31 | Somebchsomewhere | WMP | ||||||
| 6/7 | N.A. Cup elims | WMP | ||||||
| 6/14 | N.A. Cup final | WMP | ||||||
| 6/20 | Messenger elims | YR | ||||||
| 6/27 | Messenger final | YR | ||||||
| 6/28 | OnSS Gold | WMP | ||||||
| 7/5 | Meadowlands Pace elims | M1 | ||||||
| 7/12 | Meadowlands Pace final | M1 |
Meadowlands Pace
Track Conditions
Updated
05/17/2025
Fast
Variant:
Weather
East Rutherford, US
9:35 am,
May 18, 2025
66°F
broken clouds