No Changes in Ninth Edition of Dave Little’s weekly 2024 Road to The Meadowlands Pace

Thursday, June 27, 2024


There were no changes in the ninth edition of Dave Little’s weekly Road to The Meadowlands Pace Top 10 poll. The top six are taking the week off, while the bottom four will go head-to-head-to-head-to-head at The Big M Saturday night.

 

Rank Horse

(Earnings – Mark)  

Driver, Trainer

Owner(s)

Dave Little’s (and trainer’s) Comments
1
Nijinsky
($529,890 – 1:48.1)

 

L. Roy, A. Beaton
West Wins Stable,
John D Fielding, Mark B Dumain

 

Nijinsky is hoping to become the first horse since Tall Dark Stranger in 2020 to pull off the North America Cup/Meadowlands Pace double. Beaton: “He’s been good. Last week, we gave him an easy week. this week, we have been jogging him up good and will train him up good at the end of the week. We’ll head down to Jersey, and hopefully, we can get the same result as we did in the North America Cup.”

Breeding: Bettor’s Delight-Pirouette Hanover

Last Race: 6/15/2024 – Wbsb – N.A. Cup final – 1st (1:48.1)

2
Captain’s Quarters
($594,456 – 1:49.1)

 

J. Jamieson, H. Holland

Rich P Stiles

Off a giant effort in the Cup, this one is ready for another top try. Holland: “He came out of the North America Cup excellent. We trained him [Tuesday] and he was very good. Everything is looking good for next week. I’m going to head down [to New Jersey] Wednesday.”

Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Prescient Beauty

Last Race: 6/15/2024 – Wbsb – N.A. Cup final – 2nd (1:48.2)

3
Funtime Bayama
($381,948 – 1:49.1)

 

TBA, A. Harris

William Pollock, Bruce Areman,

Andrew Harris

 

A blockbuster private sale finds this one in a new barn, just in time for the Pace. These are the same owners who acquired big-name performers Abuckabett Hanover, Seven Colors and El Rey within the last two years. Harris: “I’ve had him just a couple of days. He got here Monday. He’s going to train on Saturday at The Meadowlands. We’d love to win the Meadowlands Pace and the Little Brown Jug. On Saturday, we will reveal who his driver will be.”

Breeding: He’s Watching-Tymal Sugrbabydoll

Last Race: 6/15/2024 – Wbsb – N.A. Cup final – 3rd (1:48.3)

4
Captain Albano
($552,915 – 1:49.2)

 

T. McCarthy, N. Daley

Patricia Stable,

L A Express & Sjoblom Inc,

Michael E Dolan

Was he the best horse in the Cup, but simply had no room late from the pocket? He certainly looked good earlier in the mile, making two moves to the top. Daley: “He seems good, nice and bright. I’m happy with him. He came out of the race well and traveled well. He’s pretty relaxed.”

Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Angelou

Last Race: 6/15/2024 – Wbsb – N.A. Cup final – 4th (1:48.4)

5
Legendary Hanover
($377,209 – 1:48.3)
J. MacDonald, A. Beaton
Eric K Good, West Wins Stable,
Mark B Dumain
Keep in mind, this one was the fastest 3YO of the year until his stablemate went faster in the Cup. He’s got big game. Beaton: “He’s been great since the North America Cup. I couldn’t ask for a horse to come out of a race any better, especially after the [first-over] trip he went. I’m very confident in Legendary and I’m sure he will get his day. These races, it comes down to trips. Maybe Legendary gets the trip in the Pace that Nijinsky got in the Cup. I’ll take either one winning. I’m not fussy.”

Breeding: Huntsville-Lillian Hanover

Last Race: 6/15/2024 – Wbsb – N.A. Cup final – 5th (1:49)

6
McCrunch
($39,555 – 1:49)
Y. Gingras, N. Takter
3 Brothers Stable,
Caviart Farms,
Joe Sbrocco, JAF Racing LLC
Led to the top of the stretch with some tough older foes before getting nailed on the wire by a nose in a 1:49 mile. No need to drop this one in the poll off a performance like that. Takter: “I was really happy with him. He was probably a little bit short and needed the race. He’ll train a mile [Thursday] and train back again next Wednesday, and then it’s the Pace elims.”

Breeding: Captain Crunch-McGibson

Last Race: 6/22/2024 – NW$14,000 – 2nd (1:49)

7
Captain Luke
($354,174 – 1:49.3)
S. Zeron, T. Alagna
Robert J Leblanc, Pryde Stables Inc,
Bradley J Grant, Steven Head
The Governor’s Cup winner from last year is in Saturday night at The Big M, facing Nos. 8, 9 and 10 in the poll. Alagna: “He’s really good. He trained well [Wednesday]. As long as his blood work stays good, he’s just as competitive as any of them in there.”

Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Bodacious Hanover

Last Race: 6/15/2024 – Wbsb – N.A. Cup final – 6th (1:49.2) 

8

 

 

 

Mirage Hanover
($186,883 – 1:49.3)
T. Tetrick, J. Leamon
Marvin J Rounick
Leaves from post seven Saturday in a race that includes Nuclear, Captain Luke and Gem Quality. Are you good with that, Jake? Leamon: “It’s a good thing. I want to get him a race, get him a tightener. With the way my horse races, I think he’ll benefit by following one of them. He takes care of himself. He’s either sleeping or up hollering at the other horses.”

Breeding: Bettor’s Delight-Mayhem Seelster

Last Race: 6/15/2024 – Wbsb – N.A. Cup consolation – 3rd (1:49.2)

9
Gem Quality
($488,401 – 1:50)
D. Dunn, C. Ryder
Let It Ride Stables Inc,
Odds On Racing, Bradley J Grant,
Enviro Stables Ltd
Except for one race, this one has had a good year. Ryder: “There was no class for my horse to race, so it morphed into this race on Saturday. I’m happy about it. It’ll be his first start on Lasix.”

Breeding: Captain Crunch-Twinkle

Last Race: 6/8/2024 – Wbsb – N.A. Cup elimination – 5th (1:51)

10
Nuclear
($107,920 – 1:48.4)
A. Miller, J. Holloway
Val D’Or Farms
Makes just his second start of the season. The first one was fabulous. Holloway: “He feels fine and trained well. He raced enough last year for experience, so he’ll figure it out.”

Breeding: Always B Miki-Can’tgetenuffofyou

Last Race: 6/14/2024 – M1 – NW2 – 1st (1:48.4)

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 Rush In

Booming Economy

Captain Fear Not

L. Toscano

R. Burke

K. Troy

D. Palone

M. Wilder

J. Indof

Timeisonmyside

Tenacious Hanover

LYONS BENJAMIN

Solid Character

Hugh Heston

Solar Solution

1:50.1

1:51.4

1:51.2

5/4 NJSS M1 Arbitrage Hanover

Endofstory

B. Pelling

D. Dilloian Jr.

T. McCarthy

T. McCarthy

BETTER IS NICE

Royal Desire

Alritealritealrite

Ain’t Nostopn Time

1:51.4

1:51.1

5/11

 

Pa All-Stars PcD Solid Character

GEM QUALITY

IVY PARK

Women Layer

R. Burke

C. Ryder

N. Takter

B. Pelling

D. Miller

D. Dunn

Y. Gingras

T. McCarthy

Target Aquired

Timeisonmyside

Armada Hanover

Southwind Celcius

Solar Solution

Dream Bird

Captain Fear Not

Americagreatagain

1:51.3

1:53

1:51.3

1:51.3

5/11 NJSS M1 Arbitrage Hanover

Endofstory

B. Pelling

D. Dilloian Jr.

T. McCarthy

T. McCarthy

Bonaparte

Mr Three O Five

BETTER IS NICE

Royal Desire

1:51

1:50.4

5/18 PaSS PcD Sweet Beach Life

CAPTAIN ALBANO

Rush In

GEM QUALITY

T. Alexander

N. Daley

L. Toscano

C. Ryder

M. Kakaley

T. McCarthy

S. Zeron

D. Dunn

Solid Character

IVY PARK

CAPTAIN SKIPPY

Armada Hanover

Tenacious Hanover

ITS SATURDAY NIGHT

LYONS BENJAMIN

Lou’s World

1:50.4

1:50.4

1:50.2

1:51

5/25 NJSS Final M1 Arbitrage Hanover B. Pelling T. McCarthy BETTER IS NICE Mr Three O Five 1:49.1
5/26 PaSS Phl Rush In

CAPTAIN SKIPPY

CAPTAIN ALBANO

L. Toscano

A. Svanstedt

N. Daley

S. Zeron

D. Dunn

T. McCarthy

IVY PARK

Southwind Celcius

GEM QUALITY

LYONS BENJAMIN

Armada Hanover

ITS SATURDAY NIGHT

1:49.4

1:50.2

1:49.4

6/1 Somebchsomewhere Wbsb FUNTIME BAYAMA

NIJINSKY

R. Moreau

A. Beaton

S. Filion

L. Roy

LEGENDARY HANOVER

CAPTAIN’S QUARTERS

Fast Louie

NEWSROOM

1:49.1

1:49

6/8 N.A. Cup eliminations Wbsb CAPTAIN’S QUARTERS

FUNTIME BAYAMA

NIJINSKY

H. Holland

R. Moreau

A. Beaton

J. Jamieson

S. Filion

L. Roy

CAPTAIN ALBANO

LEGENDARY HANOVER

STORM SHADOW

IVY PARK

CAPTAIN LUKE

TOTAL STRANGER

1:49.1

1:50.1

1:50.2

6/15 N.A. Cup final Wbsb NIJINSKY A. Beaton L. Roy CAPTAIN’S QUARTERS FUNTIME BAYAMA 1:48.1
7/6 Meadowlands Pace elims M1            
7/13 Meadowlands Pace Final M1