Tony Alagna has three in the Top 10 of the Week 9 edition of Dave Little’s Road to The Meadowlands Pace
Thursday, June 30, 2022
With just two weeks until the eliminations, this year’s edition of the $700,000 (est.) Meadowlands Pace looks wide open, as top-ranked Hammering Hank opted out of Friday’s Messenger Final while trainer Tony Alagna now has three in the Top 10 of the Week 9 edition of Dave Little’s “Road to The Meadowlands Pace”.
| Rank | Horse
(Earnings – Mark) |
Driver, Trainer
Owner(s) |
Dave Little’s (and trainer’s) Comments |
| 1 |
Hammering Hank($301,519 – 1:51.1)
|
D. Dunn, B. Pelling3 Brothers Stables,Pelling Racing LLC, Rojan Stables
|
Closed ground to be second while not threatening the winner in his Messenger Elimination, but won’t go in the final. Pelling: “He warmed up perfect [before his Messenger Elim] and then he went out onto the track and he wasn’t comfortable, so I just decided it wasn’t in his best interest to go in the final. He paced his back half in [1:]53. He’s ready [for The Pace].”
Breeding: Captaintreacherous-History RepeatsLast Race: 6/24/2022 – YR – Messenger Elimination – 2nd (1:52.3) |
2 |
Beach Glass($239,645 – 1:51) |
Y. Gingras, B. MacGrathSchooner II Stable |
With The Pace just two weeks away, is there something to be done before the elims? MacGrath: “He’s not in to go this week. He’s got plenty of races coming up. The Pace, Adios, Cane and Milstein. I just don’t think he needs a race that bad. He’s good. No issues with soundness or anything like that.”
Breeding: Somebeachsomewhere-Im With Her Last Race: 6/18/2022 – Wbsb – N.A. Cup Final – 2nd (1:50.3) |
3 |
Night Hawk($159,706 – 1:48.4) |
D. Miller, B. BrownAcadia Farms Inc., Joe Sbrocco,In The Gym Partners,Leeman Lombardo Stable |
After finishing 5th in the N.A. Cup, the plan was to chill out until The Pace. Brown: “We’ll just train him up hard [today] and then an easy one early next week. Then, we’ll ship him out Friday.” Is the shipping a pain in the neck? “This is what I do every time.”
Breeding: Betting Line-Night MusicLast Race: 6/18/2022 – Wbsb – N.A. Cup Final – 5th (1:51) |
4 |
Greatest Ending($68,530 – 1:50.3) |
B. McClure, Dr. I. MooreReginald G. Petitpas |
Recorded his lifetime-best mile Saturday at Mohawk. Is he peaking at the right time? Could this year’s Pace be the second in a row for Dr. Moore? Moore: “This is a nice horse. The best thing is, he went into the race the other night great and he came out of it great. We’re looking forward to heading down [to New Jersey] Wednesday. Before that, I’ll train him Tuesday. That’s the plan.”
Breeding: Somebeachsomewhere-Lady Be Great Last Race: 6/25/2022 – Wbsb – Non-Winners of 5 – 1st (1:50.3) |
5 |
I Did It Myway($165,358 – 1:50.2) |
A. McCarthy, T. AlagnaCountry Club Acres Inc.,Joe Sbrocco, Don Latore,Alagna And Fodera Racing |
The trainer might enter four in The Pace, with this one looking like the best of the bunch. Alagna: “He’s in this weekend in an overnight at The Meadowlands [Saturday night, race 11, post 2]. And my other horse [Caviart Camden] is in the same race. [I Did It Myway] is coming into the race well.”
Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Flyme To The MoonLast Race: 6/18/2022 – Wbsb – N.A. Cup Final – 6th (1:51) |
6 |
Early Action($446,411 – 1:49.4) |
D. Miller, J. HollowayVal D’Or Farms, Ted Gewertz |
After a not-so-great outing at Vernon in the New York Sire Stakes, the Holloway student qualified at The Big M. So how did that go? Holloway: “He was a little bit better in the qualifier than he was in the race at Vernon. He was a little bit on the right line on the turn but came back on after he got straightened out. It is such an evenly-matched group [in The Pace], we all have a chance.”
Breeding: Huntsville-Fashion Katie Last Race: 6/25/2022 – M1 – Qualifier – 2nd (1:50.3) |
7 |
Caviart Camden($101,431 – 1:48.3) |
Y. Gingras, T. AlagnaCaviart Farms |
Another from the Alagna Armada who can grab the brass ring on best. His mark from a year ago still stands among those in the Top 10. Alagna: “Caviart is the same as [I Did It Myway], they need a good start, but Caviart is doing fine.” He leaves from post 4 in Saturday’s 11th race at The Big M.
Breeding: Huntsville-Caviart Christa Last Race: 6/19/2022 – VD – New York Sire Stakes – 4th (1:53) |
8 |
Market Based($261,183 – 1:50.2) |
D. Dunn, N. TakterChuck Pompey, Edwin J. Gold,H And M Taylor Stable |
All or nothing type of performer clings to a spot in the poll with his two quality wins. Went off stride early at Yonkers in his Messenger Elim. Was it the half-mile track? Takter: “His typical thing. He can’t handle going into the turn that fast. He’s perfectly fine, but quirky. He’ll race Saturday at The Meadowlands [post 5, race 11] with an open bridle. I actually think it’ll be good to see him on a mile track.”
Breeding: Sweet Lou-Economy Terror Last Race: 6/24/2022 – YR – Messenger Elimination – 6th (No time) |
9 |
Mad Max Hanover($178,131 – 1:50.3) |
T. Tetrick, J. LeamonMarvin J. Rounick |
The 10 hole did him in when ninth in The N.A. Cup. So, what’s the plan with two weeks to go to The Pace? Leamon: “We rested him up after the Cup, then, this week we trained him up. We’re in the 14th qualifier [post 2] at The Meadowlands on Saturday. We want to get a mile into him and finish up well.”
Breeding: Always B Miki-Mayhem Seelster Last Race: 6/18/2022 – Wbsb – N.A. Cup Final – 9th (1:51.2) |
10 |
Atlas Hanover($132,517 – 1:51.2) |
S. Zeron, T. AlagnaRobert J. Leblanc,David H. Anderson,Kenneth E. Jacobs,In The Gym Partners |
His resume includes three wins against lesser foes plus a pair of nice efforts, which includes a third in his Messenger Elimination, enabling him to crack the Top 10. He will leave from post 5 in The Messenger Final [Friday, race 8], the only horse in this Top 10 racing in the event. Alagna: “We were high on him last year but he never got the job done. We gelded him and he’s come back well. As long as he continues to do what he’s doing, he’ll be OK.”
Breeding: Captaintreacherous-AmerawayLast Race: 6/24/2022 – YR – Messenger Elimination – 3rd (1:52.3) |
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 | Reynolds | YR | Jd | R. Schnittker | T. Buter | Pleaseletmeknow | LETMECALLYOUBACK | 1:53.2 |
| 5/7
5/7 |
Pa. Sire Stakes
Pa. Sire Stakes |
Mea
Mea |
ALL OR NOTHING
GREATEST ENDING |
N. DeVita
Dr. I. Moore |
S. Zeron
D. Palone |
Arlo Hanover
NIGHT HAWK |
True Blue Lindy
MAD MAX HANOVER |
1:51
1:51.2 |
| 5/15
5/15 5/15 |
Pa. All-Stars
Pa. All-Stars Pa. All-Stars |
PcD
PcD PcD |
MAD MAX HANOVER
NIGHT HAWK MARKET BASED |
J. Leamon
B. Brown N. Takter |
T. Tetrick
D. Miller A. McCarthy |
SIX FEET APART
CAPTAIN COWBOY PJ LOU |
Layton Hanover
True Blue Lindy Energetic Hanover |
1:50.3
1:50 1:50.2 |
| 5/30
5/30 5/30 |
Pa. Sire Stakes
Pa. Sire Stakes Pa. Sire Stakes |
PcD
PcD PcD |
FOUREVER BOY
NIGHT HAWK MARKET BASED |
T. Twaddle
B. Brown N. Takter |
M. Wilder
D. Miller D. Dunn |
SIX FEET APART
MAD MAX HANOVER Ario Hanover |
CAPTAIN COWBOY
Layton Hanover NAUTICAL HANOVER |
1:51.1
1:48.4 1:50.4 |
| 6/4
6/4 |
Somebeachsomewhere
Somebeachsomewhere |
Wbsb
Wbsb |
Pebble Beach
Magical Arthur |
N. Daley
A. Beaton |
T. McCarthy
T. Henry |
Kolby Two Step
BEACH GLASS |
Sport Secret
Stonebridge Helios |
1:51
1:50.3 |
| 6/8
6/8 |
Pa. Sire Stakes
Pa. Sire Stakes |
Phl
Phl |
Layton Hanover
Energetic Hanover |
T. Alexander
B. Pelling |
M. Kakaley
T. McCarthy |
Dancin Sancho
PJ LOU |
HAMMERING HANK
ATLAS HANOVER |
1:50.1
1:51.1 |
| 6/11
6/11 |
N. America Cup Elim.
N. America Cup Elim. |
Wbsb
Wbsb |
Pebble Beach
BEACH GLASS |
N. Daley
B. MacGrath |
T. McCarthy
Y. Gingras |
NIGHT HAWK
I DID IT MYWAY |
MAD MAX HANOVER
Ario Hanover |
1:49.4
1:51 |
| 6/18 | N. America Cup Final | Wbsb | Pebble Beach | N. Daley | T. McCarthy | BEACH GLASS | FROZEN HANOVER | 1:50 |
| 6/24
6/24 |
Messenger Elim.
Messenger Elim. |
YR
YR |
Gulf Shores
Pleaseletmeknow |
B. Brown
T. Alexander |
Y. Gingras
M. Kakaley |
CAPTAIN COWBOY
HAMMERING HANK |
NAUTICAL HANOVER
ATLAS HANOVER |
1:52.4
1:52 |
| 7/1 | Messenger Final | YR | ||||||
| 7/2 | Ontario SS Gold | Wbsb | ||||||
| 7/9 | Meadowlands Pace Elim. | M1 | ||||||
| 7/16 | Meadowlands Pace Final | M1 |
Track Conditions
Updated
05/11/2024
Fast
Variant:
62°F