Brandon Blvd elevated to top spot in Road to the Meadowlands Pace

Rank

Horse

(Earnings – Mark)

Driver, Trainer,

Owner(s)

Dave Little’s (and trainer’s) comments

1

Brandon Blvd

($660,977 – 1:48.1)

D. Dunn, A. Harris

Punisher 11 Stable LLC

With Odds On Mr Mamba opting out and Beau Jangles nursing a lung infection, the target is now squarely on Brandon’s back. Could have taken a bye but will race in the elimination Saturday night. Has post 3. Harris: “The complexion of the race has changed, and for Brandon to be the favorite, well, he’s a really nice horse, so he deserves it.” On racing instead of taking a bye: “For me, I want to win the elimination, so I don’t get worse than post six. And, mine needs a race. this was the plan all along.”

Breeding: Downbytheseaside-Alexis Faith

Last Race: 6/13/2026 – Wbsb – North America Cup – 2^nd (1:48.1)

2

Gentleman’s Club

($273,631 – 1:47.4)

A. McCarthy, A. Lambert

Anthony Licastro

Became the fastest 3YO of 2026 in an eye-popping mile at The Big M last Friday, vaulting him all the way to No. 2. Has post 4 in the elim. Lambert: “I’m not surprised at how well he raced last week. I think he’s been that good, he just over raced in his North America Cup (elimination). I think racing against some good older horses earlier in the year really helped my colt.”

Breeding: Downbytheseaside-See You At Peelers

Last Race: 6/26/2026 – M1 – 3YO NW5 – 1^st (1:47.4)

3

Al Papi

($526,820 – 1:48.1)

Y. Gingras, R. Burke

Burke Racing Stable LLC,

J&T Silva – Purnel & Libby,

Lawrence Karr,

Weaver Bruscemi LLC

Was gunned down by Fragment in the Messenger in a good speed effort. Will take a bye into the final. Burke: “I don’t think any horse can think they can definitely win (the Pace). Al Papi raced at Yonkers (in the Messenger) last week, so taking the bye was good for him. He was fine in the race.”

Breeding: Papi Rob Hanover-Baron Remy

Last Race: 6/26/2026 – YR – Messenger – 2^nd (2:21.4 – 1¼ miles)

4

Melillo

($478,787 – 1:48.4)

R. Wrenn Jr., R. Burke

Burke Racing Stable LLC,

Jason Melillo,

Weaver Bruscemi LLC

Ended up fourth after going first-up in the Messenger. Another Burke trainee who will take the bye. Burke: “He actually got run into at the top of the lane (in the Messenger). He was actually good.” On taking the bye: “I think it’s better with the Adios and the Hempt coming up.”

Breeding: Sweet Lou-Rosemary Rose

Last Race: 6/26/2026 – YR – Messenger – 4^th (2:22.3 – 1¼ miles)

5

Bookie J

($375,868 – 1:48.4)

J. Bartlett, C. Ryder

Ken Jacobs

Took last week off. Suffered a blip in his season when beaten by stablemate Obliterate. Has the rail in the elim after opting to not take a bye. Ryder: “While every horse has problems, he couldn’t be doing any better. We haven’t seen the best of him yet. When he got beat, he took some bad steps in the stretch. He doesn’t do that, and he better not do it again.”

Breeding: Perfect Sting-Skyy

Last Race: 6/20/2026 – M1 – NJSDF final – 2^nd (1:50)

6

Obliterate

($74,950 – 1:48.3)

P. Ryder, C. Ryder

Robert Mondillo,

Craig Henderson

FAC Racing LLC

One of two making their debut in the Top 10. Connections loved the effort in the NJSDF so much they supplemented to the Pace for $66,000. Has post 8 in the elim. Ryder: “All three partners have been wanting to get into the Pace and it’s on our back doorstep. We know it’s a gamble, but America is celebrating its 250th birthday. It is the land of opportunity.”

Breeding: Perfect Sting-Triple V Hanover

Last Race: 6/20/2026 – M1 – NJSDF final – 1^st (1:49.4)

7

Sweet Lovin Lou

($233,437 – 1:48.2)

S. Zeron, D. Lagace

Lagace Stables,

Edwin Buhler,

Big Als Stables,

Brittany Farms Micki Rae

Qualified Monday with a :27.1 kicker. Has post 2 in the elim. Lagace: “We were real happy with his qualifier. James (MacDonald, who drove him) said he was really sharp. He seems great and shipped well to New Jersey.”

Breeding: Sweet Lou-Lover’s Dream

Last Race: 6/29/2026 – Wbsb – Qualifier – 1^st (1:53.2)

8

Azrael Blue Chip

($166,950 – 1:51)

B. Beckwith, B. Odza

CT Stables LLC

Gentleman’s Club was awesome, but Azrael was second. So, you were happy with the effort, yes? Odza: “Yes. The owner and I had a conversation about it. It was kind of like a two-horse race. It was one of those situations where we would have had to come home in :25.3 to win, so I was very happy with how he went. I want to sit up close now. I’d like to see a more aggressive try.” Has post 9 in the elim.

Breeding: Perfect Sting-Bathsheba

Last Race: 6/26/2026 – M1 – 3YO NW5 – 2^nd (1:48.1)

9

Always B Charlie

($35,218 – 1:51)

J. Bartlett, N. Takter

Upstart Racing

Has post 10 in the elim. Finished an unspectacular fourth in a Meadowlands overnight. Takter: “I don’t agree with that. My horse is very green and has had only 6 lifetime starts. Hopefully, we can overcome the 10 hole and get into the final. I think it’s a very average group of horses, but Andrew’s horse is the best in there. I think the Pace is his to lose.”

Breeding: Always B Miki-My Little Delight

Last Race: 6/26/2026 – M1 – 3YO NW5 – 4^th (1:48.4)

10

Ubrute

($374,757 – 1:49.4)

Y. Gingras, R. Burke

Burke Racing Stable LLC,

Weaver Bruscemi LLC,

Hatfield Stables,

Phil Collura

KySS champ from a year ago hasn’t done all that much thus far in ’26, but will be there Saturday, leaving from post 6 in the elim. Aiming to give Burke 4 in the final. Burke: “He got used hard (in his last race). Yannick and I thought he needed a race, that’s why he’s racing Saturday and did not take the bye. I think this is an average group of 3-year-olds.”

Breeding: Tall Dark Stranger-Warrawee Ubeaut

Last Race: 6/26/2026 – M1 – 3YO NW5 – 3^rd (1:48.3)

Date

Stakes

Site

Winner

Trainer

Driver

2^nd Horse

3^rd Horse

Time

5/2

PaSS

Mea

Sneaky Squeaky

Another C Note

J. Bongiorno

R. Burke

T. Tetrick

R. Wrenn Jr.

MELILLO

Frantic Hanover

AL PAPI

Twin B Thriller

1:50.1

1:51.2

5/2

NJSS

M1

BOOKIE J

C. Ryder

D. Dunn

AZRAEL BLUE CHIP

Thisbeestings Deo

1:50

5/9

NJSS

M1

Sonofanutcracker

T. Cancelliere

D. Dunn

AZRAEL BLUE CHIP

ROCKNACIOUS

1:50

5/9

Pa All-Stars

PcD

Another C Note

Captain Apple

Treacherous Lou

Toast Of The Town

R. Burke

C. Ryder

R. Cleary

N. Daley

T. Buter

P. Ryder

T. Tetrick

T. McCarthy

Papi Rick

Southwind Spencer

Easy Breeze

Superchamp Hanover

Spunky Hanover

Really Bright

TALBOT ANDRETTI

Good Friday

1:52.2

1:54.1

1:53.4

1:52.2

5/9

Ontario SBOA elims

Wbsb

BEAU JANGLES

Borderline Mobby

Dr. I. Moore

D. Menary

B. McClure

J. MacDonald

Tilthecowscomehome

WINDOR

Mega Moves

Redland Rocket Man

1:51

1:50.4

5/16

Ontario SBOA final

Wbsb

BEAU JANGLES

Dr. I Moore

B. McClure

Borderline Mobby

WINDOR

1:49.3

5/16

PaSS

PcD

APOCALYPSEBLUECHIP

Sneaky Squeaky

Another C Note

J. Bongiorno

J. Bongiorno

T. Buter

J. Bongiorno

J. Bongiorno

R. Burke

Superchamp Hanover

Captain Apple

MELILLO

Southwind Spencer

Silent Investor

Papi Rick

1:50.3

1:51.1

1:50.4

5/23

NJSS final

M1

BOOKIE J

C. Ryder

D. Dunn

AZRAEL BLUE CHIP

Thisbeestings Deo

1:50.2

5/24

PaSS

Phl

MELILLO

Another C Note

Papi Rick

R. Burke

R. Burke

N. Daley

T. Tetrick

Y. Gingras

A. McCarthy

Easy Breeze

ALWAYS B CHARLIE

Sneaky Squeaky

TALBOT ANDRETTI

Thai Hanover

AL PAPI

1:48.4

1:50.3

1:50.3

5/30

Somebeachsomewhr

Wbsb

BRANDON BLVD

A. Harris

J. Bartlett

SWEET LOVIN LOU

No Waitlist

1:48.1

6/6

N.A. Cup elims

Wbsb

SWEET LOVIN LOU

ODDS ON MR MAMBA

D. Lagace

M. Wrenn

J. MacDonald

J. MacDonald

AL PAPI

BRANDON BLVD

AZRAEL BLUE CHIP

BEAU JANGLES

1:48.2

1:48.2

6/13

N.A. Cup final

Wbsb

ODDS ON MR MAMBA

M. Wrenn

J. MacDonald

BRANDON BLVD

BEAU JANGLES

1:48.1

6/26

Messenger

YR

Fragment

P. Engblom

J. Bartlett

AL PAPI

MIGHTY MATT

2:21.4

7/4

Meadowlands Pace elim

M1

7/11

Meadowlands Pace final

M1