Final edition of Road to Meadowlands Pace

By Harnesslink · 9 July 2021 · 5:39 am

East Rutherford, NJ – There’s a shakeup at the top of the Week 10 — and final — edition of Dave Little’s “Road to The Meadowlands Pace”, as American Courage nosed out One Eight Hundred for the top spot while last week’s No. 1, Abuckabett Hanover, fell to No. 3. A pair of $50,000 Pace Eliminations take place this Saturday while the $700,000 (est.) harness racing final is slated for July 17. For everything Meadowlands Pace visit MeadowlandsPace.com. #Pace21

Rank

Horse

(Earnings – Mark)

Driver, Trainer

Owner(s)

Dave Little’s Comments

1 American Courage

($468,633 – 1:49.4)

M. Kakaley, T. Alexander

Fiddler’s Creek Stables

Grabs the top spot (up from No. 5) in the final poll off a superb six-hole speed score at Yonkers in The Messenger as the 6-5 favorite. So what did his trainer think? “Not bad,” said Alexander. “He looked fine. He actually trained better [Wednesday] than he did last week. He’s just getting into shape. I think he’ll be just fine [on a mile track]. He knows what it’s all about.”

Breeding: American Ideal-Nota Fool Bluechip

Last Race: 7/2 – YR – Messenger Final – 1st (1:51.4)

2 One Eight Hundred

($106,708 – 1:48)

T. Tetrick, N. Takter

Brixton Medical, Nancy Takter

I almost bumped this Takter trainee to the top spot (stays at No. 2) because he has Meadowlands experience while American Courage does not. Took last week off after a marvelous 1:48 mile that featured a back half in :52.2. Takter: “He’s super. He couldn’t be any better than he is right now and trained really well [Wednesday].” Takter normally uses Gingras or Dunn, so why Tetrick? “The other guys had horses in this division, and I wanted someone who would stick with the horse all year long.”

Breeding: Somebeachsomewhere-Economy Terror

Last Race: 6/26 – M1 – Non-Winners of $12,500L5 – 1^st (1:48)

3 Abuckabett Hanover

($255,021 – 1:49.1)

A. McCarthy, T. Alagna

Crawford Farms Racing,

Alagna Racing, Jablonsky Held

Stable, Barbera N Wienick Stable

Drops from No. 1 to No. 3 off a tough outing in the slop at Yonkers, where he left from post 8, never saw the rail and then broke on the far turn after starting the year perfect in four starts. What happened in The Messenger? There were no excuses from the trainer. “The post position (8) didn’t help but the track was fine,” said Alagna. “He went into that far turn and started to lean out and he went off stride. But [for The Pace] we are feeling good.”

Breeding: Betting Line-All Tucked Up

Last Race: 7/2 – YR – Messenger Final – 8^th (—-)

4 Perfect Sting

($629,977 – 1:48.1)

D. Miller, J. Holloway

Brittany Farms,

Val D’Or Farms

Drops a notch to No. 4. Maybe he hasn’t had the year the masses expected thus far but the winter-book Pace favorite is the 2-1 early choice nonetheless over American Courage in the 2^nd elim. Holloway: “We are ready to go. He trained as usual and should be in good shape.”

Breeding: Always B Miki-Shebestingin

Last Race: 6/26 – Mea – Pennsylvania Sire Stakes – 2^nd pl 1^st (1:49.4)

5 Charlie May

($503,627 – 1:49.3)

B. Miller, S. Carter

Don Tiger

Up two spots from No. 7 after a solid performance in The Messenger. Carter: “I thought he raced very well and we were glad to be second. I think he’s getting better every week.”

Breeding: McArdle-Stipple Hanover

Last Race: 7/2 – YR – Messenger Final – 2^nd (1:51.4)

6 Southwind Gendry

($709,841 – Q1:49.3)

Y. Gingras, R. Burke

Burke Racing, Phillip Collura,

Knox Services, J&T Silva-

Purnel & Libby

Drops two spots to No. 6 after losing ground when a parked-out trip did him in at The Meadows. Burke: “I’m not happy with him. We are going full-out to try and get it turned around. You know it when you see it. You know when a horse is sharp and you know when he’s not.”

Breeding: Always B Miki-Gambler’s Passion

Last Race: 6/26 – Mea – Pennsylvania Sire Stakes – 3^rd pl 2^nd (1:50.2)

7 Lawless Shadow

($276,104 – 1:50)

B. McClure, I. Moore

Ian Moore, R G McGroup Ltd,

Serge Savard, Frank Cannon

Drops a notch to No. 7 after failing as the 4-5 choice in Ontario Sire Stakes action. Moore: “We were disappointed in last week’s race. I thought everything was good going into it. But I would not have sent him to New Jersey for The Pace if he wasn’t good enough.”

Breeding: Shadow Play-Ladycino

Last Race: 7/3 – Wbsb – Ontario Sire Stakes (Gold) – 3^rd (1:49.4)

8 Heart Of Chewbacca

($288,848 – 1:48.4)

G. Brennan, R. Burke

Dennis Owens,

Norman Rae Racing

Took last week off after failing to qualify for The Messenger Final and remains at No. 8. Burke: “Everything is super with him. [His last start] was just a tough spot. He got pushed three-wide.” Why the switch to Brennan? “That was totally Danny [Noble], who has some Sire Stakes drives in Ohio. I think George will fit this horse perfectly.”

Breeding: Bring On The Beach-JT’s Chewbacca

Last Race: 6/25 – YR – Messenger Elimination – 7^th (1:51.3)

9 Exploit

($432,402 – 1:50.3)

T. McCarthy, T. Alagna

LeBlanc and Kribbs,

Joe Sbrocco, In The Gym Partners,

Joseph Barbera

After failing to make it to The Messenger Final, took the week off and remains at No. 9. Alagna: “He had a bad draw and got stuck behind a breaker in his last start. Two starts before that, he was second in a 48 and change mile at The Meadowlands.”

Breeding: Somebeachsomewhere-Time On My Hands

Last Race: 6/25 – YR – Messenger Elimination – 6^th (1:52.3)

10 Rockyroad Hanover

($47,051 – 1:52.2)

D. Dunn, T. Alagna,

Riverview Racing, Brad Grant,

Ken Jacobs, Plouffe Head

and VJ Stable

Has been beaten to the wire twice this year – both times by One Eight Hundred. DQ’d in last from 1^st to 5^th after a strong finish. Makes debut in the poll. Alagna: “His last start [when he outsprinted Perfect Sting to the wire before being taken down] was an indication of him peaking at the right time.”

Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Romantic Moment

Last Race: 6/26 – Mea – Pennsylvania Sire Stakes – 1^st pl 5^th (TDIS)

KEY PREP RACES

MEADOWLANDS PACE ELIGIBLES IN CAPS – Supplements are permitted per the conditions of the race

Date	Stakes	Site	Winner	Trainer	Driver	2^nd Horse	3^rd Horse	Time
5/1	Pa. Sire Stakes Pa. Sire Stakes	Mea Mea	LITERL LAD HANOVER SOUTHWIND GENDRY	R. Burke R. Burke	D. Miller Y. Gingras	STONEBRIDGE REEF CHASE H HANOVER	Water Sports Teen Sweet Angel Boy	1:51.1 1:49.4
5/8	Pa. All-Stars Pa. All-Stars Pa. All-Stars Pa. All-Stars	PcD PcD PcD PcD	HELLABALOU Emblaze Hanover Gamblin Mo ONE EIGHT HUNDRED	E. Dennis R. Burke J. Butenschoen N. Takter	A. McCarthy J. Bongiorno T. Buter T. Tetrick	Komodo Beach Crunch Hanover STONEBRIDGE REEF Water Sports Teen	Six Degrees RED RIGHT HAND CAPTAINS PLACE Warrawee Whynot	1:52.1 1:50.2 1:50.1 1:50.1
5/16	Pa. Sire Stakes Pa. Sire Stakes Pa. Sire Stakes	PcD PcD PcD	EXPLOIT ABUCKABETT HANOVER ONE EIGHT HUNDRED	T. Alagna T. Alagna N. Takter	J. Bongiorno A. McCarthy T. Tetrick	Gamblin Mo PERFECT STING SOUTHWIND GENDRY	LITERL LAD HANOVER RED RIGHT HAND ROCKYROAD HANOVER	1:50.3 1:50.0 1:50.3
5/30	Pa. Sire Stakes Pa. Sire Stakes	Phil Phil	ABUCKABETT HANOVER SOUTHWIND GENDRY	T. Alagna R. Burke	A. McCarthy Y. Gingras	Gamblin Mo HELLABALOU	RED RIGHT HAND BILLY CLYDE	1:51.1 1:51.0
6/25	Messenger Elim. Messenger Elim.	YR YR	AMERICAN COURAGE ABUCKABETT HANOVER	T. Alexander T. Alagna	M. Kakaley A. McCarthy	CHARLIE MAY I’LL DRINK TO THAT	CHASE H HANOVER HIGHLANDBEACHSBEST	1:50.4 1:51.3
6/26	Pa. Sire Stakes	Mea	PERFECT STING (2P1)	J. Holloway	D. Miller	SOUTHWIND GENDRY (3P2)	Lou’s Pearlman (4P3)	1:49.4
7/2	Messenger Final	YR	AMERICAN COURAGE	T. Alexander	M. Kakaley	CHARLIE MAY	CHASE H HANOVER	1:51.4
7/10	Mead. Pace Elim.	M1
7/17	Mead. Pace Final	M1

by Dave Little, for The Meadowlands

Categories: USA
Tags: Dave Little, Meadowlands Pace, The Meadowlands, United States Harness Racing