Dorsoduro Hanover took the top spot back in Dave Little's Road to the Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace off a win in one of three eliminations for the Hempt at Pocono Downs (the final is Saturday night).
The next challenge for Dorsoduro and seven others: Defeating North America Cup champion Lather Up, whose connections are still kicking around the idea of supplementing to The Pace.
Rank |
Horse |
Driver, Trainer, Owner(s) |
Dave Little’s Comments
|
1 |
Dorsoduro Hanover($172,668 – 1:49.4) |
M. Kakaley, R. BurkeBurke Racing, Silva, Purnel & Libby, Weaver Bruscemi, Wingfield Five |
Takes the top spot back off a lifetime-best win in his Hempt Elimination. The only blemish on his five-start 2018 resume is a tough-trip seventh in his NA Cup Elim. Burke: “He was good in his elimination but will need to step it up more in the final.” He’s drawn post 4 for the $500,000 Hempt Saturday night. Is there a way to beat 2-1 morning-line choice Lather Up (post 7)? Burke: “I haven’t figured that out yet.”Last Race: 6/23 – PcD – Hempt Elim – 1st (1:49.4) |
2 |
Stay Hungry($619,384 – 1:50)
|
D. McNair, T. AlagnaB. Grant, I. Samelman
|
Finished a tough-trip third (missing a half-length) in his Hempt Elim and has drawn post 5 for the final. Alagna: “He raced terrific. A horse went off stride in front of him and he came to a halt. I thought it was one of his best races ever. He’s drawn a good post but beating Lather Up, that’s a tough assignment right now.”Last Race: 6/23 – PcD – Hempt Elim – 3rd (1:49.3) |
3 |
Lost In Time($718,723 – 1:50.1) |
S. Zeron, J. TakterDiamond Creek Racing, J&T Silva, W. Rufenacht, Ric Flair Stable |
Took the Hempt off to prepare for the Pace. Takter noted the grueling schedule for the 3-year-old pacing colts, where the NA Cup, Hempt and Meadowlands Pace require a horse to race for six straight weeks if they want to go in all three. “When you look at the schedule, it’s kind of insane. I don’t think this horse is suited for that. Horses are not machines. I think Lost In Time will be much better in the Pace than he was in the Cup.”Last Race: 6/16 – Wbsb – NA Cup Final – 3rd (1:48.4) |
4 |
This Is The Plan($243,372 – 1:50.2) |
T. Tetrick, C. RyderC. Ryder, R. Mondillo |
Finished third in his Hempt elim after a four-week layoff but a luckless pill drop has left him with post 9 for the final. Ryder: “I’d have been happier had he finished second, but this week, we are adding Lasix after some minor bleeding. Some horses improve a lot on Lasix, some don’t at all.”Last Race: 6/23 – PcD – Hempt Elim – 3rd (1:49.4) |
5 |
Thinkbig Dreambig($38,500 – 1:49.2) |
Y. Gingras, J. TakterBrixton Medical Inc., J. Fielding,G. Anderberg, G. Falk |
Since taking the Escort at the Meadowlands, this son of Bettor’s Delight has won two in a row in Pennsylvania with ease. Takter: “I’m going to race him at Tioga Friday (race 8, post 7). I want him to go a really strong mile. He’s so professional. We are still strongly considering going to the Pace.”Last Race: 6/20 – Phl – NW3 – 1st (1:52.2) |
6 |
Nutcracker Sweet($196,832 – 1:50.2) |
D. Miller, J. TakterH. Taylor, Order By Stable, R. Lombardo |
Continues to prove he belongs with this division’s best while having yet to win this year. Finished second in his elim to Lather Up and has drawn post 1 for the final. Takter: “I thought he raced tremendous, Lather Up was just so freaking Good! Right now, he might be unbeatable.” Is Nutcracker sweet on The Pace? “Not sure if he’s going,” said Takter. “We still have a ton of races coming up.”Last Race: 6/23 – PcD – Hempt Elim – 2nd (1:49.2) |
7 |
Babes Dig Me($122,947 – 1:52.3Q) |
B. Miller, T. AlagnaB.J. Grant, J. Sbrocco,J. Leblanc, In The Gym Partners |
Went a rail trip to grab a fifth-place check in his Hempt Elim. Alagna: “He was in the toughest division, but once he got loose, he had pace in the lane. I am going to give him this week off.”Last Race: 6/23 – PcD – Hempt Elim – 5th (1:50.1) |
8 |
American History($94,243 – 1:49.1) |
Y. Gingras, T. AlagnaBrittany Farms, M. Katz,American History Racing |
Took the Hempt off after a 10th-place finish in the Cup. Will take on older foes Friday at the Meadowlands in a NW3. Alagna: “Coming off a bad start I thought I was better off giving him the week off to get ready for The Pace. He’s in Friday and trained great.” Last Race: 6/16 – Wbsb – NA Cup Final – 10th (1:50.3) |
9 |
Captain Deo($28,867 – 1:50.2) |
D. McNair, T. AlagnaAlagna Racing, J. Sbrocco, In The Gym Partners, Captain Deo Partners |
Kicked home in :26.2 to grab a fifth-place check in the Cup Consolation before taking the Hempt off. Alagna: “He’s been very good but hasn’t had a lot of luck. He’s been too far back coming into fast fractions.” He’s in the same Meadowlands race as stablemate American History Friday night.Last Race: 6/16 – Wbsb – NA Cup Consolation – 5th (1:50.3) |
10 |
Odds On Lauderdale($51,059 – 1:49.1) |
V. Ginsburg, T AlagnaOdds On Racing |
Breaks into the Top 10 after winning his second straight a week ago. The victory came from an impossible spot after being trapped until the final eighth of a mile. Is this a possible Pace upsetter? Alagna: “He’s a little bit of a sleeper. He showed a lot of ability last year. He wasn’t himself earlier in the year so we made some adjustments. As far as the Pace goes, we are on the bubble.”Last Race: 6/23 – M1 – NW2/3 – 1st (1:49.1) |
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5/5 |
PA Sire Stakes
|
Mea
|
THIS IS THE PLAN |
C. Ryder |
D. Palone |
BABES DIG ME |
Record Machine |
1:53 |
|
PA Sire Stakes
|
Mea
|
DORSODURO HANOVER |
R. Burke |
J. Pantaleano |
Wes Delight |
CAPTAIN DEO |
1:50.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5/19 |
PA Sire Stakes |
PcD |
I’M A BIG DEAL |
C. Ryder |
G. Napolitano Jr. |
GRAND TETON |
Whos Better |
1:50.2 |
|
PA Sire Stakes |
PcD |
DORSODURO HANOVER |
R. Burke |
M. Kakaley |
THIS IS THE PLAN |
PRO BEACH |
1:50.1 |
|
PA Sire Stakes |
PcD
|
Wes Delight |
M. Harder |
C. Callahan |
LOST IN TIME |
STAY HUNGRY |
1:50.4 |
5/20 |
OnSS Gold |
Flm |
Backstreet Shadow |
R. McNair |
D. McNair |
St Lads Neptune |
Wind Blast |
1:52.3 |
|
OnSS Gold |
Flm |
Western Passage |
C. Coleman |
D. McNair |
Levis Day |
SHADOW MOON |
1:53.4 |
5/26 |
Art Rooney Final |
YR |
Trump Nation |
C. Oakes |
J. Bartlett |
Minnie Vinnie |
BABES DIG ME |
1:51.3 |
5/28 |
NYSS |
VD 1 |
Courtly Choice |
B. MacIntosh |
D. Miller |
Hitman Hill |
Real Surreal |
1:48.4 |
|
NYSS |
VD |
AMERICAN HISTORY |
T. Alagna |
Y. Gingras |
Rock Lights |
Heavenly Sound |
1:49.1 |
|
NYSS |
VD |
My Delight |
H. Hochstetler |
M. Miller |
Lyons Steel |
Ostro Hanover |
1:49.4 |
6/1 |
NJSS Final |
M1 |
Melanie’s Fran |
K. Mc Dermott |
D. Miller |
Hypnotico |
– |
1:56.3 |
6/2 |
Somebeachsmwhere |
Moh |
Burning Midnight |
C. Giles |
T. Henry |
Simple Kinda Man |
GRAND TETON |
1:50.4 |
|
Somebeachsmwhere |
Moh |
Lather Up |
C. Francis |
M. Teague |
St Lads Neptune |
Scouts Report |
1:50.3 |
|
Somebeachsmwhere |
Moh |
Jimmy Freight |
R. Moreau |
L. Roy |
LOST IN TIME |
When You Dance |
1:50.2 |
6/9 |
NA Cup Elim |
Moh |
STAY HUNGRY |
T. Alagna |
D. McNair |
Done Well |
HAYDEN HANOVER |
1:50 |
|
NA Cup Elim |
Moh |
Wes Delight |
M. Harder |
C. Callahan |
NUTCRACKER SWEET |
AMERICAN HISTORY |
1:50.2 |
|
NA Cup Elim |
Moh |
Lather Up |
C. Francis |
M. Teague |
St Lads Neptune |
Hitman Hill |
1:49.2 |
6/10 |
NYSS |
Tioga |
Springsteen |
R. Allard |
D. Miller |
Real Surreal |
I Soar Him First |
1:51 |
|
NYSS |
Tioga |
Heavenly Sound |
B. Saunders |
A. McCarthy |
Ideal Feeling |
Trump Nation |
1:50.4 |
|
NYSS |
Tioga |
Keystone Tenacious |
P. Kelley |
M. MacDonald |
My Delight |
TWIN B TUFFENUFF |
1:52.1 |
6/16 |
NA Cup Final |
Moh |
Lather Up |
C. Francis |
M. Teague |
Done Well |
LOST IN TIME |
1:48.1 |
6/18 |
NYSS |
MR |
TOPVILLE OLYMPIAN |
D. Menary |
J. Stratton |
Mr Profeta |
TWIN B TUFFENUFF |
1:55 |
|
NYSS |
MR |
Ghost Dance |
E. Adams |
S. Zeron |
Rockapelo |
Ostro Hanover |
1:54.4 |
|
NYSS |
MR |
Rootin Tootin |
B. MacIntosh |
M. MacDonald |
Handsoffmychips |
My Delight |
1:53.4 |
6/23 |
OnSS Gold |
Moh |
Sharp Action Money |
M. Brethour |
S. Filion |
Sports Legend |
Taste Of History |
1:50.4 |
|
OnSS Gold |
Moh |
Jimmy Freight |
R. Moreau |
L. Roy |
St Lads Neptune |
Levis Day |
1:49.2 |
6/23 |
Hempt Elim |
PcD |
DORSODURO HANOVER |
R. Burke |
M. Kakaley |
Springsteen |
THIS IS THE PLAN |
1:49.4 |
|
Hempt Elim |
PcD |
Hitman Hill |
C. Oakes |
B. Miller |
Shnitzledosomethin |
STAY HUNGRY |
1:49.3 |
|
Hempt Elim |
PcD |
Lather Up |
C. Francis |
M. Teague |
NUTCRACKER SWEET |
Wes Delight |
1:49 |