Captain Crunch back to the top spot in Week 8 of Dave Little's "Road to the Crawford Farns Meadowlands Pace"

Captain Crunch has vaulted back to the top spot in Week 8 of Dave Little's "Road to the Crawford Farns Meadowlands Pace" after his stunning 1:47.2 score in the North America Cup. The "Big Three" of Crunch, Bettor's Wish and Workin Ona Mystery will all skip the Max Hempt to prepare for The Pace. #PaceYourself19

Rank	Horse (Earnings – Mark)	Driver, Trainer Owner(s)	Dave Little’s Comments
1	Captain Crunch ($1,050,806 – 1:47.2)	S. Zeron, N. Johansson 3 Brothers Stables, Christina Takter, Rojan Stables, Caviart Farms	Rebounded in a big way in the North America Cup Final after jumping a shadow the week before in his elimination, scoring impressively after leaving the gate, coming after favorite Workin Ona Mystery, then holding off Bettor’s Wish in a dazzling performance. Johansson: “I don’t think he’s ever come alongside a horse and not won. The mile did not take a lot out of him. After the race, he was in the paddock and he felt like he was the King of the World. We are skipping the Hempt to go to the Meadowlands Pace.” Last Race: 6/15 – WMP – North America Cup Final – 1st (1:47.2)
2	Bettor’s Wish ($639,556 – 1:49.3)	D. Dunn, C. Ryder Chris Ryder, Bella Racing, Fair Island Farm, Kenneth Solomon	Raced big but came up three-quarters-of-a-length short in his quest to stay unbeaten in five starts this year in a superb NA Cup effort. Ryder: “This horse is usually very relaxed but after the recall he got a little grabby in the race. I’m going to give him an easy week and get ready for the Meadowlands Pace.” Last Race: 6/15 – WMP – North America Cup Final – 2nd (1:47.3)
3	Workin Ona Mystery ($258,567 – 1:49)	T. Tetrick, B. Brown Diamond Creek Racing, Stambaugh Leeman Stable, Alan Keith, Wingfield Brothers	The 7-5 NA Cup favorite reached three-quarters on the point in 1:20 before settling for third, only his second career defeat in 10 starts. Brown: “He was really good. Tough trip. When you go for a million it ain’t going to be easy. We’ll try it again Meadowlands Pace night.” A rematch of the division’s Big Three is something worth looking forward to. Last Race: 6/15 – WMP – North America Cup Final – 3rd (1:47.3)
4	Best In Show ($96,163 – 1:50.3)	B. McClure, L. Toscano Richard P Young, Joanne Young, Craig W Henderson	Came close to getting the final check in The Cup, finishing sixth in 1:48.2 in just his ninth career start. Toscano: “He checked a little bit at the half. He was just getting a full head of steam and then got startled. Every week for this colt has been an education. We’ll go in the (Ontario Sire Stakes) Gold next Saturday then come back for the Meadowlands Pace.” Last Race: 6/15 – WMP – North America Cup Final – 6th (1:48.2)
5	Air Force Hanover ($209,638 – 1:50.1)	Y. Gingras, B. Brown Country Club Acres Inc., Joe Sbrocco, Richard M Lombardo, W J Donovan	Failed to qualify for the final, finished a respectable third in the consolation as the third choice to Century Farroh. Brown: “He couldn’t get all the way to the wire up there (at Mohawk). He showed some blood. He’s in the Hempt, and hopefully, we can control his bleeding with a higher dose of Lasix.” Last Race: 6/15 – WMP – North America Cup Consolation – 3rd (1:50)
6	Hurrikane Emperor ($325,400 – 1:49.3)	D. Dube, J. McDermott Jonathan Klee Racing, Kuhen Racing, Pegasis Investment Group, William Garofalo	It was not his night at The ‘Hawk, was never close in The Cup but did kick home in :27.1 – which was the second fastest final quarter in the race – to finish eighth. McDermott: “He just wasn’t comfortable in the NA Cup. He was rough-gaited but had tons of pace late. I’m changing his shoes and he drew well for the Hempt.”  Last Race: 6/15 – WMP – North America Cup Final – 8th (1:49.3)
7	De Los Cielos Deo ($217,758 – 1:48.4Q)	D. Miller, R. Burke Burke Racing Stable LLC, Lawrence R Karr, J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, Weaver Bruscemi LLC	He was a hot item at the windows, being sent to the gate as the 3-1 second choice in the wagering, but did not live up to that billing, finishing seventh in The Cup. Burke: “Hate to make excuses, but this horse did not do well after the recall. Maybe something scared him. Normally, he would be fine. We’ll skip the Hempt and go to the Meadowlands Pace.” Last Race: 6/15 – WMP – North America Cup Final – 7th (1:49.3)
8	Buddy Hill ($112,431 – 1:52)	J. Bartlett, M. Melander Tom Hill	Makes his first appearance in the Top 10 by registering a sharp win over Reigning Deo in 1:52 at Tioga for just his second lifetime victory. Melander: “We were very happy with him at Tioga. Tough half on a sloppy track. He’ll be at Yonkers next Thursday in the New York Sire Stakes. He’s staked to everything.” Last Race: 6/16 – TgD – New York Sire Stakes – 1st (1:52)
9	Caviart Rockland ($93,265 – 1:50.3)	Y. Gingras, N. Johansson Caviart Farms	Breaks into the Top 10 after finishing second in a nice try in the NA Cup Consolation after pacing home in :27. Johansson: “He raced super. Had the roles been reversed (racing from off the pace instead of on the lead) I think he would have gotten there. We have some options to get him a race before The Pace.” Last Race: 6/15 – WMP – North America Cup Consolation – 2nd (1:49.1)
10	Reigning Deo ($288,725 – 1:54.1Q)	A. McCarthy, B. Pelling Deo Volente Farms, Pelling Racing, Brian Gordon	Went a First-over trip on the way to a fourth-place finish in the New York Sire Stakes at Tioga in his last start. Pelling: “He just needs to be better. I need to back off and let him do his thing. He’s a sound, lovely horse but things have to go his way. He’ll race next Thursday at Yonkers.” Last Race: 6/16 – TgD – New York Sire Stakes – 4th (1:52.4)

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
5/4	Pa. Sire Stakes Pa. Sire Stakes Pa. Sire Stakes	Mea Mea Mea	Southwind Ozzi WORKIN ONA MYSTERY LOVE ME SOME LOU	B. Mac Kenzie B. Brown T. Cancelliere	T. Tetrick T. Tetrick D. Miller	PROOF Wild Wild Western Brassy Hanover	Prince Of Tides Captain Malicious CAPTAIN VICTORIOUS	1:50.4 1:50.1 1:50.4
5/11	Pa. All-Stars Pa. All-Stars Pa. All-Stars	PcD PcD PcD	BLOOD MONEY Branquinho AIR FORCE HANOVER	N. Johansson R. Schnittker B. Brown	S. Zeron T. Buter G. Napolitano, Jr.	ESCAPETOTHEBEACH LYONS NIGHT HAWK Highlandbeachlover	Brassy Hanover Warrawee Unique SUGAR FACTORY	1:50 1:50.1 1:50.1
5/13	NY Sire Stakes NY Sire Stakes NY Sire Stakes	MR MR MR	Hickfromfrenchlick Major March Rollwithpapajoe	R. Schnittker L. Toscano J. Bongiorno	M. MacDonald J. Bartlett T. Buter	American Mercury Major Blake REIGNING DEO	Stone Hanover Astaire Covered Bridge	1:55 1:55 1:56
5/17	NJ Sire Stakes	M1	HURRIKANE EMPEROR	J. McDermott	D. Dube	Clintock	Black Dan	1:53.2
5/18	Art Rooney Elim. Art Rooney Elim.	YR YR	AIR FORCE HANOVER BETTOR’S WISH	B. Brown C. Ryder	D. Miller D. Dunn	BUDDY HILL BLOOD MONEY	PRICE HANOVER Rollwithpapajoe	1:52.4 1:53.2
5/19	Pa. Sire Stakes Pa. Sire Stakes Pa. Sire Stakes	PcD PcD PcD	Wild Wild Western CAPTAIN CRUNCH WORKIN ONA MYSTERY	N. Parker N. Johansson B. Brown	M. Wilder S. Zeron T. Tetrick	CAVIART STETSON Southwind Ozzi LOVE ME SOME LOU	SEMI TOUGH PROOF Highlandbeachlover	1:52 1:49.1 1:49.3
5/24	NJ Sire Stakes	M1	HURRIKANE EMPEROR	J. McDermott	D. Dube	Black Dan	Clintock	1:52
5/25	Art Rooney Final	YR	BETTOR’S WISH	C. Ryder	D. Dunn	Branquinho	AIR FORCE HANOVER	1:51.4
5/26 5/26 5/26	NY Sire Stakes NY Sire Stakes NY Sire Stakes	Stga Stga Stga	Fromthestartagain American Mercury Shake That House	J. Grasso C. Oakes C. Oakes	J. Bartlett T. Buter T. Buter	REIGNING DEO Hickfromfrenchlick Stone Hanover	MELODIES MAJOR Major March Major Blake	1:53 1:52 1:51.3
5/26 5/26 5/26	Pa. Sire Stakes Pa. Sire Stakes Pa. Sire Stakes	Phl Phl Phl	Southwind Ozzi LYONS NIGHT HAWK CAPTAIN CRUNCH	B. Mac Kenzie G. Dowse N. Johansson	B. Sears T. Tetrick S. Zeron	Wild Wild Western Chaser Hanover Aflame Hanover	SEMI TOUGH ESCAPETOTHEBEACH Warrawee Unique	1:48.4 1:50 1:49.2
6/1 6/1	Somebeachsomewhr Somebeachsomewhr	WMP WMP	Century Farroh Tyga Hanover	I. Moore B. Baillergeon	S. Filion S. Filion	CAVIART ROCKLAND BEST IN SHOW	Better Up Stag Party	1:52.4 1:52.1
6/5	NY Sire Stakes	BR	American Mercury	C. Oakes	T. Buter	Major March	REIGNING DEO	1:52.4
6/8 6/8	NA Cup Elimination NA Cup Elimination	WMP WMP	BETTOR’S WISH WORKIN ONA MYSTERY	C. Ryder B. Brown	D. Dunn T. Tetrick	DE LOS CIELOS DEO CAPTAIN VICTORIOUS	BEST IN SHOW Stag Party	1:49.3 1:49
6/15	NA Cup Final	WMP	CAPTAIN CRUNCH	N. Johansson	S. Zeron	BETTOR’S WISH	WORKIN ONA MYSTERY	1:47.2
6/16 6/16 6/16	NY Sire Stakes NY Sire Stakes NY Sire Stakes	TgD TgD TgD	Hickfromfrenchlick BUDDY HILL Major March	R. Schnittker M. Melander L. Toscano	M. MacDonald J. Bartlett J. Bartlett	Respect Our Flag Artie’s Ideal Rollwithpapajoe	Major Blake LIVE LUCKY American Mercury	1:51.3 1:52 1:52.3