Dave Little's Road To the Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace Top 10 Week 8

There was no change in the top four of Dave Little's Road To The Meadowlands Pace after last week's North America Cup saw Lather Up (a Pace non-eligible who can supplement if he chooses to) take the hardware.

Rank	Horse	Driver, Trainer, Owner(s)	Dave Little’s Comments
1	Stay Hungry ($616,384 – 1:50)	D. McNair, T. Alagna B. Grant, I. Samelman	The trip worked out well in The Cup, but there was no explosiveness like there was the week before in his elim. Alagna: “I thought the trip was good but I was not thrilled with the way he raced. After the race, he did not have a clean scope, so I think he’ll bounce right back”. He’ll need to. He’s in the second of two Hempt Eliminations Saturday night at Pocono. Last Race: 6/16 – Wbsb – NA Cup Final – 4th (1:49)
2	Dorsoduro Hanover ($160,168 – 1:50.1)	M. Kakaley, R. Burke Burke Racing, Silva, Purnel & Libby, Weaver Bruscemi, Wingfield Five	Took the week off after finishing seventh in his Cup Elim. Burke: “His elim was a total disaster but everything seems fine with him and, hopefully, we can turn it around this week.” He’s drawn post 5 in Hempt Elim 1. Last Race: 6/9 – Wbsb – NA Cup Elim – 7th (1:51.1)
3	Lost In Time ($718,723 – 1:50.1)	S. Zeron, J. Takter Diamond Creek Racing, J&T Silva, W. Rufenacht, Ric Flair Stable	Was racing 10th at the half in The Cup before storming home to grab the show dough in a superb mile. Takter: “I thought he raced tremendous. It was impossible for him to win from that spot, especially when they are sprinting home like they did. We are taking the Hempt off to get ready for The Pace.” Last Race: 6/16 – Wbsb – NA Cup Final – 3rd (1:48.4)
4	This Is The Plan ($240,372 – 1:50.2)	T. Tetrick, C. Ryder C. Ryder, R. Mondillo	The plan was to skip The Cup and get ready for the Hempt (Elim 1, Post 1). Ryder: “I’m very happy with him. I think he’s on the Improve. The (four-week) layoff is to his advantage.” It is? How come? His trainer kidded: “Because I told you so!” Last Race: 5/28 – PcD – Pa All-Stars – 3rd (1:50.3)
5	Thinkbig Dreambig ($38,500 – 1:49.2)	Y. Gingras, J. Takter Brixton Medical Inc., J. Fielding, G. Anderberg, G. Falk	Takter talks about this colt like a dad would his favorite son: “I love him. That’s why I keep driving him. He raced so well at Pocono (on June 11, when he won in 1:51). He’s so professional. As far as The Pace, we just don’t know yet if he will be there.” The son of Bettor’s Delight followed up that June 11 score with another nine days later. Why wouldn’t Takter love him? Last Race: 6/20 – Phl – NW3 – 1st (1:52.2)
6	Nutcracker Sweet ($190,582 – 1:50.2)	D. Miller, J. Takter H. Taylor, Order By Stable, R. Lombardo	Had to rough it first-over in 1:21.3 to three-quarters in The Cup, ended up sixth after being done in by a bad trip. Takter: “I thought he went a helluva race. He had to go four-wide into the first turn. Turning for home, he was side-by-side with the winner (Lather Up). Given the trip he went, he lost seven or eight lengths.” He’s In Hempt Elim 3 from post 4. Last Race: 6/16 – Wbsb – NA Cup Final – 6th (1:49.2)
7	Babes Dig Me ($121,697 – 1:52.3Q)	B. Miller, T. Alagna B.J. Grant, J. Sbrocco, J. Leblanc, In The Gym Partners	Nice rebound after a sixth-place finish in his elim, rallying to get second in The Cup Consolation. Alagna: “He showed up and was really good. He’s in a tough division (Post 2 in Elim 3) in the Hempt and will have to bring his “A” game.” Off a nice try, maybe that’s exactly what he’ll have on tap. Last Race: 6/16 – Wbsb – NA Cup Consolation – 2nd (1:50)
8	American History ($94,243 – 1:49.1)	Y. Gingras, T. Alagna Brittany Farms, M. Katz, American History Racing	Never saw the rail, ended up in a third-over flow and was never in contention in the Cup. Alagna: “That was a total clunker. There was really no reason why. He scoped a little bit of mucus but I figured there would have been more given how he did. We’ll race him in an overnight at the Meadowlands next week, and if all goes as it should, he will be in The Pace.” Last Race: 6/16 – Wbsb – NA Cup Final – 10th (1:50.3)
9	Captain Deo ($28,867 – 1:50.2)	D. McNair, T. Alagna Alagna 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. Alagna: “He raced really good, he was just a little too far back. He’ll go in an overnight next week and then it’s off to the Meadowlands Pace.” Last Race: 6/16 – Wbsb – NA Cup Consolation – 5th (1:50.3)
10	I’m A Big Deal ($110,344 – 1:50.2)	G. Napolitano Jr., C. Ryder C. Henderson, R. Mondillo, C. Ryder	The other RTTMP member from the Ryder barn who also did not participate in the Cup. Opted to get a race by facing older foes at the Big M, which resulted in a sixth-place finish. Ryder: “The positive was that he got a tightener. He’s not a good closer, so I’m hoping he gets to the top at Pocono.” He’s in Elim 2, post 5. Last Race: 6/16 – M1 – NW$11,500 – 6th (1:51)

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