Bettor's Wish moved up to No. 2 in Week 5 of Dave Little's
"Road to the Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace" on the strength of a
big win at Yonkers in the Rooney and Air Force Hanover (No. 8) and Best In Show
(No. 9) cracked into the Top 10 off good performances, but they are all still
chasing Captain Crunch, who won for fun on Sunday, and maintained his stranglehold
atop the poll. #Paceyourself19
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Rank
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Horse
(Earnings – Mark)
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Driver, Trainer
Owner(s)
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Dave Little’s Comments
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1
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Captain Crunch
($673,931 – 1:49.1)
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S. Zeron, N. Johansson
3 Brothers Stables, Christina Takter,
Rojan Stables, Caviart Farms
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Stayed perfect in two starts this year
after a dominant 4-length score at Philadelphia Sunday as the 1-20 favorite.
Johansson: “He was very good. We still haven’t pulled his plugs this year.
Right now, I couldn’t be any more pleased.” Crunch will take the week off and
then go in the North America Cup.
Last Race: 5/26 – Phl – Pennsylvania Sire Stakes – 1st
(1:49.2)
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2
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Bettor’s Wish
($452,056 – 1:51.1)
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D. Dunn, C. Ryder
Chris Ryder, Bella Racing, Fair Island
Farm, Kenneth Solomon
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Giant mile in the Rooney Final Saturday
resulted in a 6-length score as the 4-5 public choice. Bettor’s Delight
product is now 3-for-3 this year. Ryder: “I was thrilled. I tried not to
think about the fact that we had to leave from the outside but I was OK with
the pocket trip. Dexter (Dunn) has done real well, I give him no instruction
at all. Bettor’s Wish will go next in the North America Cup Eliminations in
two weeks.”
Last Race: 5/25 – YR – Rooney Final – 1st
(1:51.4)
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3
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Workin Ona
Mystery
($158,817 – 1:49.3)
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T. Tetrick, B. Brown
Diamond Creek Racing, Stambaugh Leeman
Stable, Alan Keith, Wingfield Brothers
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Took last week off after drawing away
from his foes by almost 5 lengths in an eye-popping 1:49.3 over the off-going
at Pocono two Sundays ago. Brown: “We skipped the last sire stake because we
didn’t want to ship. He qualified well Wednesday at Hoosier in 1:52.3. If we
do well enough in the other races, I am not going to worry about the fact
that we may not have enough points for the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Final.
The NA Cup is next.”
Last Race: 5/19 – PcD – Pennsylvania Sire Stakes – 1st
(1:49.3)
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4
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Hurrikane Emperor
($248,900 – 1:49.3)
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D. Dube, J. McDermott
Jonathan Klee Racing, Kuhen Racing,
Pegasis Investment Group, William Garofalo
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Like the week before, the Emperor put a
royal beating on three overmatched foes in New Jersey Sire Stakes action on
Friday, hitting the finish 26½ lengths to the good. Will facing horses this
inferior prepare him for the road ahead? McDermott: “I was really happy with
him last Friday. I told Danny (Dube) to race him for half a mile. I expect
him to go faster this Friday in the NJSS Final, but the clock is not that
important to me. He is plenty fit.”
Last Race: 5/24 – M1 – New Jersey Sire Stakes – 1st (1:52)
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5
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Blood Money
($397,244 – 1:50)
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S. Zeron, N. Johansson
Diamond Creek Racing
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Was used hard early in the Rooney Final
before giving way through the stretch, finishing a tired fifth as the second
choice in the wagering. Johansson: “Going four-wide through the first turn
got to him a little bit. We had to give it a shot. He’s probably more of a
big-track type of horse. He trained super Wednesday. He’s in next in the NA
Cup.”
Last Race: 5/25 – YR – Rooney Final – 5th (1:53.1)
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6
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Love Me Some Lou
($205,099 – 1:50.4)
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D. Miller, T. Cancelliere
J. Cancelliere
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Took last week off after continuing his
solid season with a second-place finish at the hands of Workin Ona Mystery
after leaving quickly from post 8 and going an inside trip the rest of the
way at Pocono. The plan calls for another week off before going back to the
races.
Last Race: 5/19 – PcD – Pennsylvania Sire Stakes – 2nd
(1:50.3)
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7
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Reigning Deo
($271,413 – 1:54.1Q)
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A. McCarthy, B. Pelling
Deo Volente Farms, Pelling Racing, Brian
Gordon
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Upped his seasonal stats to three
second-place finishes in three starts after missing a neck while closing late
at Saratoga after going a three-hole trip. Pelling: “He was just OK at
Saratoga. I expected him to win by a neck but he lost by a head. He’s racing
on half-mile tracks but he’s better off a helmet. I’m going to race him
Wednesday at Buffalo (in the New York Sire Stakes).”
Last Race: 5/26 – Stga – New York Sire Stakes – 2nd (1:53)
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8
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Air Force Hanover
($305,566 – 1:51.1)
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D. Miller, B. Brown
Country Club Acres Inc.,
Joe Sbrocco, Richard M Lombardo,
W J Donovan
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Rallied well to get third in the Rooney
Final after winning his elimination the week before. Brown: “I was surprised
at how well he raced. He was three- and four-wide in that last turn. I’m very
happy with him. The NA Cup is next.”
Last Race: 5/25 – YR – Rooney Final – 3rd (1:53)
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9
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Best In Show
($69,363 – 1:50.3)
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B. McClure, L. Toscano
Richard P Young, Joanne Young,
Craig W Henderson
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Lightly raced son of Bettor’s Delight
defeated Bronx Seelster and Stag Party at Mohawk Park in Ontario Sire Stakes
Gold action, earning him a spot in the Top 10 despite having started only six
times in his career. Toscano: “He acted like a nice colt last year but came
up a little sore late in the season. He’s come back good. What was
encouraging to me was, when Bronx Seelster came to him, he fought him off.
He’s in the Somebeachsomewhere.”
Last Race: 5/25 – WMP – Ontario Sire Stakes Gold – 1st
(1:50.3)
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10
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Bronx Seelster
($314,633 – 1:51.2)
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T. Henry, W. McGean
Capers 3 Stable
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Did good things in his seasonal debut,
finishing second in Ontario Sire Stakes Gold action at Mohawk Park. McGean:
“He raced awesome. That was the fastest mile he ever went in his life. I was
kind of surprised. He’ll go in the Somebeachsomewhere on Saturday.”
Last Race: 5/25 – WMP – Ontario Sire Stakes Gold – 2nd
(1:50.4)
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