Captain Crunch No. 1 in Dave Litte's Week 1 "Road to the Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace"

Breeders Crown champion Captain Crunch has been ranked No. 1 by Dave Little in the first 2019 edition of the "Road to the Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace". The Big M's marquee event for 3-year-olds on the pace takes place July 13. #PaceYourself19

ROAD TO THE MEADOWLANDS PACE

Week 1

The Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace – Saturday, July 13

Rank	Horse (Earnings – Mark)	Driver, Trainer Owner(s)	Dave Little’s Comments
1	Captain Crunch ($616,113 – 1:49.1)	S. Zeron, N. Johansson 3 Brothers Stables, Christina Takter, Rojan Stables, Caviart Farms	Last year’s divisional champion – who finished 2018 with wins in the Breeders Crown and Governor’s Cup – qualified a week ago Saturday in 1:50.1. Johansson: “He’s doing well. He will qualify at the Meadowlands Saturday and from there, should be ready to start racing. His first start will be in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes on May 19.” Last Race: 4/20 – M1 – Qualifier – 1st (1:50.1)
2	Proof ($436,435 – 1:51)	D. Miller, B. Brown Diamond Creek Racing	Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion from a year ago now has two qualifiers under his belt, the most recent was a 1:51.3 clocking at Ohio’s Miami Valley Raceway. Brown: “He came back great after his second qualifier. Either The Pennsylvania All-Stars or Sire Stakes is next.” Last Race: 4/24 – MVR – Qualifier – 1st (1:51.3)
3	Blood Money ($357,244 – 1:50)	S. Zeron, N. Johansson Diamond Creek Racing	His debut Saturday must be seen to be believed. Circled up from eighth at three-quarters to fly home and record a 2-length score in a lifetime best 1:50 at the Meadowlands. Johansson: “I told Scott to take him off the gate and see what you can pick up. I could not have been any more pleased. He trained super Wednesday morning. He’ll be in the Pennsylvania All-Stars on May 11 at Pocono.” Last Race: 4/27 – M1 – Non-Winners of 6 – 1st (1:50)
4	Bronx Seelster ($294,505 – 1:51.2)	W. McGean, L. Roy Capers 3 Stable	First appearance of the year was in a Monday qualifier at Woodbine Mohawk Park, a race that he won in 1:55 with a :26.3 kicker. HIs big win last year was in the Battle of Waterloo at Grand River Raceway. McGean: “He’s doing alright. He qualified in (1):55 on a cold, windy day. Unless I can find a spot for him his first race will be in the Ontario Sire Stakes on May 25.”  Last Race: 4/29 – WMP – Qualifier – 1st (1:55)
5	Semi Tough ($295,656 – 1:51.1)	M. Kakaley, R. Burke Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby, Weaver Bruscemi	Made a big move to the top at the half but eventually settled for second in his seasonal debut a week ago Monday at Pocono Downs as the 1-9 favorite. Burke: “I was disappointed in his effort but his blood came back not good so I’m not surprised. We’re going to try and get him turned around soon.” Has drawn post 8 for his next start, which is Saturday at the Meadows in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes. Last Race: 4/22 – PcD – Non-Winners of 2 – 2nd (1:53.1)
6	Bettor’s Wish ($282,056 – 1:51.1)	D. Dunn, C. Ryder Chris Ryder, Bella Racing, Fair Island Farm, Kenneth Solomon	Came from just off the pace to win at Yonkers in 1:52 as the 3-5 public choice in his 2019 debut. Started 12 times at 2, winning 5 and hitting the board 11 times. Ryder: “Monday night at Yonkers he won in hand. I’m very happy with him. We’ll qualify next and then go in the Rooney.” Last Race: 4/29 – YR – Non-Winners of 6 – 1st (1:52)
7	Reigning Deo ($243,163 – 1:54.1Q)	A. McCarthy, B. Pelling Deo Volente Farms, Pelling Racing, Brian Gordon	Has qualified twice thus far in 2019, both at Philadelphia. The most recent “Q” was a blowout 7¼-length romp in 1:54.1 around the 5/8ths-mile oval. Biggest win of 2018 was an off-the-pace score in the $225,000 New York Sire Stakes final in 1:54.4 at Yonkers. Pelling: “He’s a beautiful, good-gaited horse. He’s racing Sunday in an overnight at Philadelphia, then on to the New York Sire Stakes. We are going to skip the North America Cup to be ready for the Meadowlands Pace.” Last Race: 4/30 – Phl – Qualifier – 1st (1:54.1)
8	Hurrikane Emperor ($226,900 – 1:49.3)	D. Dube, J. McDermott Jonathan Klee Racing, Kuhen Racing, Pegasis Investment Group, William Garofalo	Won 7 of 9 starts as a 2-year-old, including the $250,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes final in 1:49.3, when he went wire to wire and kicked home in :27. McDermott: “He’s doing super. We’ll qualify at the Meadowlands Saturday and then use the New Jersey Sire Stakes to prep him for the North America Cup. It’s a nice setup.” The NJSS kicks off on May 17. Last Race: 10/6/18 – Fhld – Homegrown – 1st (1:55.1)
9	Melodies Major ($222,683 – 1:51.3)	S. Zeron, M. Ford Martin Scharf	His first appearance of the year was a winning qualifier at Yonkers in 1:56.4 before a 4th-place finish in a “Q” at Pocono. He then qualified again Wednesday. Was a major New York Sire Stakes player a year ago, winning 6 times in 9 starts racing exclusively on the circuit. Finished a tough-trip second in the final as the 3-5 choice. Ford: “He qualified well Wednesday. We’ve been bringing him back slow. We will be heading for the Rooney or Somebeachsomewhere.” Last Race: 5/1 – PcD – Qualifier – 1st (1:53)
10	Workin Ona Mystery ($100,400 – 1:49.3)	T. Tetrick, B. Brown Diamond Creek Racing, Stambaugh Leeman Stable, Alan Keith, Wingfield Brothers	When his 2018 got underway late (Aug. 29), he got right down to business with five straight wins before finishing 6th in his Breeders Crown Elimination. Has qualified twice this year at Miami Valley. In the most recent, he stopped the clock in 1:51.4 with a :26.4 kicker. First pari-mutuel start of 2019 is Derby Day in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at the Meadows. Brown: “He has big ability. He had a late start last year because of a bad foot and he bled in his Breeders Crown elim or he would made the final. We are planning on the North America Cup and Meadowlands Pace.” Last Race: 4/24 – MVR – Qualifier – 1st (1:51.4)