"Well Done Well Said", The Lucky Jim Parade Rolls On

What is there to say about last night's Meadowlands Pace? This was perhaps the most dominating effort ever seen in the Meadowlands Pace. For Well Said, it was more like a time trial; the others were racing for second. After floating on the outside to let the field settle down, Well said easily got to the lead. Once he reached the lead, it was a race against the clock.

The fractions for the race were amazing: 26.1 53.4 1:20.2 1:47.3. Other than one crack of the whip against the wheel disc in the stretch (Well Said has a habit of slowing down to wait for the other horses) Well Said did this all on his own without urging. If this race was held on Hambo Day, Well Said would probably be waking up as the fastest pacer of all time.




Some people are claiming Well Said is better than Somebeachsomewhere based on his Meadowlands Pace victory (something SBSW did not do). While Well Said appears to be at a peak right now, there is no comparison; Somebeachsomewhere and Niatross are in a league of their own. Each of them were undefeated as 2 year olds and Niatross lost two races as a three year old (once he fell over the rail) with Somebeachsomewhere losing only one race. Well Said won four starts of twelve starts as a two year old. In addition, Niatross and SBSW dominated on all size tracks; Well Said has not raced on the half mile track. Let's just enjoy this super horse for what he is.

Last night was the first time there was not a Meadowlands Pace consolation race as not enough elimination entrants entered. Instead, a $50,000 three year old open was carded. No, the lack of a consolation race is not a sign of the ongoing problems with getting horses to race at the Meadowlands, it is due to the Adios eliminations being raced this week. The Adios which traditionally been raced the second week of August has been moved up due to the Hambletonian final being moved.

Lost in the Meadowlands Pace frenzy is the amazing fifteen race win streak by Lucky Jim. Lucky Jim won an elimination of the Maple Leaf Trot last night at Mohawk Raceway in 1:51.4. This was the fastest of the three eliminations raced. It will be interesting to see how Lucky Jim does next week in the final as he will be racing against Copenhagen Cup victor Triton Sund who finished second in his elimination. Being this was Triton Sund's first start after being in quarantine I expect him to be a threat next week. This promises to be an exciting race. Make sure to catch the final next week.

Here is Triton Sund's effort in the Copenhagen Cup:

Meadowlands Pace Preview

Tomorrow night is the Meadowlands Pace. Being it is the only stake race on the program here is an expanded review of the race.

1 - Schoolkids (20-1) - Appears to be over matched.
2 - Ideal Danny (10-1) - Just a step below the top tier, consider for trifectas and superfectas.
3 - Well Said (6-5) - The horse to beat. No value.
4 - Hypnotic Blue Chip (4-1) - Regaining early season form. May land significant share of purse.
5 - Vintage Master (10-1) - Can shock if suicide duel up front.
6 - Art Colony (5-1) - Second best in field.
7 - Arctic Warrior (15-1) - Was beaten before equipment break in elimination. Pass.
8 - Chasin Racin (15-1) - Minor spoils
9 - If I Can Dream (12-1) - Is dreaming from this post.
10 - Pair a Dice (20-1) - Took dq to qualify. First one to toss out when making your picks.


Being that Well Said is going to be odds on, I will pass on betting him to win. With a million dollar purse up for grabs, I am hoping for someone to pull a suicide move like in last year's Pace where Bullville Powerful was driven with instructions to go to the front no matter what in a suicide move that cost Somebeachsomewhere the win. However, it must be noted most times this does not occur as a suicide move usually costs you any part of the purse (remember 5th place pays $50,000). That being said, I will take a chance with my upset special, Vintage Master to win, realizing there is a good chance the wager will be a throw away.

If the race goes the way it should run without suicide moves, the top four should be (3) Well Said, (6) Art Colony, (4) Hypnotic Blue Chip and (7) Arctic Warrior. The winning time will be in 1:48 flat.

As to how bad things are going at the Meadowlands this year, even with offering a 25% NJOS Preferred bonus on all the overnight races, out of the thirteen races on the card, six races go with less than ten starters (one with seven; two with eight and three with nine). In addition, the card has a nw6200L6 race as well as one 20,000 and two 25,000 claiming races; races you never would have seen on a Saturday night in the past. Some may argue the Miller and Dancer Memorials should have been put on the same card but that would have distracted attention from the Meadowlands Pace. All in all, kudos to management for doing all they can to put on a quality betting card.

All in all with the stake races on Friday and Saturday night, the Meadowlands once again is the center of harness racing in North America for the weekend.

Meadowlands Saturday Night

Here is a quick look at the two eliminations for the Meadowlands Pace and the William R. Haughton Memorial Pace:

8th Race - $688,000 William R. Haughton Memorial Pace Final
#4 - Bettor Sweet (5-1)
#6 - Mister Big (9-5)
#3 - Won the West (6-1)

My pick here is Bettor Sweet. While he finished sixth in the prep, that was his first pari-mutuel start since the Classic Final at Mohwak on June 13th which he won. While he finished 6th last week, his last quarter was in 26.3. I expect improvement this week and with a 5-1 morning line, he may be the bet here. Mister Big has made only three starts this year, and he finished a fast closing third in the prep. Being Mister Big is famous for coming up big in finals, he can't be ignored. That being said, I expect him to be over bet. Won the West shocked the field last week to win in 1:48.4 at 29-1. While he must be respected, I don't expect him to be able to repeat.

5th Race - Meadowlands Pace - 1st Elimination ($50,000). Top five advance to the final next week.

#6 Well Said (6-5)
#5 Art Colony (4-1)
#1 Vintage Master (6-1)

Well Said won two in a row including the $1.5 million (C) North America Cup in 1:48.1 with a 25.4 last quarter last week. He is at the top of his game. However, at 6-5 he may very well be over bet. Art Colony followed Well Said last week to finish second in the NA Cup. At 4-1 there may be some value for him. Vintage Master is the upset possibility. While his last start was a victory in nw2cd, he finished an amazing fourth (2.5 lengths back) in his elimination of the North America Cup after breaking at the start and being distanced at the 1/4 pole. Finishing second in the NJ Classic and NJSS Final, he shows the ability to compete here. If you get any price for Vintage Master, you need to seriously consider giving him a play. Lisagain and Barber Pole can qualify for next week's final.


7th Race - Meadowlands Pace - 2nd Elimination ($50,000) - Top five finishers advance to the final next week.

#3 If I Can Dream (7-2)
#9 Arctic Warrior (9-2)
#4 - Straight Shooting (8-1)

This appears to to be the weaker of the two elimination races. If I Can Dream folded in the North America Cup final to finish 6th. As the winner of his elimination and the Art Rooney Final, If I Can Dream may have the class to win this race. However, you need to be sure you get value to bet him. Arctic Warrior won last start in the first consolation of the NA Cup in 1:49.3. He finished a respectable third to If I Can Dream in their NA Cup elimination. Can be a major contender here. Straight Shooting does not seem to be one that can win, but has enough talent where he should be included in the exotics. Passmaster Hanover was scratched injured in the Jersey Cup but before then was good. The main goal is to get him qualified to the final. Hypnotic Blue Chip was a monster earlier in the year before breaking on the lead in the Rooney Final. He has not been right since but if he gets straightened out he may be in next week's final.


I have not made a secret of my dislike of eliminations in these type of races. While drivers will be trying to win the race, they will be more concerned with making sure they finish in the top five in their elimination so they have a chance at the million dollar final. My personal preference would be for the top ten money earners getting to race in the final with the next ten horses qualifying for a consolation race. If the Meadowlands Pace field was drawn based on lifetime earnings, these would be the horses starting in the Pace.

Top 10 Money Earners Eligible for the Meadowlands Pace (listed in order of lifetime earnings):

#1 -Well Said ($1,273,808)
#2 - Art Colony ($750,340)
#3 - If I Can Dream ($478,645)
#4 - Vintage Master ($305,690)
#5 - Passmaster Hanover ($283,409)
#6 - Hypnotic Blue Chip ($256,720)
#7 - Straight Shooting ($250,640)
#8 - Chasin Racin ($242,826)
#9 - Arctic Warrior ($235,294)
#10 - Schoolkids ($232,235)

A race like this would be a better betting race than the two eliminations and the final will likely be.

Best of luck to you with your selections.