Field for the $1-million Meadowlands Pace made official

On Tuesday, July 12, the field for the 34^th $1-million Meadowlands Pace was drawn, with a field of 10 going behind the gate.

Having two colts in the final last year, trainer George Teague Jr. is in pursuit of his second “Pace” victory, bringing three horses to the final. They are Custard The Dragon, Feel Like A Fool and Wink N Atcha. Elimination-winner Custard The Dragon, being driven by George’s son Montrell Teague, is listed as the 4-1 co-favorite. “Custard” won his elim going wire-to-wire in a 1:50.2 mile at 11-1. Custard has won seven of 13 starts lifetime and has earned $551,667. Driver Montrell Teague is looking to become the youngest driver to win the race at the age of 20 years old. Custard The Dragon is owned by Ted Gewertz, R. Feldman, Fannin Racing and George Teague, Jr.

Elimination-winner Big Jim rebounded after a third-place finish in the North America Cup. “Jim” won his first start of his three-year-old campaign at the Meadowlands in the New Jersey Classic prep. He won his elim by ¾ lengths. Big Jim is owned by James Carr and is trained by James Dean. James will be looking for his first Pace win, along with Phil Hudon.

Runner-up to Big Jim, Powerful Mist, has shown talent this year. He moved to late in his Pace elim and was second to Big Jim. Trained by Melvin Wayne Givens, this colt has won 14 of 26 starts and has earned $424,277.

The late-blooming Foreclosure N finished second to Custard The Dragon in the Pace elim. He beat older horses at Mohawk in a preferred event. Trainer Mark Steacy is known for the horses Hana Hanover, Stylish Artist and Majestic Art. Foreclosure stalked the pace and finished second in his elim.

Looking for redemption is trainer Casie Coleman after a seventh-place finish last year with Sportswriter. She returns with Betterthancheddar. “Cheddar” was expected to make the North America Cup Final but finished fifth in his elimination. He finished fifth in the consolation also. In his elim, he made a first-over move after Big Jim and ended up third.

Also blooming late is Bestofbest Hanover. He was victorious in the North America Cup consolation, beating Pace elim-winner Custard The Dragon and Pace contender Betterthancheddar. In his North America Cup elim he came closing hard but came up a bit short in the stretch, finishing fourth. He also won a division of the Somebeachsomewhere stakes at Mohawk. Bestofbest Hanover has won seven of 13 starts and has earned $137,695.

Here is the field for the 34^th edition of the $1-million Meadowlands Pace

PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Odds

1 Westwardho Hanover-Jody Jamieson-Timothy Pinske-15-1

2 Big Jim-Phillip Hudon-James “Friday” Dean-2-1

3 Custard The Dragon-Montrell Teague-George Teague Jr.-4-1

4 Feel Like A Fool-Brian Sears-George Teague Jr.-12-1

5 Wink N Atcha-Yannick Gingras-George Teague Jr.-15-1

6 Powerful Mist-Andy Miller-Melvyn Wayne Givens-5-1

7 Betterthancheddar-David Miller-Casie Coleman-10-1

8 Roll With Joe-Brian Sears-Edward Hart-6-1

9 Bestofbest Hanover-Mike Lachance-Daniel Martin-10-1

10 Foreclosure N-Tim Tetrick-Mark Steacy-15-1

In the Meadowlands Pace Final, Big Jim will be the heavy favorite. But seeing as he narrowly held on in his elimination, Powerful Mist will be the outsider. He sat far back and came roaring on the outside but ran out of stretch, giving the victory to Big Jim. The Pace this year is full of speed and Bestofbest Hanover made a huge move from the back to finishing fifth. The speed in this race may tire out some of the horses and set up for “Bestofbest.”