Roll With Joe takes the 34th Meadowlands Pace; ‘Peelers’ Makes it 20

Roll With Joe won the 34^th $1-million Meadowlands Pace, with Big Jim closing for second, Wink N Atcha moving in third and Foreclosure N found his way through for fourth.

Custard The Dragon was the pacesetter, with Roll With Joe sitting in second and Wink N Atcha stalked third. “Joe” came first-over by the five-eighths and “Wink” was following Joe. Big Jim started his late pace three-wide in fifth. Feel Like A Fool circled wide with Powerful Mist. It was anybody’s race in the stretch.

“Custard” was passed by Joe, Wink and “Jim.” Joe was starting to draw off and Jim was wide, charging after Joe. At the line, Joe held on by a neck, with Jim finishing second and Wink finished third. The mile time was 1:48.2.

Roll With Joe is owned by Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc., Stephen Demeter, Not To Worry Stable and Winbak Farm, trained by Edward Hart and driven by Ron Pierce. Roll With Joe is by Cam’s Card Shark, out of the mare Classic Wish by Armbro Emerson. He is a full brother to Bettor’s Delight, who finished second in the 2001 Meadowlands Pace to Real Desire.

Pierce picked up the drive for the Ed Hart trained Roll With Joe, after Brian Sears opted off and took Feel Like A Fool (finished seventh).

"Several people called me up and told me that this colt can really go," Pierce said.  "He was better than everybody thought he was, I can tell you that.  He was as slick as they come.  I'm telling you, he really felt super.

Roll With Joe now stands with five wins out of 15 starts. This was Ed Hart’s first appearance in the Pace and he made it a winning one.

"He had an excellent week, trained good," Hart said.  "[Ron] Pierce drove him super.  He put him in the race and he had real confidence in him.  I'm just thrilled.  I've been at the Meadowlands my whole life.  To win this race, I can't believe it!"

See You At Peelers made it 20 for 20 in the $127,000 Tarport Hap stakes at the Meadowlands in a 1:51 mile. Idyllic finished second and What’s New Pussycat was third.

“Peelers” worked for the top, clearing at the three-eighths. Krispy Apple, after pacing three-wide around the clubhouse turn, challenged Peelers and took command at three-quarters. “Krispy” quit down the stretch, while Idyllic came chasing Peelers. “Pussycat” started her close at the 3/16th pole. Idyllic came out in the final 1/8th and went off stride. Peelers was home free at the line, with Idyllic regaining stride and finishing second and Pussycat, with a final quarter of 26.3, finished third. 

"They took some good shots at her tonight," Sears said.  "Timmy's horse [Tetrick and Krispy Apple] looked like she wanted to pull up on the last turn.  Then Dave [Miller and Idyllic] came at her strong and just happened to go off stride.  She was pacing hard to the wire, so I've got no complaints.  She's a hell of a mare and they've been doing a great job with her."

See You At Peelers is trained by Jimmy Takter and was driven by Brian Sears. Peelers career earnings hit $1,287,539.

"This was basically all the top fillies in one spot," Takter said.  "I knew it wouldn't be easy.  She had to work hard to get to the half and she worked it out.  I was a little surprised when Tim came on the outside.

"It looks like [her next start] could be at Yonkers , 10 or 11 days from now," Takter said.  "It's nice to continue the winning streak.  It's good for the sport.  It's nice to have a filly like this who is cheered on by the crowd."