Connections hope Brandon Blvd intersects with the Meadowlands Pace winner’s circle
by Debbie Little
When you’re installed as the 3-5 morning-line favorite for one of the richest purses in the sport, you’re expected to win.
That’s the position that owners Punisher 11 Stable LLC find themselves in with their colt Brandon Blvd for the Grade 1, $810,000 Meadowlands Pace tomorrow night (July 11) at The Meadowlands.
The 3-year-old open pace, presented by Genova Burns LLC, would be the biggest win for the combined ownership of Bill Pollock, Bruce Areman, and Andrew Harris, now known collectively as Punisher 11.
“I thought that would be better and easier [going in as the favorite] — wrong, it’s harder,” Pollock said. “If ‘Brandon’ goes in not as the favorite and we don’t win, all right, we didn’t win, we gave it a good shot. But when you’re the overwhelming favorite, which maybe we will be, and you lose, it’s ‘Man, what happened? What did you do?’ You know, it’s a whole new ball game.”
As a 13-time All-American softball player, Pollock knows quite a bit about competing and winning, and it’s from his competition days and his jersey number where their stable gets its name.
“Our softball team went 132-13 one year traveling the country,” he said. “Everybody was big, everybody was strong, everybody had nicknames hitting home runs, so I was ‘The Punisher.’”
Pollock was brought into the sport a few years ago by his longtime friend Areman.
“He’s learned a lot in the last three years,” Areman said. “He loves the business. Somebody like him is just a gem for this business.
“I would be so happy for this horse to win, because it’s everything for him. He wants that big horse. He’s always wanted that big horse, but to have it come with one that we bought as a baby, and you know, that Andrew developed, would be pretty cool.
“He’s an exceptional horse, he really is. Andrew always says he’s just a great athlete.”
The Punisher Posse purchased the son of Downbytheseaside—Alexis Faith, sold under the name Wayne Harvey, at the 2024 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale for $425,000.
“When I bought him, I loved this horse,” Harris said. “He was the one horse I had circled in the book, like, ‘We have to walk away with that horse’… I didn’t love his name when I bought him. Actually, I hated his name when I bought him.
“When I was working for [trainer] Casie [Coleman], I had Alexis Faith and she was a freak of a mare… So, breeding side, I was like, this is a home run right here, and then when I saw the colt himself, a big, good-looking strapping colt with a super bright eye, sharp animal, and I wasn’t the only one that saw this. This was one of the most expensive pacing yearlings at that sale. Everybody saw what I saw… he just looked the part.”
Harris had the name Brandon Blvd in mind because it’s the street where Pollock and several members of his family live.
“I think that the best horses that I have been around always have a cool story behind them, and I don’t know what it is, but you can find a lot of champions that have a cool story behind their name,” Harris said. “So, I’d always had it in my head that when we got a good one, we’ve got to name it something cool, and you know, seeing that almost their whole family lives on that road, that road means a lot to them. So, I was like, ‘When we get the right one, we’re going to name him Brandon,’ and he was just the one that seemed to fit the bill.”
Harris has adopted a simple philosophy when it comes to going in as the Pace favorite.
“So, this is a new experience for me,” Harris said with a laugh. “I think I’m indifferent to it. I don’t pay attention to the noise as much. I just stay off my phone during big races and stuff like that, and don’t look at all the social media stuff. I just try to stay in my lane and try to make sure that my horse is as good as he can be, and then if I’ve done my job and [driver] Dex [Dunn] does his job, and the horse does his job, then we’re all going to be smiling at the end of the day.”
Pollock said he’s experiencing some emotions of his own heading into tomorrow night.
“I was talking about that with somebody today, and I told them it’s very difficult, because you’re nervous with somebody else performing rather than you doing it,” Pollock said. “Because, when I played all over the country and in Canada, I wasn’t nervous when I was playing. Watching my horses race, I’m extremely nervous, and I don’t know why. I don’t know why I am, but for this race on Saturday, I’ll be on edge for this race.
“First place is [around] $400,000 for Saturday. Second place would be $200,000. I’d take $200,000 for first right now, rather than $400,000 for second, because it’s the reputation of the Meadowlands Pace that I want for this horse.
“Money is important. You can’t keep the car running without gas, so that’s very important, but it’s not the only thing. Otherwise, who would do harness racing if all you’re worried about is money? There are other investments to do besides harness racing, I’m sure, that make a lot more money, but once you’re in it, you really get the bug of it, and I really enjoy the prestige of the horses winning.”
