Plus, some 2023 Meadowlands Pace notes.

by Bob Heyden

Lauren Tritton, 29, is set to become the first female driver in the 47-year history of the Meadowlands Pace. She is driving Its A Me Mario.

Here are some of the barriers she, and other ladies, have busted down or are approaching this Saturday (July 15):

1. In the first 15 editions of the Pace, 166 horses competed, none had a female driver or trainer. This year it is 50 per cent: three trained by Nancy Takter, one by Linda Toscano and Tritton is driving Its A Me Mario.

2. In 1992, 31 years ago, Andrea Chadwick became the first female conditioner in Meadowlands Pace history with Lord Willing (no check).

3. At 29, Tritton would be in the conversation of sub 30-year-old drivers to capture the Meadowlands Pace. John Campbell, 27 in 1982 with Hilarion. Tim Tetrick, 25 in 2007 with Southwind Lynx and then again at 28 in 2010 with One More Laugh. Tetrick’s 2007 effort made him the youngest to ever win a million-dollar race.

4. Ladies/trainers won both the NA Cup and Pace in 2019 when Takter took the classic in Canada with Captain Crunch and then Toscano the Pace with Best In Show. Takter then doubled up in 2020 with Tall Dark Stranger.

PELLING ON VERGE OF HIS OWN PACE HISTORY

It’s the 30th anniversary of trainer Brett Pelling’s first Pace starter, Mystical Prince (no check) with Mark Kesmodel in the 1993 edition won by Presidential Ball.

Pelling is the all-time Pace leader with four wins: David’s Pass (1995), Dream Away (1997), The Panderosa (1999) and Rocknroll Hanover (2005).

Pelling went 1-2 in 2005 with Rocknroll Hanover over Village Jolt.

Pelling won the 1997 Pace with a colt he did not train at 2, Dream Away. Brian Brown had Confederate at 2.

IS THIS ANY WAY TO TREAT A TOURIST?

Stockade Seelster, defending 2-year-old champion, ventured out of Canada for the very first time and was DQ’d from fifth and failed to make the Meadowlands Pace final.

FIRST-LAST

Somebeachsomewhere won the Meadowlands Pace with his first crop, Captaintreacherous (2013) and his 10th and last crop Beach Glass (2022).

HUSBAND/WIFE

Shane/Lauren Tritton, trainer/driver with It’s a Me Mario. This is rare, but it happens. Andy/Julie Miller, driver/trainer, sent out the 2017 Hambletonian second-place finisher and favorite, Devious Man and have won numerous stakes together. Jacqueline/Frank Ingrassia driver/trainer won the Yonkers Trot in 2000 with Goalfish to break through for the ladies in the Triple Crown and with Aeronautess in the 2004 Goldsmith Maid. Jamie/Ricky Macomber, trainer/driver teamed for the 2017 3YOCP Breeders Crown with Beckhams Z Tam. So it does happen.

MAIDEN (NO) FORM?

No 3-year-old has ever won his first race of the year in the Meadowlands Pace. Both of Tony Alagna’s colts, El Ray and Hungry Angel Boy, are 0-6 in 2023. But, the good news is who was the last trainer to have a winless colt second in the Pace? Tony Alagna in 2013 when he went 1-2 with Captaintreacherous and Odds On Equuleus. Even better is that Equuleus did not win a race all year.

DID A COIN TOSS DETERMINE THE 1995 MEADOWLANDS PACE?

Yes, it did.

CA Connection and David’s Pass tied for the fastest fourth place time. In those days it was not then the richest also. It was a toss of a coin.

The Atlanta Falcons can relate to this. David’s Pass won the toss, made the Pace final, was sent off the favorite and gave Pelling Pace #1. CA Connection won the consolation for Joe Anderson.

STATE(S) OF THE MEADOWLANDS PACE

Eight — NY, NJ, MA, VA, PA, FL, KY and MI — as well as Canada are represented in ownership in 2023.

WHITE BIRCH’S DELAYED DAILY DOUBLE?

Hot Lead raced for White Birch Farm in winning the 1996 Meadowlands Pace. Now, 27 years later, they have bred a Pace finalist, Christchurch. Note they also bred My Little Dragon (foal of 2003) the dam of Stay Hungry who is the sire of 2023 Pace finalist Hungry Angel Boy.

WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES MIDNIGHT

Someone somewhere turns into a pumpkin.

On Saturday Night… with about 26 hours to go… Pelling will become a senior citizen, He will turn 65 on Monday (July 17). Oh wait, is that actually 14 hours away New Zealand time?

He won the 2005 Meadowlands Pace, his last Pace, on his 47th birthday with Rocknroll Hanover.

TAKTER MAGIC?

Save America, post 10, is likely the longest shot in the 2023 Meadowlands Pace field. He is a $300,000 yearling, the highest-priced yearling in the field. Do you know who the first $300,000 plus yearling was to win any million-dollar race? (Hint, there’s a connection here).

In 2010, $425,000 yearling Muscle Massive won the $1.5 million Hambletonian for trainer Jimmy Takter.

Muscle Massive’s caretaker? Nancy Takter, the trainer of Save America.

OHHHHHH NOOOOOOOOOO CANADA

Seventeen of the previous 46 editions of the Meadowlands Pace have been won by a trainer born in Canada. Oh no. For the first time ever in 2023 there are no Canadian-born trainers in the Pace. The list of conditioners from north of the border who have won:

Bill Robinson 3

Blair Burgess 2

Harry Poulton 2

Dr. John Hayes 1

Brent McGrath 1

George Gilmour 1

Clint Galbraith 1

Stew Firlotte 1

Ray Remmen 1

Des Tackoor 1

David Menary 1

Brad Maxwell 1

Blake McIntosh 1

FAMILIARITY BREEDS…?

Mike Russo has Voukefalas and also raced his dam Inintowinafortune.

Nancy Takter raced Darlinonthebeach, dam of Christchurch.

Linda Toscano raced the sire of Fulton, the 3-year-old champ and 2012 Breeders Crown winner Heston Blue Chip.

TWO MUCH TO BELIEVE

Diamond Creek farms owns and breeds both Meadowlands Pace elimination winners.

Val D’or was twice a nose shy in the Meadowlands Pace final with Fit For Life (1998) and Perfect Sting (2021).

There are two Hall of Famer trainers in the 2023 Meadowlands Pace — Linda Toscano and Joe Holloway.