If the very early returns are any indication, we are in for a great year of racing in the 3-year-old male pacing division. Last weekend alone, despite horses making only their first few starts of the year, we saw four horses pace sub-1:50 miles, and that is prior to even seeing some expected stars in pari-mutuel action. Below is my current top 10 based on what I've seen on the track thus far and taking into consideration what stakes they are eligible to through the end of August. Keep in mind that some stakes - Milstein Memorial at MGM Northfield Park - are invitational events and do not have a list of eligibles while other stakes permit supplements allowing for a couple of these to show up where they aren't expected as of today. 1-It's My Show (3-3-0-0, 1:49 2/5 Pocono) Trainer: Linda Toscano;  Driver: Scott Zeron Eligible Stakes: North America Cup, MGM Messenger, Adios Just watch his victory on May 21 at Pocono and you will be convinced of his standing atop this list. He left and was used to the front well past the 26 2/5 opening quarter. He then yielded to Bamboozler at the half in 53 2/5, popped the pocket in the stretch and was a very handy winner as he drew away in a 1:49 2/5 mile. When you see a horse get stung, keep up in a fast mile and win rather easily, it catches your eye. You'll see It's My Show in the North America Cup versus the full group and then it will be quite some time before he'll rematch with some of these. The son of Sweet Lou is one of only two not eligible to the Meadowlands Pace and the only one on the list tentatively slated for the Messenger. Co-owner Richard Young confirmed he has Kentucky Sire Stakes races starting in early August, but he wouldn't be shy about supplementing the horse to other races if warranted. "If he shows he's worth it, we can always supplement," said Young about the Meadowlands Pace. "He was a maiden so it was hard to imagine he would suddenly be a top colt." 2-Confederate (no pari-mutuel starts in 2023) Trainer: Brett Pelling;  Driver: Tim Tetrick Eligible Stakes: North America Cup, Meadowlands Pace, Max Hempt All we have to go from this year is a pair of qualifiers but boy were they impressive. In his latest on May 19 at the Meadowlands, the son of Sweet Lou sat off slow fractions and uncorked a powerful 25 2/5 final quarter while under a tight hold late by driver Tim Tetrick. He only has three stakes events outside of Sire Stakes on his dance card, but they are the three richest on the calendar. He'll make his first start of the year in the fifth race on Saturday at the Meadowlands versus older foes. 3-Christchurch (1-1-0-0, 1:49 3/5 Meadowlands) Trainer: Nancy Takter;  Driver: Dexter Dunn Eligible Stakes: North America Cup, Meadowlands Pace, Cane, Max Hempt Christchurch's future is going to come down to his mental game. The Always B Miki-sired colt has pure natural speed in spades and displayed it in his 2023 debut by winning in 1:49 3/5 at the Meadowlands. That's only part of the story as he dragged driver Dexter Dunn to the lead, battled with him as he yielded to the pocket, almost immediately retook, and was an impressive driven-out winner. Can Takter get him more relaxed as the season progresses? "His mom was like that for me at 3 but by the end of the season she raced in a regular snaffle bit," said Takter, who pointed out that Always B Miki was also difficult at the start of his career. Interestingly, Christchurch wears Miki's 1:46 hopples according to the trainer. 4-Fulton (2-2-0-0, 1:49 2/5 Pocono) Trainer: Linda Toscano;  Driver: Dexter Dunn Eligible Stakes: North America Cup, Meadowlands Pace, Adios, Max Hempt Fulton was kept to just Pennsylvania in 2022 and made a good living while never finishing worse than third. Those that weren't sold on the son of Heston Blue Chip after his first 1:49 2/5 win at The Meadows are perhaps more convinced after he did the heavy lifting through fractions of 54 4/5 and 1:22 3/5 before holding on in a 1:50 2/5 win at Pocono. He didn't have to win that race with Lyons Surfing bearing down to his inside, but he dug in nicely. Logic would state we'll see him in the North America Cup, and we'll find out if he is strictly a PA Sire Stakes horse or one to watch on the Grand Circuit all year. He didn't enter Sunday's Sire Stakes at Harrah's Philadelphia. 5-Voukefalas (2-2-0-0, 1:50 Meadowlands) Trainer: Michael Russo;  Driver: Jordan Stratton Eligible Stakes: North America Cup, Meadowlands Pace, Cane Voukefalas hasn't had much trouble with his foes thus far in the New Jersey Sire Stakes, and he'll be the likely favorite in the final on May 27 (race eight at the Meadowlands). Then it is on to the North America Cup where he'll see where he stacks up in the division. Trainer Michael Russo thinks the son of Lazarus N has what it takes. "I think 'Vouk' is the real deal. People around him think that, so it is not just my ego. He'll have every opportunity to be the best he can be and if not, there is no shame," said Russo. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter 6-Ken Hanover (4-4-0-0, 1:49 Pocono) Trainer: Roland Mallar;  Driver: David Miller Eligible Stakes: Adios, Max Hempt Even though he already put up a sub-1:50 mile this year, I wasn't quite expecting him to drop a 1:49 mile at Pocono on May 21. Yes, he had a pretty good trip in that mile, but he posted a 54 second final half while looking very much at ease. At this point the Captaintreacherous colt looks like something special, but he's simply not eligible to much on the Grand Circuit and that keeps him down the list a bit. His next start comes Sunday at Philadelphia in race nine. Will we really have to wait for the Adios to see what he's made of? I hope not. 7-Ammo (2-2-0-0, 1:50 3/5 Pocono) Trainer: Joe Holloway;  Driver: David Miller Eligible Stakes: North America Cup, Meadowlands Pace, Adios, Cane, Max Hempt He's perfect in two starts this year and while he ONLY won in 1:50 3/5 last time at Pocono, you can't really fault him for winning easily. As the Breeders Crown winner last year he has a strong résumé. Now he just has to prove he's a faster 3-year-old. He'll certainly get that chance with a full slate of stakes options and plenty of chances to shine, the next of which is a showdown with the #1 horse on the list at Harrah's Philadelphia in the third race on Sunday. 8-Stockade Seelster (1-0-1-0, 1:50 2/5Q Mohawk Park) Trainer: Dr. Ian Moore;  Driver: Jody Jamieson Eligible Stakes: North America Cup, Meadowlands Pace, Max Hempt The Dan Patch winner from 2022 in this division came up a nose short in his yearly debut while getting run down by Write Me A Rose. While he had every right to "need" a race, it is hard to rank him too high up the list off a defeat. State Treasurer-sired colt is likely to be sharper next time and remains a dangerous player in this glamour division. 9-El Rey (1-0-0-0, 1:50 2/5Q Meadowlands) Trainer: Tony Alagna;  Driver: Scott Zeron Eligible Stakes: North America Cup, Meadowlands Pace, Adios, Cane, Max Hempt Like Stockade Seelster he came up short in his first start of the year - no shame in that. Captaintreacherous colt was a fast 2-year-old and should get better with more work. How good he is will be determined in coming weeks. 10-Combustion (no pari-mutuel starts in 2023) Trainer: Brett Pelling;  Driver: Todd McCarthy Eligible Stakes: North America Cup, Meadowlands Pace, Adios, Cane, Max Hempt Like his stablemate Confederate he has no starts in 2023 but has looked very good in the morning. Last time he chased Confederate home with a sizzling 25 1/5 final quarter and looked well within himself doing it. The sky is the limit at this point for the son of Captaintreacherous, but the jury remains out until we have more facts and not sure we will learn much in another qualifier slated for Saturday at the Meadowlands.