Meadowlands: Beach Glass back on top in Cane Pace

Meadowlands Pace champion Beach Glass returned to the scene of his greatest triumph on Saturday to capture the $258,300 Cane Pace for Yannick Gingras in a 1:49 mile. The 3-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere scored as the 2-5 betting choice over a field of seven.

Action was hot and heavy in the early stages as half of the field left with purpose. Second choice Mad Max Hanover was looking to reverse his fortunes after a second-place finish in the Meadowlands Pace and was already making a second move after Night Hawk gained command in the 27 2/5 opening quarter.

Gingras had left with Beach Glass but tucked in early, allowing a few lead changes and only moved once Mad Max Hanover had regained the front on the backstretch approaching the half. With a huge move Beach Glass cleared the leader past the 54 3/5 half and was able to relax a bit during the third quarter.

Fourever Boy and Mike Wilder looked to challenge on the final bend, towing Energetic Hanover into the action, but it was clear that Gingras still had plenty of horse in reserve following the 1:22 flat three-quarter clocking.

With just Mad Max Hanover on his back, Gingras drove quite confidently through the stretch, as the Brent MacGrath-trained colt sped home in 27 seconds flat to keep Mad Max Hanover at bay in handy fashion. Night Hawk rallied along the pylons for the third spot.

"I didn't want to be on the front-end," said Gingras. "But if I didn't move, they would have gotten to the half in 55 [seconds], and I couldn’t allow that."

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Onwed by Schooner II Stable, Beach Glass was a winner for the fifth time this year in just eight starts. As the 2-5 choice, he returned $2.80 to win.

"He's going to need a week off," said MacGrath of Beach Glass, who had tentatively committed to the Milstein at Northfield Park next week. "We'll bring him back to race at Pocono."

The Max Hempt at Pocono is slated for August 20.