Meadowlands: Cattlewash captures Graduate Pace final

Cattlewash picked a good time to win for the first time in 2021, posting a 7-1 upset in Saturday's $250,000 Graduate Series final for 4-year-old pacers at the Meadowlands. David Miller engineered a solid three-hole trip and then called on the son of Somebeachsomewhere late to nail Poseidon Seelster on the wire in a brisk 1:47 1/5 mile over the sloppy, but far from slow, racing surface.

Drivers were extremely aggressive in the early stages, as Poseidon Seelster, Tattoo Artist, and Cattlewash left from the outside lanes, while Captain Barbossa slotted fourth as second choice, and Allywag Hanover couldn't keep holes closed early from the pole position. Tattoo Artist took the lead from Poseidon Seelster before the 25 3/5 opening quarter, and Miller put Cattlewash in third, where he would sit for a major portion of the mile.

Todd McCarthy was able to throttle down the speed somewhat behind Tattoo Artist, hitting the half in 53 3/5. Race favorite Ruthless Hanover had raced parked from the start and was awaiting cover, and Captain Barbossa, with Dexter Dunn, obliged moving to the half, with Allywag Hanover following him and Ruthless Hanover third-over. That trip didn't last very long, as it appeared Ruthless Hanover ran up on his cover and lost his stride.

McCarthy kicked into high gear with Tattoo Artist, basically wiping out the second tier with a 26 3/5 third quarter that essentially opened the door for the pocket-sitting Poisedon Seelster. George Brennan came out of the pocket in mid-stretch to put the heat on the pace-setter, and Miller had ample room from his pylon-skimming position to angle across the track. Cattlewash picked up his pace instantly, and with Miller urging him on, gamely went by in the 27 flat final quarter.

"He raced tremendous tonight," said David Miller in the winner's circle. "I was going to take a shot no matter what tonight. That was a pretty big three-hole.”

Owned and bred by W J. Donovan, Cattlewash is trained by Ron Burke. The winner returned $16.20. The mile time of 1:47 1/5 was the fastest in harness racing this year.

"If he comes out of it okay, the Haughton will probably be next," said assistant trainer Shannon Murphy. "He doesn't have that quick burst. He's more of a grinder and likes to chase them down."