Meadowlands: Caviart Ally notches another decision over Shartin in TVG Mare Pace

Caviart Ally got her third straight stakes decision over Shartin in tonight's $175,000 TVG Mare Pace final at the Meadowlands, coming out a nose better in a 1:48 3/5 mile.

Kissin In The Sand (Dexter Dunn) had the best early speed, landing on the lead from post five, with Youaremycandygirl (Louis-Philippe Roy) pocketing up behind her. Caviart Ally (Andrew McCarthy) tucked in third, with Shartin (Tim Tetrick) taking back to the fourth spot.

Caviart Ally was the first to come to the outside, and she made the lead between the quarter and half-mile call, but Shartin was hot on her heels and crossed over to the point past the 54 1/5 half. Apple Bottom Jeans (Corey Callahan) then applied first-over pressure around the far turn and to the 1:21 3/5 three-quarters, towing the 3-year-old Warrawee Ubeaut (Yannick Gingras) in to contention.

Shartin was able to rebuff the advance of Apple Bottom Jeans and continued to show the way into and through much of the stretch drive, but McCarthy tipped out two-wide with Caviart Ally, and she was coming. Shartin dug in for all she was worth and showed her gameness as usual, but Caviart Ally got there right on the wire to win by a nose. Kissin In The Sand was third, followed by Warrawee Ubeaut, and Divas Image (Joe Bongiorno).

"We were both trying to figure out what we were doing there. I was actually looking just to land fourth and come first-over. I wanted him to move, but the way it worked out he wanted me in front of him, so it worked out okay," McCarthy said about the chess match between him and Caviart Ally and Tetrick and Shartin. "I got to move getting out of the first turn, and she felt terrific tonight. She moved strong and felt great. It wasn't crazy, paced 27 1/5 that second quarter, but I wanted to get her marching a little bit. That was the thing, if you turn Shartin loose too easy, she's too hard to catch.

"It is fun; it's a lot of fun. It's a great rivalry. They've gone head-to-head, and I think it's good racing to watch."

Caviart Ally is a 5-year-old Bettor's Delight mare trained by Brett Pelling for owner Caviart Farms. This was her 25th career win, and she has now earned $1,828,016. She was sent off at 3-1 and paid $8.80 to win.

"I just knew that last week (a third-place finish to Shartin in an invitational at Dover) just wasn't her, it wasn't planned," remarked Pelling. "Tonight, when she's fit, when she's leaned up a little, she's such a great-doing mare. She looks at food and she puts weight on, and that's up to us to control that when you can get her ready for one. Tonight she was great.

"It's awesome, rivalries are what the game's all about. The more rivalries we have the more it keeps fans talking. They've got a whole big debate now for Horse of the Year, all kinds of stuff and scenarios. It's excellent."

At this time, no firm plan for next year is set for Caviart Ally, but Pelling made his wishes be known.

"I hope so. I haven't had a definitive answer, but I hope so," he said about her returning to the racetrack for another season. "It'd be a shame not to. She's at the top of her game, and we get along well. I'd hate not to see her in the stall."