Meadowlands: Chief Mate out, Capt Midnight in Saturday's Meadowlands Pace

When the draw for the Meadowlands Pace was completed on July 11, Chief Mate, who earned a bye into the $636,850 Final, was listed in post 7. Then the complete draw for the stakes-filled 13-race card was released on Tuesday (Jul 14) and Capt Midnight was now listed as the new starter from the seven-hole.

The ownership group between the two horses is nearly identical, with the major exception being that George Segal's Brittany Farms owns a piece of Chief Mate and Ken Jacobs is a co-owner on Capt Midnight. Common ownership between the horses includes Marvin Katz, Brad Grant, VJ Stable, In The Gym Partners, Riverview Racing, JAF Racing LLC and Stephanie Bell. Both horses are trained by Tony Alagna.

The rules for the Meadowlands Pace in regards to scratches are as follows:

In the event that horses eligible for the final should choose not to race, additional horses from the elimination races will be selected from those properly declared by taking the horse(s) placing highest in the order of finish in the elimination races to complete the field for the final. The next two properly declared horses placing highest in the order of finish in the elimination races shall be listed as also eligible for the finals and may draw in before scratch time.

As the ninth finisher in the elimination field of 10 (where eight horses made the final), Capt Mignight was the first "Also Eligible" for the race.

Chief Mate was entered at The Meadows on Saturday in the eighth race $64,252 PA Sire Stakes and drew post 1.

According to an owner involved with the horses, the decision was made that Capt Midnight had previously won over the track at The Meadowlands in 1:49 3/5 and was likely better suited to compete in the final, while Chief Mate was eyeing the Adios (elimination at The Meadows on July 25) and could get a start over the track prior to that major stake.

According to sources, the connections of both horses will have to pay the $5,000 entry fee for the final, but horses finishing sixth through tenth receive 1% of the purse ($6,368), so the difference is negligible.

The Meadowlands Pace on July 18 is part of a 13-race card featuring 10 stakes races. Post time is 6:30 PM.

PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Morning Line
1-Roll With JR-Corey Callahan-Jeff Cullipher-20/1
2-Catch The Fire-Mike Wilder-John Ackley-12/1
3-Captain Barbossa-Brian Sears-Tony Alagna-10/1
4-Allywag Hanover-Tim Tetrick-Brett Pelling-9/2
5-Tall Dark Stranger-Yannick Gingras-Nancy Takter-7/5
6-Manticore-Jordan Stratton-Bruce Saunders-15/1
7-Capt Midnight-Andy McCarthy-Tony Alagna-15/1
8-Major Betts-Dexter Dunn-Mark Harder-12/1
9-Papi Rob Hanover-David Miller-Brett Pelling-4/1
10-Captain Kirk-Joe Bongiorno-Tony Alagna-15/1