Meadowlands: Dancin Lou best in William R. Haughton Memorial

Dancin Lou continued the hot run Breeders Crown champions from 2019 are on during the Meadowlands Pace undercard, overcoming a hard trip with aplomb to win the $391,300 William R. Haughton Memorial for open pacers in a lifetime-best 1:47 2/5.

A week after finishing third following a rough journey in the Graduate Series final, Dancin Lou wound up parked into the backstretch to get around Backstreet Shadow (Tim Tetrick), who had grabbed control from Century Farroh (David Miller) after the 26 second opening quarter. Dancin Lou would immediately be challenged after making front by a re-moving Century Farroh, and that horse would land back on the engine beyond a wicked 52 4/5 half.

Southwind Ozzi (Corey Callahan) made a stern first-over advance from fourth on the far turn and got to within a quarter of a length of the leader at the 1:20 2/5 three-quarters but then began to fade past that marker, giving Sears the path he needed to come off the cones with Dancin Lou in the stretch. Once he had the space, Dancin Lou had the pace to go with it, surging by Century Farroh on his way to a one and a quarter length decision. Filibuster Hanover (Dexter Dunn) came from ninth at three-quarters to get third, Backstreet Shadow was fourth, and American History (Joe Bongiorno) finished third.

"This horse, he's been racing some huge miles. It's amazing what kind of ability he has," remarked Sears. "You've got to earn it, and he's been earning it."

Tahnee Camilleri trains Dancin Lou, who became the fastest offspring of Sweet Lou with the 1:47 2/5 clocking, for owners David Kryway and 1362313 Ontario Ltd. Dancin Lou, a 4-year-old horse, is now a 15-time winner, and he continues to close on the $1 million mark in lifetime earnings. The 2-1 favorite, Dancin Lou paid $6.00 to win.

Due to the overflow number of entries in the Haughton, there was also a $123,100 consolation event held. Australian-bred Our Majordan (David Miller), who was bet down in last week's open but broke early, redeemed himself this Saturday with an ultra-impressive 1:47 3/5 win.

Our Majordan blasted to the top from post four and cut an opening panel in 26 seconds, but was attacked by a first-over Geez Joe (Marcus Miller) in the backstretch. Geez Joe wrestled control away beyond the 53 2/5 half, but Our Majordan went back on the attack after yielding and Our Majordan and Geez Joe were separated by just a head at the 1:20 3/5 three-quarters.

In the lane Our Majordan forged his way back around Geez Joe, but a fresh threat emerged when Donttellmeagain (Tetrick) angled out three-wide after an inside trip. Our Majordan had no intention of relenting, though, holding off Donttellmeagain by half a length. Geez Joe was third, followed by San Domino (Andrew McCarthy) and Western Joe (Yannick Gingras).

"We know him a little better now. I might have just had him crammed on it a little too much there last week, but everything went pretty good tonight," said David Miller.

An 8-year-old by Art Major, Our Majordan is trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. and owned by Enviro Stables Ltd., Ned Hodkinson, and Milton Leeman. A multi-time Group race winner in Australia, where he went by the name Majordan, this was Our Majordan's 32nd lifetime victory, and he returned $12.00 to win.