Meadowlands: Epic showdown possible in TVG Open Pace final

The stage is set this Saturday night at the Meadowlands for a clash of the titans in the open pacing division. Breeders Crown champion Ocean Rock hopes to gain the divisional title and Allywag Hanover, a prime candidate for overall Horse of the Year, may just need this victory to sew up that title. With $350,000 up for grabs in race 11 on the card, the stakes are high, but the two favorites are hardly alone in a field of 10 with immense power.

"I'm glad that we were able to have our post assured," said Brett Pelling, who sends out Allywag Hanover, the division leader who was slotted to draw in the first six posts and secured the three-hole in quest of a 10th victory on the year. "But it didn't work out that great because the other top horses also drew well."

Indeed, Ocean Rock, an Ohio-bred that scored a 16-1 upset in the Breeders Crown and defeated Allywag Hanover, will start from post two. Also joining the fray is the 5-year-old Enavant. Unraced at 2 and 3, Enavant has gained traction during the latter part of the 2021 season and followed up a solid fourth-place finish in the Breeders Crown with a breathtaking 1:48 mile last Sunday in capturing the Potomac Pace at Rosecroft Raceway for driver Dan Dube. Enavant starts from post four.

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Driver Dan Noble was more than happy with the draw Ocean Rock received, but he seemed happier with how his horse is feeling coming into Saturday night's contest.

"He's coming into the race sharp," said Noble. "He definitely likes to have a few weeks off between races."

Ocean Rock hasn't raced in three weeks, but that was exactly the same situation leading up to the Breeders Crown and perhaps a reason bettors lost interest in him. Previously, Ocean Rock set a wicked pace in a contested Allerage Pace won by Allywag Hanover and finished fifth on October 10 at The Red Mile.

"It was our plan to give him a few weeks off after that race," said Noble, confirming that the 4-year-old altered son of Rockin Amadeus was no worse for wear after hitting three quarters in 1:19 1/5 in the Allerage.

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Ocean Rock has prevailed racing on the front-end and from well off-the-pace, but his driver believes he prefers a certain style.

"He likes being close to the action," said Noble, who expects the inside draw to work to his advantage.

Trainer Brett Pelling has seen Allywag Hanover go from a dominant force in this division to successive losses, but he doesn't believe the 4-year-old by Captaintreacherous has lost his edge.

"I think he's the kind of horse that races better coming back the next week," said Pelling about Allywag Hanover, who will have regular driver Todd McCarthy in the bike once again. "He was feeling much better the day after the Potomac than the day before."

Trainer Ron Burke has been a force in this division for many years and will send out three in the field, including the leading money-winner This Is The Plan. Burke's horses did not benefit from the draw, with Workin Ona Mystery (post six), Cattlewash (post seven), and This Is The Plan (post nine) getting the worst of it in the shake. This Is The Plan has been going at it the entire year and will be making his 25th 2021 start in the TVG Open Final, by far the most in the field. Nevertheless, the 6-year-old by Somebeachsomewhere can never be counted out. Yannick Gingras will drive This Is The Plan.

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Cattlewash was a solid second behind Ocean Rock in the Breeders Crown and is certainly a Saturday contender despite the poor draw. A 1:46 4/5 winner as a 3-year-old in 2020, Cattlewash owns a 1:47 1/5 mark this year taken at the Meadowlands.

Trainer Todd Luther has put together a brilliant campaign for the 4-year-old Catch The Fire, and the son of Captaintreacherous may be perfectly placed (post five) to get a big chunk of the purse on Saturday night. Catch The Fire has won eight times in 18 starts this year, including a 1:47 2/5 victory here on Hambletonian Day in a Sam McKee Memorial division. Scott Zeron will once again be in the bike.

Early-season star Ruthless Hanover could be a sleeper in the field, having landed the pole position. The Somebeachsomewhere-sired gelding drew posts nine and 10, respectively, in the Breeders Crown elimination and final, and that obviously compromised his chances.

Trainer Tony Alagna has a pair that complete the field, with Shake The House (post eight) and Captain Barbossa (post 10) not just longshots in the morning line but outsiders by way of the draw.

The Meadowlands has 14 races lined up on Saturday night, including three other TVG finals, as well as the Fall Final Four, a series of 2-year-old stakes events. First post is listed at 6:20 p.m.

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