Meadowlands: Governor's Cup elims to Combustion, Stormalong

Combustion and Todd McCarthy dug in down the stretch and collared Breeders Crown winner Ammo near the wire to capture the first of two $20,000 eliminations for the Governor's Cup for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Saturday night at the Meadowlands. Combustion, a son of Captaintreacherous, stopped the clock in 1:51 1/5 for the mile.

Ammo left assertively for Dave Miller to gain early control from Combustion and cut the opening panel in 27 3/5 before Dexter Dunn, aboard Act Fast, brushed quickly on the backstretch to get the front. Act Fast hit the half in 55 3/5 and continued to back down the pace through the third quarter.

McCarthy waited in third for most of that quarter but pulled late on the final turn to challenge. Following the three- quarters cut by Act Fast in 1:24, Ammo was able to wedge out of the pocket and move past the pace-setter. McCarthy sent Combustion wide, and the Brett Pelling-trained colt hit high gear in the final sprint. Ammo held on well for second, with El Rey and Scott Zeron flying across the wire for third. Hungry Man and Muskateeer Hanover completed the top five qualifiers from this division.

Diamond Creek Racing, Thomas and Scott Dillon, and Cooper Silva Stable share ownership of Combustion, the 2-1 favorite who paid $6.80 to win. It was Combustion's sixth win in nine career starts.

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In the second $20,000 Governor's Cup elimination, 14-1 shot Stormalong rallied out of the pocket for driver Jordan Stratton to score the upset in a 1:51 2/5 mile.

Cant Stop Lou and Stormalong left as a tandem, with Cant Stop Lou taking command into the first turn and Stormalong settling in the pocket. Dave Miller had Cant Stop Lou in front in 27 2/5, then backed down the half as favorites Handlelikeaporsche and Dexter Dunn and Save America trailed in fourth and fifth through the 56 1/5 half.

Handlelikeaporsche and Dunn moved without cover at the half and had Save America on his back, but the pair were still at a distance as Cant Stop Lou hit three-quarters in 1:24 2/5 and began the sprint home. Handlelikeaporsche began to lose action in early stretch, and Save America was unable to sustain his rally from second-over. Stratton found room in late stretch, and the Stay Hungry-sired Stormalong responded with a solid stretch rally to overtake the pace-setter. Cant Stop Lou settled for second, with Girldad flying late for third. Save America and Dupree Hanover completed the top five that will return for the November 26 final.

Brad Grant owns Stormalong, a winner for just the second time in 12 starts for trainer Tony Alagna. Stormalong returned $31.60 to win.

"He was locked in for his life last week," said Stratton of Stormalong's performance in the Kindergarten final last week. "I was happy to see the changes sheet and get the drive back."