Meadowlands: Katz goes for Meadowlands Pace trifecta

The first major stakes date of 2020 will take place on July 18 at The Meadowlands and few people have more to root for than owner Marvin Katz. With three horses in the $631,650 Meadowlands Pace - including likely favorite Tall Dark Stranger - and a pair of contenders on the undercard stakes, the Toronto native, a regular at these major nights of racing, will have to do his cheering from afar due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

"I've been thinking about it," said Katz on the possibility of making it to The Meadowlands on Saturday before outlining all of the obstacles. "My wife probably won't let me go. You also need special permission to cross the border and then you have to quarantine for 14 days when you come back. I love to come to these events, but it is probably more prudent to stay home."

Katz, who won the Meadowlands Pace as part of the ownership group with Captaintreacherous in 2013 and Dream Away in 1997, recalled the last time he missed the opportunity to feel the adrenaline rush of being at the track as one of his top horses won a marquee race. It was a decade ago and for arguably the most important race for Standardbreds in the world.

"Muscle Massive was racing in the Hambletonian on the same day as my wife’s family reunion in Manalapan, New Jersey. Her family is all from the New York/New Jersey area," said Katz. "So I was about 45 minutes from The Meadowlands and watching the Hambletonian on TV. I just won the Hambletonian and I honestly didn't know if I was the happiest guy in the world or the sickest, because I was so close to the track and won but not in attendance. I took so much abuse from people who said, 'Sure you're a big shot. You don't even come to the Hambletonian when you win.' So, as far as not being there, the horses will do what they can. They have my best wishes, but I would much prefer to be there on Saturday and have some excitement."

If there is solace to the fact that Katz must watch Meadowlands Pace night at home, it is the fact that even if he did show up, owners are not permitted in the winner's circle due to COVID-19 restrictions. That will hardly dampen the spirits of those in attendance as many of the sport’s top trotters in pacers will compete in 10 stakes races on a blockbuster 13-race card with an early post time of 6:30 PM.

The main event on Saturday for Katz and most fans of the sport is the Meadowlands Pace. Listed as race 9 on the program with an approximate off time of 10:05 PM, The Pace final is the first major race for 3-year-old pacers of 2020 due to the rescheduling of the North America Cup to August 29 and the cancellation of the Max Hempt Memorial.

Tall Dark Stranger, who Katz owns in partnership with Crawford Farms Racing, Caviart Farms and Howard Taylor, is the 7-5 morning-line favorite in the Meadowlands Pace. The 2-year-old divisional champion defeated older horses off cover in his first start of the year in 1:47 4/5 and came back with an easy win on the engine in 1:48 1/5 in last Saturday's elimination.

"It's the joyride that we all dream about," said Katz about the experience thus far with Tall Dark Stranger, who has won 10-of-11 career starts with one second-place finish. "I never feel confident in these big races, but I'm hopeful. He's clearly demonstrated that he is an exceptional horse with rare ability. He's one of those horses that is an outstanding individual and combines it with great pedigree and top-end talent."

Certainly to Tall Dark Stranger's advantage is having perhaps the hottest trainer in the sport, Nancy Takter, calling the shots. The 39-year-old trainer has won 33-of-71 races in 2020 and sports a UTRS (Universal Trainer Rating System) of .588, best in North America by a wide margin. Incidentally, she was also the caretaker for Muscle Massive when he won the Hambletonian for Katz in 2010.

"I think that Nancy Takter is demonstrating the ability, intelligence and skill that she was born with," said Katz. "She is devoted to her craft and has become a master craftsperson. She was born into this business, grew up around the business and trained under arguably the greatest horseman who ever lived (Jimmy Takter). She has clearly taken a lot from her father and she deserves the attention. I'm proud of her but I’m not surprised."

As part of a three-horse contingent from trainer Tony Alagna, Katz also has Meadowlands Pace elimination runner-up Captain Kirk (post 10) and Capt Midnight (post 7) in the field of 10. Alagna also trains Captain Barbossa (post 3).

"It is unfortunate he drew the 10-hole because I think he has really become one of the top contenders this year," said Katz about Captain Kirk. "He's come back great. All credit to Tony. He stopped with him early. He showed ability and he liked him a lot, but he just felt he needed more time. As a yearling, he was a tremendous individual. I think he will be one of the big players this year.

"He has a significant resume," said Katz on Capt Midnight, who only got into the race off the 'Also Eligible' list because stablemate Chief Mate elected to race at The Meadows in a PA Sire Stakes race instead. "In his first start of the year he beat Papi Rob Hanover in 1:49 and change and he paced in 1:49 as a 2-year-old. He’s a very good horse and I don’t think he should be dismissed lightly."

While Katz has the horse to beat in Tall Dark Stranger, a person he is very familiar with trains the 4-1 second choice (Papi Rob Hanover, post 9) and 5-1 third choice (Allywag Hanover, post 4). Brett Pelling conditioned Dream Away when he won the 1997 Pace Final for Katz, Robert Tucker, Sam Goldband and Al Libfeld. Interestingly, Captaintreacherous was trained by Tony Alagna, so Katz has strong ties to most of the trainers in the field.

"I'm friends with all three (Takter, Pelling and Alagna). Tony, of course, I'm very good friends with and have the highest regards for him. Brett and I have a cordial relationship and I consider him one of the greatest horsemen ever. I wish him nothing but the best, however, we are hoping we do a bit better on Saturday," said Katz.

Pelling's one-two combination of Papi Rob Hanover and Allywag Hanover are no doubt formidable. The former actually defeated Tall Dark Stranger in the 2019 Breeders Crown but was disqualified for causing interference. In two starts this year, the son of Somebeachsomewhere has drawn post 10 twice and really hasn't had the opportunity to shine or been in a spot where it made financial sense for driver David Miller to empty the tank.

Allywag Hanover, along with Chief Mate, took a bye into the Meadowlands Pace final and instead elected to race in a leg of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes on July 10 at Harrah's Philadelphia. As with each of his three starts this year, he won, and didn’t seem fazed by new driver Tim Tetrick being in the bike. He enters the 'Pace' with a lifetime mark of 1:48, just one-fifth behind the favored Tall Dark Stranger.

The Pace field also includes Roll With Jr (post 1), Catch The Fire (post 2), Manticore (post 6) and Major Betts (post 8).

In addition to the Meadowlands Pace trio, Katz will be represented on the night by Kissin In The Sand in the $172,850 Dorothy Haughton Memorial (race 10) and American History in the $391,300 William Haughton Memorial (race 7).

Kissin In The Sand has only raced twice thus far in 2020 for Katz and co-owner Hatfield Stables, but she certainly seems to have found herself over the winter after a somewhat disappointing two-for-17 record in her 4-year-old campaign last year.

Lisa Photo Kissin In The Sand and Yannick Gingras.

"For as many years as I've been in this business, I don't think I've fully appreciated, perhaps more with pacing fillies than almost any category, the step between 3 and 4 is just enormous. It is not speed because she went (1:)47 4/5 as a 3-year-old. It's not toughness, because she's as tough as there is and has had more bad posts than any horse I've ever owned," said Katz.

"The job that Nancy did with her is brilliant. I wanted to stop with her at least three different times last year, but Nancy loves Kissin In The Sand and she worked her heart out on her. All winter Nancy told me that she has grown and that she is more powerful."

Powerful is certainly the right word to describe Kissin In The Sand so far. She won her 2020 debut in 1:47 4/5 at The Meadowlands and lost by just a half-length to Soho Burning Love A in a 1:48 1/5 mile most recently, a loss that could be explained by a four-week gap between races.

"It has been frustrating trying to get her races," said Katz.

While she will likely be ready for a peak effort with Yannick Gingras in the bike from post 4, Kissin In The Sand will have her work cut out for her facing 2019 Horse of the Year Shartin N (post 2), who is returning from a minor foot issue which caused her to scratch from a race on July 5 at Harrah's Philadelphia. The field also includes her stablemate Soho Burning Love A (post 7) and $1.8 million career earner Caviart Ally, who starts from the outside post 8 in the field.

Another opportunity for Katz could come with American History (post 7) in the Haughton. The Breeders Crown winner in the older pacing ranks last year was a complete non-factor in the Roll With Joe at Tioga on June 21, but he improved with an even effort on July 11 in an Open at The Meadowlands, beaten less than two lengths while timed in 1:48 3/5.

"Last year it took him a little while to get going," said Katz. "Every trainer has their own style and I think Tony (Alagna) usually has them ready for their best after two or three races.

"As he continues racing, we are hopeful he'll be one of the top Free-For-Allers this year."

The William Haughton lured a strong field of 11 with a host of contenders, including Roll With Joe winner Backstreet Shadow (post 5), runner-up None Bettor A (post 11), and a host of 4-year-olds looking to step up. The Haughton also includes a $123,100 consolation as race 11 on the card.

The stakes action on Saturday at The Meadowlands starts in race 2 and continues through race 11. Other stakes include the $40,000 Miss Versatility, $253,500 Del Miller, two $142,250 divisions of the Stanley Dancer, $194,400 Mistletoe Shalee and the $464,900 Hambletonian Maturity with 13 trotters going 1 1/8 miles.