Meadowlands: Matchmaker champion looks to step up in Sweetheart Pace

The Meadowlands steps up this weekend with a $40,000 Mares preferred event on Saturday night called the "Sweetheart Pace" in honor of Valentine's Day. Trainer Noel Daley brings last year's Blue Chip Matchmaker champion Machnhope over from Yonkers for the event that drew a field of nine.

"I'm glad to get her back on the mile track," said Daley of the now 7-year-old mare. "I know she won the Matchmaker last year at Yonkers, but she's definitely better on the mile track."

Machnhope landed post two in Saturday's eighth race with Scott Zeron in the bike.

"I'm hoping to race her here [the Meadowlands] for the next few starts before going back to Yonkers [in March] for the Matchmaker," said Daley. "She's a gorgeous mare that can be a little moody, but she's been in a good frame of mind since coming back this year."

State of mind aside, Machnhope will be in search of her first win of the year for Daley against a solid group that includes Racine Bell (post three). The 5-year-old by So Surreal last raced at the Meadowlands in the Breeders Crown in November and finished fourth to Rocknificent. Freshened with two qualifiers at Saratoga, Racine Bell makes her 2022 debut in the Sweetheart Pace.

Alexa Skye also ships back from Yonkers for this event, and the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere may be right at home on the big track. A 1:49 4/5 winner on December 17 at the Meadowlands, Alexa Skye drew post four for trainer Jeff Cullipher, who also sends out Annabelle Hanover (post one) in the contest.

The outer four horses in the Sweetheart Pace are all Australian imports, with Major Occasion A (post seven) and Soho Burning Love A (post eight) the classiest of the group, having won over $1 million collectively throughout their careers. Heavens Showgirl A (post six) and No Win No Feed A (post nine) both own victories at Yonkers this year.

Bracken Storm A makes his first start in over a year on Saturday for Daley in the sixth race, a non-winners of $20,000-in last five starts conditioned event.

"He's coming back off a tendon injury," said Daley of the long layoff. "I was happy with his first qualifier, and then a little disappointed in the second one until I looked and saw who was in the race."

Daley was referring to Captain Barbossa, the 2020 Little Brown Jug champion who sailed by Bracken Storm A for the victory at the Meadowlands on February 5.

"I think he's going to need a few starts for sure, and we'll race him from behind," said Daley of Bracken Storm A. "But I think he's a very good horse who could go with the $100,000 claimers."

Daley has three horses on the Meadowlands Saturday night program, with The Book Of Life (post five) entered mid-pack in the $40-50,000 claiming handicap carded as race seven.

"He should have won last time," said Daley of the veteran 8-year-old. "[Driver] Todd [McCarthy] had to make a decision whether to go inside or out, and it just didn't work out."

The Book Of Life finished third in the non-winners of $10,000 last five event, and the trainer thinks he will fit nicely against this claiming level.

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Friday's ninth race finds the Daley-conditioned Abb'sattitudexpress landing a good spot in the mid-level event.

"It's really up to her whether she tries or not," said Daley with a cautionary note.

A winner in her first start for the trainer on January 8 at the Meadowlands, Ab'sattitudexpress faltered badly in her next start a week later.

"She's in the right class," said Daley of Ab'sattitudexpress, but she'll obviously need to step it up late to win.

Daley likes the class assignment for Morning Has Broken, a 6-year-old pacing mare that returns to the big track after a stop at Yonkers on February 3.

"She raced very well last time at Yonkers, closing in the stretch," said Daley. "I think she's a legit $50,000 claimer."

Morning Has Broken (post one) drew inside in the $18,000 contest tabbed as the 10th race on Friday's program. She'll meet the streaking JM Betonsix, a winner of three straight, including a 1:52 2/5 mile on last Friday's Meadowlands card.

Daley currently has 47 horses in training, with more than half of those 2-year-olds that have yet to race. Leading the overall group is one of the top 3-year-old pacers in 2022 by the name of Pebble Beach.

"He bled in the last couple of starts," said Daley of the son of first-crop sire Downbytheseaside. "He looks a million dollars."

Daley confirmed that Pebble Beach would be ineligible to race in The Meadowlands Pace, along with any other offspring of Downbytheseaside.

"There are still plenty of races for him, and we'll look to the North America Cup first," said Daley, who thinks Pebble Beach will be right in the mix of the top rung of sophomore pacers this year, provided he's handled well.

"I think he's best coming off-the-pace," said Daley. "In that world record mile at The Red Mile, he did all of the work and then got beaten on the wire."

The 1:48 3/5 mile on August 24 saw Caviart Camden get up in the shadow of the wire. A few weeks later Pebble Beach took a 1:48 4/5 mark over the same surface.

Daley is also quite hopeful that his 4-year-old trotting mare Anoka Hanover will return to peak condition this year.

"We just had trouble keeping her sound," said Daley, who has extreme confidence in the 2020 Goldsmith Maid champion. With Daley only getting 10 starts from the daughter of Donato Hanover last year, Anoka Hanover managed to close out the year in fine style, finishing second to division champion Bella Bellini in the Breeders Crown.

Before looking ahead to the stakes season, the focus for Daley will be on this weekend at the Meadowlands. Post time each night is 6:20 P.M., and Friday also offers a $8,572 Pick 6 carryover in race eight.