Meadowlands: Meadowlands Pace elimination won by Huntsville
Huntsville made his way to the top on the way to the half and was never challenged from there, capturing the single $50,000 Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace elimination for 3-year-old colt pacers on Saturday night at the Meadowlands in 1:48 4/5.
Blood Line (Mark MacDonald) would take the field of ten to the opening quarter in 27 3/5, but Huntsville (Tim Tetrick), who had gotten away in third from post one, would make his way to the outside beyond that marker, and he was the new leader well before the 55 2/5 half-mile went up on the board.
Huntsville began to get away on the field at the 1:22 2/5 three-quarters, and he would continue to pour it on through the lane, winning by 2 1/4 lengths over Blood Line despite drifting out some through the stretch. Santafe's Coach (Corey Callahan) rallied on at the inside to get third, with Mac's Jackpot (David Miller), Talent Soup (Eric Abbatiello), Filibuster Hanover (Yannick Gingras), and Boogie Shuffle (Scott Zeron) also moving on to the final. They will be joined there by Downbytheseaside, Classic Pro, and Miso Fast, who accepted byes straight into the final.
"We wanted to race because we didn't go to Pocono (to the Hempt), and we didn't want to go into the Meadowlands Pace being off so long," Tetrick said about the decision to race tonight and not take a bye that was offered to the connections. "He was good tonight - plenty of go - a little left line again, but (trainer Ray Schnittker) will have him ready. He trained great the other day - wasn't on the line - so he'll have the quirks worked out of him.
"He was big last year; he filled out a little bit. He just carries it a little better than he did last year, and he's gotten a little smarter, which helps."
A colt by Somebeachsomewhere, Huntsville is owned by Schnittker, Ted Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo, and Steve Arnold. Now with a record of 11-6-0 from 17 starts, Huntsville has earned $953,343. He was the 1-9 favorite and paid $2.20 to win.
Here is how the field will line up for next Saturday night's $738,550 final. Huntsville drew for a post between one and six by virtue of his elimination victory.
1-Blood Line (Mark MacDonald)
2-Mac's Jackpot (David Miller)
3-Boogie Shuffle (Scott Zeron)
4-Huntsville (Tim Tetrick)
5-Downbytheseaside (Brian Sears)
6-Miso Fast (Matt Kakaley)
7-Filibuster Hanover (Yannick Gingras)
8-Santafe's Coach (Corey Callahan)
9-Classic Pro (Trevor Henry)
10-Talent Soup (Eric Abbatiello)