Meadowlands: Red-hot Engblom stable takes aim at weekend success

We caught up with trainer Per Engblom on his way to Yonkers on Tuesday night with a host of horses in action to talk briefly about his entries this weekend at the Meadowlands. Engblom has a full stable mixed with older pacing and trotting talent but opens his weekend of action in New Jersey with a 3-year-old trotting colt he hopes will fulfill the promise of his pedigree.

"He's pretty fast," Engblom said of Flaming Roads, a 3-year-old homebred son of Tactical Landing that will make his career debut in the third race (post one) on Friday night. "I didn't have him last year and the owner gave him time out to mature."

Flaming Roads is the sixth foal from the $521K New York Sire Stakes final champion For A Dancer, a daughter of the late Conway Hall that has done well with her initial offspring. Flaming Roads qualified for Engblom on February 4 for the first time, finishing third and trotting a mile in 1:56 4/5. In his second qualifier a week later, he was timed in 2:00 after racing well back much of the mile.

"I was happy with both qualifiers," said Engblom. "It's like we're starting in June," a reference to when 2-year-olds start to race. While Flaming Roads will face more proven talent in Friday's contest, with Big Christian (post seven) looking for his third straight win in as many starts in the field, Engblom has a long-term approach for the colt. "We've made him eligible for the late-closing series here at the Meadowlands and at Pocono, so we'll try to space his races out to prepare for those," said Engblom.

On Saturday night Engblom's rich trotting stable finds two entries in the fifth race, a non-winners of $10,500 last five event for a $15,500 purse. Tad Krazy Hanover (post six) and Mon Amour (post nine) may not have gotten the best of the draws, but the trainer is more than happy with how they come into Saturday's contest.

"I was very happy with Tad Krazy Hanover's qualifier," Engblom said. "She's always been a little better on the big track, both at the Meadowlands and The Red Mile."

As for Mon Amour, the 5-year-old by Muscle Hill was a bit frustrating for the trainer over the last month but hopefully an equipment change has put him on the best track forward.

"He was going to win both races at Yonkers but switched to the pace in the stretch, so I had to put the trotting hobbles on him," said Engblom. "It definitely helped."

After consecutive breaks at Yonkers and a pair of costly disqualifications, Mon Amour returned to the Meadowlands and was a handy 1:54 winner on February 10, defeating a weaker group than he'll see on Saturday night.

"I think he's a 1:52 trotter," said Engblom. "I don't think he's an Open horse."

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Shine A Light, a recent addition to the Engblom stable, appears to be moving in the right direction after some early bumps in the road.

"He was not very sound when I got him," Engblom said of the 6-year-old who made a break in his first attempt for Engblom at Yonkers back in December. With a bit of time off Shine A Light returned on February 11 in a qualifier and then made his 2023 debut last Saturday (February 18) when he flashed solid foot, finishing third in the same TrackMaster 86.5 class he'll face with in Saturday's eighth race. Shine A Light drew post nine.

Engblom's stable has been adding many local owners over the last six months, but he still gets the call internationally from time to time, and such is the case when Taxi Out S, a Swedish-bred, arrived in his stable.

"The owner is from Denmark and he's sent me a few horses in the past to race here," said Engblom of the connection.

As for Taxi Out S (post eight) in Saturday's 11th race: "I was happy with his first race and I'm making a minor equipment change this week."

That's the good news, however, in as much as Engblom believes Taxi Out S may make a solid racehorse in North America, he recognizes things need to change.

"He was racing distances of a mile and five-eighths and two miles," Engblom said. "He'll have to adjust to the mile distance. He's got the strength but not the speed yet."

A 7-year-old son of Hambletonian winner Scarlet Knight, Taxi Out S was fourth behind the Engblom-trained Sermon in his North American debut.

On the pacing side, Barrage Hanover (post two, race 13) closes out the Saturday card for Engblom in a non-winners of $5,000 last five contest. The 6-year-old has enjoyed success over the Meadowlands strip in the past.

"I was really happy with him," Engblom said, "He came home in 26 3/5."

The Meadowlands offers a post time of 6:20 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday.