Meadowlands: Stay Hungry, Courtly Choice victorious in Meadowlands Pace eliminations

Stay Hungry continued a great weekend for trainer Tony Alagna, and Courtly Choice rewarded the confidence his connections showed in him after they paid a supplemental fee for his entry by winning the two $50,000 Meadowlands Pace eliminations for sophomore pacing colts on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

In the first elimination Hayden Hanover (Andy Miller) led the field of seven to the opening quarter in 27 2/5, but Nutcracker Sweet (David Miller) rushed out of third past that marker, and he would get to the half in just 55 1/5. Ideal Feeling (Corey Callahan) pulled first-up from fourth at that point, giving a second-over trip to Stay Hungry (Doug McNair).

Nutcracker Sweet clicked off three-quarters in 1:23 and kept command into the lane, but he was under siege from both sides inside the final eighth, with Stay Hungry coming on best of all and winning in 1:49 flat. Hayden Hanover slipped up the cones for second, with Thinkbig Dreambig (Jordan Stratton) coming off the winner's cover for third. Nutcracker Sweet was fourth, and This Is The Plan (Tim Tetrick) collected fifth.

"It worked out great," said McNair. "Obviously the fractions weren't on our side. They went a pretty cheap half, but he got the job done. He was a great 2-year-old, and he's come back good this year."

Alagna trains Stay Hungry, a Somebeachsomewhere colt, for owners Brad Grant and Irwin Samelman. This was Stay Hungry's eighth career victory, and he has now earned $684,384. He was the 2-1 second choice and paid $6.40 to win.

"He's come back well. The five-eighths-mile racing really isn't his forte," remarked Alagna, who had four winners on Friday night. "I thought he was a little short in the North America Cup. I thought he should have been at least second to Lather Up, but he scoped with some mucous that night. We've been really working hard on that, and everything came together tonight."

The other elimination featured two supplemental entrants in Jimmy Freight (Louis-Philippe Roy) and Courtly Choice (David Miller), and it would be Jimmy Freight leading the way through panels of 27, 54 2/5, and 1:22 2/5 with Courtly Choice coming first-over from third on the far turn.

Courtly Choice would wear down Jimmy Freight in the lane, and he just kept on going to the wire, defeating Alagna trainee American History (Yannick Gingras) by three-parts of a length in a 1:48 2/5 mile. Jimmy Freight and Dorsoduro Hanover (Matt Kakaley) dead-heated for third, and Babes Dig Me (Brett Miller) was on for fifth to give Alagna a trio of finalists.Derick GiwnerCourtly Choice on his way to victory

"I got away where I thought I was going to," offered David Miller. "I thought Dorsoduro Hanover would maybe leave harder and maybe press the pace, but they were moving along good. I was comfortable where he was at, and I didn't have to move him until going into the last turn. He felt really strong, and at theh ead of the lane I asked him, and he paced very hard.

"He's got big lungs. He can go a long ways, and he can carry his speed. He's got all the qualities, that's for sure."

Courtly Choice, an Art Major colt, is trained by Blake MacIntosh for owners Hutt Racing Stable, Mac And Heim Stables, Daniel Plouffe, and Touch Stone Farms. The winner of the consolations for both the North America Cup and the Hempt Memorial, Courtly Choice is now a seven-time winner in his life, and he has pocketed $173,596. He was the 2-1 second choice and returned $6.00 to win.

"Monday morning when we saw that Lather Up and Lost In Time were out, I texted Daniel Plouffe and said it'd be nice to supplement, and he said let's do it," MacIntosh said about the decision to pony up the $60,000-plus supplemental fee. "I said jeez that's a lot of money, I only own 12.5%, and he said I'll talk to the other owners. I talked to everybody, and everybody was on board. I've got a lot of good owners, and I'm fortunate.

"He's right up there for me. He's just got so much speed and talent and just keeps going. I liked his brother Betterthancheddar, and Casie (Coleman) did a great job with him. He's a lot like Betterthancheddar. Last year he was really immature. All he could think about was breeding. He just couldn't keep his thought on racing. He's just matured into a nice horse, and he loves to race now."

Here's how the field will line up for next Saturday night's final:

1. Stay Hungry (Doug McNair, Tony Alagna), 3-1
2. This Is The Plan (Tim Tetrick, Chris Ryder), 15-1
3. American History (Yannick Gingras, Tony Alagna), 5-1
4. Jimmy Freight (Louis-Philippe Roy, Andrew Harris), 9-2
5. Courtly Choice (David Miller, Blake MacIntosh), 5-2
6. Nutcracker Sweet (No Driver, Jimmy Takter), 15-1
7. Hayden Hanover (Andy Miller, Julie Miller), 8-1
8. Thinkbig Dreambig (Jordan Stratton, Jimmy Takter), 12-1
9. Babes Dig Me (Brett Miller, Tony Alagna), 30-1
10. Dorsoduro Hanover (Matt Kakaley, Ron Burke), 15-1

In other action on the card, Lima Novelty (Scott Zeron), who started from post 12, made front past the 56 3/5 half and went on to win the single $66,200 Mary Reynolds division for 3-year-old trotting fillies in 1:52 1/5. Lucky Ava (Ake Svanstedt) was the second-place finisher, and Ciao Dolce (Andy Miller) came in third.

Linda Toscano is the trainer of Lima Novelty, a daughter of Chapter Seven, and Ken Jacobs owns. She now has a record of 7-1-3 from 15 trips behind the gate, and she has pocketed $162,052. She was sent off at 16-1 and paid $34.20 to win.