Meadowlands: Tall Dark Stranger routs rivals in Cane Pace

Tall Dark Stranger got back to business on Saturday, shattering the stakes record with a scintillating 1:47 1/5 romp in the $273,125 Cane Pace, the first leg of the Triple Crown of Pacing for 3-year-old colts and geldings, for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Nancy Takter at the Meadowlands.

Manticore and Captain Kirk left ahead of Tall Dark Stranger, with Captain Kirk and driver Joe Bongiorno seizing control at the 26 2/5 opening quarter. Gingras took his time but eventually would clear midway down the backstretch and would hit the half in 53 1/5 with Tall Dark Stranger. From there, the 3-10 betting favorite was able to set three-quarters in 1:21 as only Capt Midnight emerged on the outside during the race to the three-quarters.

Bongiorno, with Captain Kirk, pulled before the stretch, thinking he could once again pull off the upset of the Meadowlands Pace winner as he had a week ago in the Tompkins-Geers at the Meadowlands, but Gingras and Tall Dark Stranger would have none of it. They quickly sprinted clear of all rivals and marched home effortlessly with a 26 1/5 final quarter on the way to a career-best clocking.

Tall Dark Stranger, a son of Bettor's Delight, returned $2.60 to win, with Capt Midnight and Captain Kirk following him home in second and third.

"He raced super," said Takter following the victory.

Tall Dark Stranger was racing with Lasix for the first time on Saturday.

"I tried to get a breather in him past the half," said Gingras about the hot fractions. "After seeing the final time, I kind of wish I had let him roll a bit, he would have paced in (1):46."

Crawford Farms, Caviart Farms, Marvin Katz, and Howard Taylor share ownership in Tall Dark Stranger, who rebounded from his only career off-the-board finish to win for the 12th time in 14 career starts.