Meadowlands: Tall Dark Stranger wins lone Pace elimination

It looked easy on paper, and it proved the same in the race as Tall Dark Stranger marched to a facile 1:48 1/5 score in the lone $50,000 Meadowlands Pace elimination for 3-year-old colts and geldings on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

Sent off as the 2-5 choice, Yannick Gingras allowed Major Betts to seat Captain Kirk in the first turn before sending Tall Dark Stranger to the front at the 26 1/5 opening quarter. Though outside leavers Catch The Fire, Capt Midnight, and Papi Rob Hanover were on the gate and left hard, each elected to take back, with Andrew McCarthy letting Capt Midnight settle on the outside and go up on a very slow march.

Gingras appeared to be wondering where everyone was as he continued to look back to find very little outside progress. With no second quarter interest from the others, Tall Dark Stranger waltzed to the half in 54 4/5 and still had things well under control through a 1:22 1/5 three-quarters. By that call, at least Capt Midnight had gotten in Tall Dark Stranger's neighborhood, supplying cover for Papi Rob Hanover and Roll With Jr in the third-over slot.

Tall Dark Stranger, a son of Bettor's Delight, turned on the afterburners instantly into the stretch and immediately lost contact with his rivals as pocket-sitter Major Betts angled out and lost momentum. Captain Kirk used the inside path to his advantage, as Joe Bongiorno got the most from the Tony Alagna-trained colt who finished lapped-on the winner in second. Papi Rob Hanover had to settle for third in his second overland journey in two sophomore starts. The rest of the qualifiers in finish order were: Captain Barbossa, Manticore, Major Betts, Catch The Fire, and Roll With Jr.

"He performs every time I put him out on the racetrack," said winning trainer Nancy Takter. "Post five is a great place. It gives Yannick a lot of options. I was super happy with him tonight."

Crawford Farms, Marvin Katz, Caviart Farms, and Howard Taylor share ownership of Tall Dark Stranger, now a winner in 10 of his first 11 career starts for trainer Takter.

Post draw for the July 18 Meadowlands Pace final was conducted after Saturday’s eliminations. In post order the field looks this way: Roll With Jr, Catch The Fire, Captain Barbossa, Allywag Hanover, Tall Dark Stranger, Manticore, Chief Mate, Major Betts, Papi Rob Hanover and Captain Kirk.