After destroying another quality field and setting a 3 year old and lifetime mark of 1:48.3, Somebeachsomewhwere remains undefeated and will face a stiff test on Saturday night at the Meadowlands. For more info, check this Daily News article by Dave Little below.
later,
Joe Trainor (it's my real name, honest!!!)
Somebeachsomewhere preps for Meadowlands Pace FinalBY DAVE LITTLE, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Even before he stepped on to a track in the
United States, the hype had been though the roof. After winning his elimination in an electric 1:48.3 last week, Somebeachsomewhere has done nothing to temper expectations.
Saturday night at the
Meadowlands Racetrack is another big step. That's when he faces nine seemingly overmatched foes in the $1.1 million Meadowlands Pace for 3-year-olds, the track's signature event (post time, 10:14 p.m.).
There are reasons for the buzz surrounding the son of 2002 Pace winner Mach Three. Last year as a 2-year-old, he won all six of his starts and became the fastest freshman in the sport's history when he won the Metro (at
Mohawk Racetrack, near
Toronto) in 1:49.3.
He has come back this year perfect in four tries, including a dominant score in the $1.5 million
North America Cup (at Mohawk), but was most impressive last week when he ventured outside of his native
Canada for the first time in his career.
In his Meadowlands Pace elimination, the Brent MacGrath trainee toyed with his foes - even after being away from the races for a month - winning by 4-1/2lengths in a lifetime-best 1:48.3. His final quarter of :26.2 amazed all who saw it because of a nearly 20-mph wind. MacGrath, who spent $40,000 at auction to acquire the lone tenant in his stable, exuded low-key confidence at the Pace post draw on Tuesday.
"The horse was on a 30-day (layoff), so he's got to be tighter this week," said MacGrath. "I trained him three times total during that month off. He loves to race and he bounced out of this race real sharp."
The three elimination winners got to choose their post positions after drawing lots. Somebeachsomewhere will leave from post two for driver
Paul MacDonell (who's been friends with MacGrath for 25 years) and has been installed as the 2-5 favorite on track oddsmaker
Dave Brower's morning line.
Share The Delight has the rail and is 10-1 for
John Campbell, whose seven Pace victories are by far the most of any driver. Sand Shooter is 8-1 from post three for
Tim Tetrick, who guided 2007 Pace winner Southwind Lynx.
Opposing camps have nothing but respect for the likely 1-5 post-time favorite. "I never got to watch (the horse widely recognized as the greatest ever) Niatross race," Tetrick said. "But this is the greatest horse I have ever seen."
"I think Somebeachsomewhere is in a league of his own," said Share The Delight's trainer,
Linda Toscano. "But we're sure going to give (beating him) a try."
Three-time
Big M driving champion
Bill O'Donnell drove Niatross' greatest son, Nihilator, to victory in the 1985 Pace, lowering his sire's stakes-mark of 1:53.1 to a then unheard-of 1:50.3.
"They can't catch (Somebeachsomewhere) to find out if they can look him in the eye and wear him down," said O'Donnell. "He goes :27 quarters like he's walking."
