Down Under import Christopher Dance N muscled up to the front early on the way to leading at every call in the Saturday, Aug. 30 feature at The Meadowlands, a $23,973 high-end conditioned pace.

Driven by Johnathan Ahle for trainer Jeff Cullipher, the five-year-old son of Sweet Lou-Just Dance went around 1-2 favourite Its My Show to grab the top past the quarter in the six-horse field in :26.4. Racing over a track that was kind to horses on the front end, Christopher Dance N then reached the half in :54.3.

Just after the half, Its My Show went on a break, leaving Christopher Dance N on a 1-1/2-length lead as he went past three-quarters in 1:23, and after a :26.4 final quarter, Christopher Dance N reported home a four-length winner in a lifetime-best 1:49.4. Stay Grounded (Jack Callaghan) was second with Mad Max Hanover (James Kennedy) third.

“When he won at Chester [on Aug. 17], it was an easier bunch and he got his way pretty easy,” said Ahle. “He faced tougher horses tonight and he did it easy again. I was a little concerned with Mad Max Hanover because he just keeps coming, but I thought I had the jump on him and we’d be okay. I have no complaints with this horse. He does everything right.”

Since his arrival from Australia, Christopher Dance N has won twice from three starts. Owned by Pollack Racing LLC, he’s now won seven of 15 lifetime outings. As the 2-1 second choice, he returned $6.80 to win.

Nick Montemurro finished second in the eighth edition of the 2025 Meadowlands $1,000 USD Monthly Handicapping Contest, but it’s likely he’s good with that, as he now has four top-two finishes, meaning he has four entries in the year-end competition that takes place on Dec. 13. That final has prize money totaling $10,000 USD. Finishing in the top spot Saturday was Emile Issa, who built his $100 USD bankroll into $540 USD, which was $15 more than Montemurro’s $525 USD. The next monthly edition of the contest takes place on Oct. 25.

Brett Beckwith and Braxten Boyd led the driver colony with three winners each while Cullipher, Mike Russo, and Shane Tritton topped the trainers with a pair of victories apiece. All-source handle on the 14-race card totaled $2,448,495. 

Racing resumes on Friday, Sept. 5 at 6:20 p.m. for the first of two weekends of live harness racing before Thoroughbred turf racing takes center stage for a four-week run.

(The Meadowlands)