The $67,000 Matt's Scooter Final for three-year-old colt pacers highlights the 14-race Saturday card at Meadowlands Racetrack
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Cambassador is one of three finalists in the race beginning on the path to the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup on June 26 and $1 million Meadowlands Pace on July 17. He is assessed at odds of 68-1 in Trot Magazine's 2010 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book. The son of Cams Card Shark shares the connections of 2009 NA Cup and Meadowlands Pace winner Well Said: trainer Steve Elliott, driver Ron Pierce and owner Jeff Snyder. Rated at 5-1 on the morning line, Cambassdor begins his sophomore stakes campaign from Post 3 in the Matt's Scooter Final.
"Cambassador was a $20,000 purchase as a yearling at Harrisburg, which kind of shocked me," said Snyder, who owned the gelding's sire and 1994 Horse of the Year. "You know, I'm always a Cams Card Shark buyer and we liked this one, so we bought him. Unfortunately, he wasn't training well as a two-year-old. Ed Hart had him last year and had to geld him. He was so disappointing that it was recommended we take him out of all his stakes.
"We put him in the New Jersey Classic Sale [last August], and I bought him back for $30,000 because he showed a little promise late in the season at the Meadowlands," continued. "I also sold half of him at that point to Bob Unice."
Cambassador's two wins as a freshman came in back-to-back fashion at the Meadowlands, providing Snyder with a glimmer of hope about his future as a stakes contender.
"He cut a mile in 1:52.3 from post eight [on August 13], and he did it the right way," Snyder said. "He didn't beat much, but he took pressure all the way. Right then and there, we felt we had something. That convinced us to stake him up pretty good this year.
"This year, he made a break in one qualifier at Pompano Park, but that was no big deal," he continued. "He won his next qualifier down there, which was good. Then, he finished second to Rock N Roll Heaven in a qualifier [April 8 at the Meadowlands], coming home in :26.4."
Cambassador made his three-year-old debut in the $16,000 second leg of the Matt's Scooter Series on April 17. He rallied off a ground-saving trip to score a two and three-quarter-length victory in a career best 1:51.3.
"Last week, he was pacing really strong at the wire [:26.4]," Snyder said. "What we like about him this year is he's able to sit in, and last year you couldn't control him too well. His manners are better now. Ron Pierce had to check him, swerve out and he surged home. We certainly don't know if he's a top horse yet, but he's a very hard-trying horse. He wants to be a winner and a real champion.
"Ideal Matters looks tough," Snyder said of Cambassador's competition in Saturday night's final. "Europan Union impressed me last week, and I think he's going to get the good trip. We might have to go first up, yet we'll see. If it works out Cambassador will be charging late."
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)