The second edition of the $100,000 Paul Revere Pace for three-year-olds in 2023 will go postward in two six-horse divisions at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (May 4) and many of the entrants will be making their initial appearance on the track this year.
The first group will go as race three and it appears to be a very even field.
Thunder Hunter Joe (Hunstville-Thunder Angel) was solid in the New York Sire Stakes last year registering three consecutive second-place finishes before getting beaten only four lengths in the final where he was race timed in 1:51.1, his fastest outing last year. Since qualifying back, Thunder Hunter Joe won a gate-to-wire outing at Yonkers in his first start in a lifetime best 1:53. Tyler Buter will drive Thunder Hunter Joe from post six for trainer Nicholas Devita.
Metal Man (Huntsville-Apple Delight) was unraced at two but started his three-year-old season a winner in an overnight at the Meadowlands in 1:52.3 with a :27.3 last quarter. Unfortunately, in his next start, he broke and then was subsequently scratched in back-to-back races. He has since qualified back at Pocono Downs where he finished second in 1:53.1, posting a nice line after five weeks off. He is a high-speed horse and a wild card in this field. Trainer Travis Alexander has Matt Kakaley back in the bike once again starting from post three.
Captain Planet (Captaintreacherous-Angelou) has made three solid starts this year racing at the Meadowlands. He was race timed in 1:50.3 finishing a game third in his first effort since last September and in his last outing flashed an eye-popping :25.4 final quarter after being parked in a third-over flow. Josert Fonseca will be at the lines from post four for trainer Nancy Takter.
After scoring three wins last year, Peppermint Man (American Ideal-Sweet Lady Jane) saw his campaign come to an end early due to sickness. But since starting back in April, he has looked fresh in back to back qualifiers, winning the last in lifetime best 1:52.3 at Pocono. He may be a threat from post one for trainer Hunter Oakes, who has Mitchell Cushing in the driver's seat.
The second division goes postward as race five and has a couple of heavy hitters ready to square off.
Goldin Greatness (Huntsville-Bet On Hill) had a full slate of stakes all over North America at two, but really showed his speed potential in his last two starts of the season in the Kindergarten Series at the Meadowlands. He finished second in 1:53.4 with a :25.4 last quarter and then third in 1:49.4 with a :26.2 final frame. This year, he qualified back finishing second while pacing in 1:50.1 at the Meadowlands before winning his first start of the year at the Big M as well in 1:52 flat, coming home in :26.3 to post a new lifetime mark. Trainer Chris Ryder has regular reinsman Dexter Dunn lined up for this test, starting from post five.
Blue Hunt (Huntsville-All On Top Hanover) comes into this stakes as the highest lifetime money-earner of the group with $170,623 on his card. A three-time New York Sire Stakes winner at two and fourth-place finisher in the NYSS final where he was race timed in 1:51, Blue Hunt also competed in the Lexington colt stakes and the Breeders Crown. His last start of the year was the Kindergarten Classic at the Meadowlands where he finished second to Loubet, pacing in 1:49.4 with a :26.2 final panel. He has two tighteners back, both at the Meadowlands, that sported :25.1 and :26.3 last quarters, respectively. He looks ready to go and trainer Erica Chartrand has called on local favourite Shawn Gray to pilot the gelding from post six.
Sheer Terror (Always B Miki-Economy Terror) did not win as a two-year-old but prior to starting his sophomore year in 2023, posted a very impressive 10-1/4-length qualifying win at the Meadowlands in 1:52.4 with a :26.2 kicker, that also afforded him a lifetime mark. Since then, he has gotten cheques in all three of his starts and just last week was flying home late to make up four lengths in a :25.4 final quarter. He looks poised for a big outing here off the great draw. A Hall of Fame duo will send this horse to post from pylon position as Dave Miller will drive for trainer Joe Holloway.
The stakes record for the Paul Revere Pace was set by Groovy Man and Yannick Gingras last year when they toured the facility at Plainridge Park in 1:52.1 on a cool April afternoon.
Post time for the first race Thursday is 4 p.m.
(Plainridge Park; Photo of Goldin Greatness winning at The Meadowlands)