Brandon Blvd and driver Dexter Dunn took the lead on the backstretch and then held off a slew of challengers in the stretch to capture the $1,140,845 Meadowlands Pace (Grade 1) for three-year-olds in 1:48.1 on Saturday, July 11 at The Meadowlands.
Al Papi (Yannick Gingras) was second in the 50th edition of the race, sponsored by Genova Burns LLC, with Gentlemans Club (Andrew McCarthy) third and Melillo (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) fourth. All three were just a head behind Brandon Blvd in the photo finish while fifth-place Sweet Lovin Lou (Scott Zeron) was a length back.
It was the first Meadowlands Pace victory for driver Dexter Dunn as well as for the New Jersey-based Punisher 11 Stable ownership group of William Pollock, Bruce Areman and trainer Andrew Harris.
“There’s no words,” Dunn said about getting his first Pace triumph. “I’ve got to thank Andy and Bill and Bruce for giving me the drive on 'Brandon.' It’s such a historic race, and I’ve come close before [finishing second by a head in 2019]. The emotions are so different when you get to win it. My emotions right now are right up there.”
“It’s thrilling to get this done," said Harris. "A big huge thank you to Bill and Bruce. They could have gone to anybody, and they gave me a little shot and here we are. I’m sitting here with the Meadowlands Pace in my trophy cabinet. It’s the greatest feeling in the world and I can’t thank them enough.”
Starting from post two, Brandon Blvd got away fourth going into the first turn as Sweet Lovin Lou won a battle with Gentlemans Club and Toby Ornot Toby (Tim Tetrick) to lead to the opening quarter in :26.3. Dunn kept Brandon Blvd in motion and took the top spot on his way to the half in :54.2 but Melillo was on the move first-over, with Al Papi following that cover.
Brandon Blvd and Melillo raced side by side around the final turn, reaching three-quarters in 1:21.4, before others joined the pursuit down the stretch. Brandon Blvd began to separate himself from Melillo, but Al Papi charged on the outside and Gentlemans Club from between horses to keep the pressure on Brandon Blvd all the way to the wire.
“He got out of the gate good,” said Dunn. “I was in a spot where I could keep moving to the front or come first-over. He’s been so strong, so we moved to the front.
“[In the stretch], I was sort of surrounded by horses and they were all travelling fairly good. I had a look over my shoulder and I knew it was going to be a battle up the straight. To the horse’s credit, he really dug deep tonight.
“He probably didn’t feel quite as sharp as last week [in his 1:47.3 elimination victory]. I was a little worried on the last turn, but he’s a tough horse and he knows how to win.”
Added Harris about the finish, “You’ve got every thought going through your head, and they’re great horses. To show his heart and battle like he does is just a credit to the horse.”
Brandon Blvd, a son of Downbytheseaside-Alexis Faith, won for the fourth time in six races this season and 11th time in 16 career starts. The colt, bred by Crawford Farms, pushed his lifetime earnings over the million-dollar mark.
“He’s a great horse,” said Pollock. “He’s well worth the [$574,324 yearling price] investment. We love the horse. He’s very aggressive. We’ve got a super, super driver; couldn’t do any better than Dex. I’m very happy about it. This was so exciting.”
“The big boy dug in pretty good there,” said Areman, before later adding, “It’s a little different when you pick the horse out as a baby and you break them and you train them down and develop a champion. Andrew did it and I’m really proud of him.”
Brandon Blvd, a runner-up in the Grade 1 North America Cup and winner of the Grade 3 Paul Revere Pace and Somebeachsomewhere Stakes, was the heavy 1-5 favourite and paid $2.40 to win.
All-source handle on the 14-race Meadowlands Pace Night program totalled $4,053,560 USD.
For coverage of the star-studded Meadowlands Pace undercard, click here.
A replay of the entire Meadowlands Pace card is available below.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)