Control The Moment will start from post nine as the 5-2 morning-line favourite in the single $50,000 Meadowlands Pace elimination on Saturday, July 9.
“He hasn’t been the luckiest horse,” co-owner Howard Taylor said, “as evidenced by another nine-hole.” He's drawn the second outermost post in three of his last four starts.
The 2015 O’Brien Award winner as Two-Year-Old Pacer of the Year has one win to his credit in five starts this season after a freshman campaign consisting of eight wins in nine starts, amassing $644,707 in his career.
“I’ve been disappointed in where he’s finished, but I’m very satisfied with his performances,” Taylor said.
Control The Moment’s lone win came in a Max Hempt elimination, where he went wire-to-wire as the 4-5 favourite in 1:49.3.
“I think he’s a better horse on the front,” Taylor said. “He’d rather be the target than chase the target. If he can get the lead, great; if not, discretion is on our side. We have one of the best drivers in the country, a [future] Hall of Famer. I’ll leave the drive up to him.”
Starting off the season trying to race from off the pace in the Somebeachsomewhere and North America Cup elimination, Control The Moment has since demonstrated early speed, which carried him into a speed duel in the North America Cup final and positioned him first over in the Max Hempt final.
“He’s in great shape after the Hempt,” Taylor said. “Brad [Maxwell]’s a conservative trainer, so he didn’t have him honed for his first start. He needed the North America Cup to sharpen himself; he has pretty much raced himself into shape.”
Brian Sears picks up the drive for Randy Waples, marking the first time someone other than Waples has driven the colt.
“It was a logistical decision,” Taylor said. “Randy was coming down for only one drive, and the elimination isn’t for that much money, and with the way he [Control The Moment] has been drawing, I didn’t think it would be fair.”
“Randy has done a great job with the horse,” Taylor also said. “But sometimes change for change’s sake can change your luck.”
With 11 horses entering the Meadowlands Pace, the top nine from the elimination will advance to the final. The winner will draw from posts one through six.
“The draw in the final is vital,” Taylor said. “Last year, I had In The Arsenal. He won his elimination, and, with the post protection, he naturally drew post six. I’d rather have a better horse fresher, but obviously I’d like to win, especially the way he [Control The Moment] has been drawing. I’d like to eliminate some of the risk.”
“I’d much rather have 11 race without an elimination,” Taylor also said. “I guess everybody says ‘If I have a horse in, I want the right to put my nose on the gate.’ I’d rather have the 11 hole than the seven, eight, nine, ten hole. Matter of fact, I have another horse that’s in there. Had I known [there would be an elimination], I wouldn’t have entered.”
Taylor is a partner in the Control The Moment Stable -- comprised of trainer Maxwell, Edwin Gold, Ben Mudry and Tara Hills Stud -- who own the three-year-old son of Well Said from the Life Sign mare Lifesliltreasure. The Pennsylvania-based owner has experienced wins in some of harness racing's biggest stakes events but the Meadowlands Pace sits near the top of his ownership bucket list.
“The Hambletonian’s the number one race I want to win, but the Meadowlands Pace is in the top five, that’s for sure.”
$50,000 Meadowlands Pace elimination (approx. post time 9:15 p.m.)
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Odds
1. Talk Show - Scott Zeron - Steve Elliott - 10-1
2. Lyons Snyder - David Miller - Mark Silva - 4-1
3. Another Daily Copy - Trace Tetrick - Nick Devita - 15-1
4. JK Will Power - Yannick Gingras- Ron Burke - 6-1
5. Boston Red Rocks - Tim Tetrick - Steve Elliott - 3-1
6. Manhattan Beach - Joe Bongiorno - Ron Burke - 15-1
7. Good Living - Brett Miller - Tom Cancelliere - 20-1
8. Check Six - Matt Kakaley - Ron Burke - 8-1
9. Control The Moment - Brian Sears - Brad Maxwell - 5-2
10. Ideal Rocky - Corey Callahan - John Butenschoen - 20-1
To view the entries for Saturday's card, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Meadowlands Racetrack
(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Ray Cotolo)