All eyes were on Meadowlands Pace champ Confederate, the 2-5 favourite, in the $315,750 Cane Pace and the Brett Pelling trainee didn't disappoint with a stakes record-equalling performance.
Driven by Tim Tetrick, Confederate exploded off cover in the stretch to win the second jewel of Pacing's Triple Crown in 1:47.3 on Saturday at Meadowlands Racetrack.
El Rey (Scott Zeron) established the early lead into the first turn over Strengthfromabove (Joe Bongiorno) with Ammo (David Miller) sweeping up from third to take over command as they reached the quarter in :26.3. Christchurch (Yannick Gingras) was next to move and he was on the lead by the half in :54.1.
After watching the early action from mid-pack, Confederate followed the cover of Seven Colors (Dexter Dunn), who confronted Christchurch on top past the 1:21.2 three-quarters mark. The leading pair continued to battle down the stretch, but Confederate powered past them both to win by a widening four lengths with a :25.4 final frame. Seven Colors finished second over Christchurch.
"That was an absolute perfect trip for him. I don't even know if he really needs a trip like that," said Pelling. "All hats to Timmy, he had him in a perfect spot and he got to show off and he was all wrapped up, just cruising, it was great."
The millionaire Sweet Lou-Geothermal colt, who is just a head shy of a perfect sophomore record, earned his 10th career victory from 13 starts for owner/breeder Diamond Creek. He paid $2.40 to win.
"This horse has got a great chance to finish off the year with higher claim and I think he's a special horse," said Pelling, noting the connections would debate a start in the Little Brown Jug. "He's a beautiful horse to look at, he takes care of himself. He's actually no trouble to us at all. He came to us in really great shape."
"This guy's in a league of his own and he's really stamping himself as the best horse in training right now," added Diamond Creek's Adam Bowden.
Confederate was a $35,000 supplemental entry to the Cane Pace.
Captain Batboy, who won the first leg of the Triple Crown, the MGM Messenger Stakes, was not eligible to the Cane Pace.
Click on the following link for coverage of the 2023 Hambletonian and a replay of the day's stakes events.