Roll With Joe Captures $1 Million Meadowlands Pace

Roll With Joe held off a late rally by Big Jim to win the 35th edition of the $1 million Meadowlands Pace on Saturday night. 

Driven by Ron Pierce, Roll With Joe grudgingly yielded to Custard The Dragon at the half, retook command on the final turn and held off 8-5 favorite Big Jim by a neck in 1:48.2.  Wink N Atcha finished third.  Roll With Joe, trained by Ed Hart, paid $12.60.

Pierce picked up the drive on Roll With Joe after Brian Sears opted for Feel Like A Fool in the Pace final.  The Hall of Famer has now won three of the last four editions of the Pace, including a 1:47 stakes record in 2008 with Art Official. 

"Several people called me up and told me that this colt can really go," Pierce said.  "He was better than everybody thought he was, I can tell you that.  He was as slick as they come.  I'm telling you, he really felt super. 

"I almost didn't let the boy [20-year-old driver Montrell Teague and Custard The Dragon] cross over because this colt felt so good," Pierce continued.  "I felt just like leaving him out there, but I figured I'd let him cross over and see what happens.  I did the same thing with Art Official.  I tipped him out and knew I was going to go by [Custard The Dragon].  I was just worried about someone catching him from the back.  I thought I had enough to hold [Big Jim] off."

Roll With Joe improved his record to five wins in 15 career starts.  The colt gave Hart his first win in his first Pace appearance.

"He had an excellent week, trained good," Hart said.  "[Ron] Pierce drove him super.  He put him in the race and he had real confidence in him.  I'm just thrilled.  I've been at the Meadowlands my whole life.  To win this race, I can't believe it!"

Bred by Joe and JoAnn Thomson's Winbak Farm of Chesapeake City, MD, the son of Cam's Card Shark-Classic Wish was a $100,000 yearling purchase at the Lexington-Selected Sale. The Thomsons share ownership of the colt with Blue Chip Bloodstock [Mike Kimelman Jr. and Thomas Grossman] of Wallkill, NY; Stephen Demeter of Tarrytown, NY and Not To Worry Stable [Shelia Baird and Scott Kimelman] of New York, NY.

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Peelers Stays Perfect In Tarport Hap

See You At Peelers extended her undefeated streak to 20 wins in the $127,000 Tarport Hap four races before the Pace.  However, it was not a smooth-sailing journey for harness racing's biggest star. 

After sweeping three-wide to the top, See You At Peelers was rushed by Krispy Apples, who took over before drifting wide and out of contention on the far turn.  Idyllic, the pocket sitter, also took aim at 'Peelers but broke stride when tapped with the whip and finished a length behind in second.  See You At Peelers dug in for a 1:51 victory in rein to Brian Sears.  She paid $2.20.

"They took some good shots at her tonight," Sears said.  "Timmy's horse [Tetrick and Krispy Apples] looked like she wanted to pull up on the last turn.  Then Dave [Miller and Idyllic] came at her strong and just happened to go off stride.  She was pacing hard to the wire, so I've got no complaints.  She's a hell of a mare and they've been doing a great job with her."

See You At Peelers now has earnings of $1,287,539 for trainer Jimmy Takter, his wife, Christina, and co-owners John and Jim Fielding.

"This was basically all the top fillies in one spot," Takter said.  "I knew it wouldn't be easy.  She had to work hard to get to the half and she worked it out.  I was a little surprised when Tim came on the outside.

"It looks like [her next start] could be at Yonkers, 10 or 11 days from now," Takter added.  "It's nice to continue the winning streak.  It's good for the sport.  It's nice to have a filly like this who is cheered on by the crowd."

All three sophomore fillies who went on to become Horse Of The Year won the Tarport Hap along the way: Fan Hanover (1981), Bunny Lake (2001) and Rainbow Blue (2004).