Big Jim installed as Meadowlands Pace favorite
July 12, 2011,from the Meadowlands Media Relations Department
East Rutherford, NJ — New Jersey Classic winner Big Jim has been tabbed as the 2-1 morning line favorite in the $1 million Meadowlands Pace on Saturday (July 16).
The 3-year-old colt is 3-for-3 at Meadowlands Racetrack, including a win in his Meadowlands Pace elimination race on July 9. Elim winners earned the right to choose their starting posts for the $1 million final at Tuesday’s draw. His Canadian connections — owner James Carr, trainer James “Friday” Dean and driver Phil Hudon — elected to start Big Jim from post two.
“(Post two) is what Phil Hudon wanted,” said Jim Carr.
“I wanted post seven because he’s never lost from there,” he joked.
Big Jim was named the 2010 2-year-old Pacing Colt of the Year in both the United States and Canada. He will try to become the first 2-year-old divisional champion to win the Meadowlands Pace since Presidential Ball in 1993. So far this year, Big Jim has won three of six races, including the $400,000 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic on May 28, and $452,720. He was third in both his elimination and the $1.53 million final of the North America Cup at Mohawk.
Custard The Dragon, the upset winner of the other Pace elimination, was installed as the 4-1 second choice in the race. His driver, 20-year-old Montrell Teague, chose to start from post position three. The Hoosier Cup winner is one of three contenders in the race trained by Montrell’s father, George Teague, Jr. He has won four of nine races and $481,328 this season for Teague and co-owners Ted Gewertz, Robert Feldman and Fannin Racing LLC.
The Meadowlands Pace is carded as race nine with an estimated post time of 10:08 p.m. The track’s signature event shares the marquee with a quartet of $175,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes finals for 2-year-olds and the $127,000 Tarport Hap, headlined by undefeated 3-year-old filly See You At Peelers.
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Odds
1. Westwardho Hanover–Brett Miller–Tim Pinske–15/1
2. Big Jim–Phil Hudon–James “Friday” Dean–2/1
3. Custard The Dragon–Montrell Teague–George Teague Jr.–4/1
4. Feel Like A Fool–Brian Sears–George Teague Jr.–12/1
5. Wink N Atcha–Yannick Gingras–George Teague Jr.–15/1
6. Powerful Mist–Andy Miller–Wayne Givens–5/1
7. Betterthancheddar–David Miller–Casie Coleman–10/1
8. Roll With Joe–Brian Sears–Ed Hart–6/1
9. Bestofbest Hanover–Mike Lachance–Daniel Martin–15/1
10. Foreclosure N–Tim Tetrick–Mark Steacy–10/1
- Pace win would be ultimate Father-Son moment for the Teagues (Wednesday, July 13, 2011)
When trainer George Teague, Jr. hands Custard The Dragon’s lines to the youngest driver to ever compete in the $1 million Meadowlands Pace final on Saturday, he will have nothing but confidence in the 20-year-old.
- Meadowlands is home for Big Jim (Wednesday, July 13, 2011)
Big Jim has enjoyed racing at Meadowlands Racetrack this year. The 3-year-old colt is 3-for-3 at the Big M, including a win in his Meadowlands Pace elimination race on July 9 and a victory in the $400,000 New Jersey Classic on May 28.
- Betterthancheddar could give Coleman and Calhoun elusive Pace win (Monday, July 11, 2011)
Having enjoyed successes over the years, horse owner Steve Calhoun and trainer Casie Coleman will try and take it a step further and make history on Saturday.
- Big Jim has Nagle family rooting for Pace win (Friday, July 15, 2011)
When Tim Nagle and his wife, Delores, brought their grandson Kyle to Meadowlands Racetrack on May 28, they hoped to pick a few winners. They never thought they would end up in the winner’s circle.