Gordon Waterstone

Lexington, KY — The biggest rivalry in the Midwest will move to the Big Apple this weekend as Charlie May and Heart Of Chewbacca have drawn into the first of two $40,000 eliminations (race eight) for the MGM Grand Messenger Stake for 3-year-old pacers on Friday night (June 25) at Yonkers Raceway. The pair of Ohio-based sophomores will be joined by the Ohio-owned Chase H Hanover in that same elimination, giving the seven-horse heat a strong Buckeye State flavor.

“I don’t know the players except for Heart Of Chewbacca,” admitted Charlie May’s trainer Steve Carter. “I do know we have to beat three to get back into the final.”

The Messenger is the first leg of pacing’s Triple Crown and is a race that returns after being canceled last year due to the pandemic. The other legs of the Triple Crown include the Cane Pace (Aug. 7 at The Meadowlands) and Little Brown Jug (Sept. 23 at Delaware, Ohio).

The top four finishers in each Messenger elimination will return for the final at Yonkers on Friday night (July 2).

In addition to the trio of Ohio-connected horses, the second elimination includes Always A Miki, a multiple winner on the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes circuit; American Courage, who won the Springfield final last year at Yonkers; and Whichwaytothebeach, who is a perfect four-for-four this year and is riding an overall five-race win streak that stretches back into last year.

The second Messenger elim (race nine) also has a pair of heavyweights in the Tony Alagna-trained entry of Abuckabett Hanover and Exploit. Abuckabett Hanover boasts a perfect three-for-three slate this year, including handing the 2020 2-year-old Colt Pacer of the Year Perfect Sting his first-ever defeat in a Pennsylvania Sires Stakes split on May 16 at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, while Exploit, who won last year’s $540,000 Metro final at Woodbine Mohawk Park, has two scores this year, including a May 16 PASS division at Pocono.

Charlie May scored in an OSS division on June 19 at Scioto in a lifetime-best 1:49.3. Conrad photo.

As for the Heart Of Chewbacca versus Charlie May rivalry, the former won the first showdown last year in an Ohio Sires Stakes leg, but the latter got a measure of revenge in the $300,000 OSS final. The pair have battled each other four times this year, with each scoring twice.

Friday night’s Messenger elimination will mark the first time each pacer will make a start outside of Ohio. Heart Of Chewbacca will start from post six with regular driver Dan Noble making the trip east, while Charlie May will line up in the outside post seven with Brett Miller remaining in the sulky.

The pair of pacers finished one-two against each other their last two starts, with Heart Of Chewbacca capturing a June 12 overnight at Scioto Downs in a career-best 1:48.4 and Charlie May scoring in an OSS division on June 19 at Scioto in a lifetime-best 1:49.3.

“We had a couple little bumps in the road earlier this year but he’s really good right now,” said Carter, who trains Charlie May for breeder-owner Don Tiger.

Carter was primarily referring to the $40,000 Hackett Memorial final on April 17 at Miami Valley when the gelding made a break while on the lead at the three-quarters. That race was won by Heart Of Chewbacca in 1:51.1 and was the only time Charlie May has missed a check in his 14 career starts.

“I believe I had the hobbles too long, and he had a quarter crack,” Carter explained of the rare miscue by Charlie May, who was named Ohio’s 2020 2-year-old Male Pacer of the Year. “It was those two things.”

Carter said he shipped Charlie May to the fairgrounds in Goshen, N.Y., on Monday (June 21) to prepare for the Messenger elims. He expects a good performance from the son of McArdle-Stipple Hanover.

“I think he’ll do fine,” said Carter. “We shipped (Monday night) and it was a long ride.

“He’s very versatile and very nice to drive. I won’t tell Brett anything. He’s been there before and knows what he’s doing.”

Heart Of Chewbacca has never been worse than second in 13 career starts, with $288,848 in earnings. Conrad photo.

Heart Of Chewbacca, who is trained by Ron Burke for Ohio-based owners Dennis Owens and Norman Rae Racing, has never been worse than second in 13 career starts, posting nine wins and four seconds, with $288,848 in earnings. Heart Of Chewbacca is a son of Bring On The Beach, who earned just $12,001 on the racetrack but is a full brother to Somebeachsomewhere, who won the 2008 Messenger on his way to Horse of the Year honors.

As for Chase H Hanover, co-owner/trainer Scott Cox said he will ship Thursday to Mark Ford’s farm in Middletown, N.Y., in preparation for the Messenger elims. The son of Captaintreacherous was winless his first three starts this year before notching a 1:51.3 victory in a June 9 overnight at The Meadows.

“He needed a little confidence builder,” said Cox. “I wouldn’t say he had a couple bad races, but he didn’t have any luck his previous two races.”

Cox, who trains at Sahbra Farm in Streetsboro, Ohio, said Chase H Hanover grew in size over the winter, but still has a laid-back attitude when it comes to racing.

“I think he is a little bit bigger and stronger this year, but he’s still a little lackadaisical,” said Cox. “He needs to be in the race. He doesn’t want to over-exert himself, which is kind of good because he takes care of himself.”

Chase H Hanover has banked $256,085 lifetime. USTA/Mark Hall photo.

Brian Sears, who has directed Chase H Hanover in four of his 14 career starts, including a second-place finish in last year’s $253,000 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes final, will be in the sulky on Friday from post four.

“I’ve known Brian since he started out at The Meadows,” explained Cox. “With him, you aren’t always going to win every one, but you know he’s going to take care of (your horse).”

Cox knows Chase H Hanover has his work cut out for him in the Messenger elim.

“You know what, me and my partner (Jason Ash) said every race is going to be tough,” said Cox. “It’s never easy. I don’t think any race is easy anymore.

“I train on a half at Sahbra Farm and he’s very good gaited. I thought he would set up real good for (Yonkers). You have to be able to get yourself in the final to go for the big money.”

Also on Friday, Yonkers will host eliminations for the MGM Yonkers Trot for 3-year-old trotters, Park MGM Pace for 3-year-old female pacers and New York-New York Mile for 3-year-old female trotters.

Racing begins at 7:15 p.m. (EDT) Friday at Yonkers. For complete entries, click here.