East Rutherford, NJ — Catch The Fire and Allywag Hanover won their respective divisions of Saturday’s (Aug. 7) Sam McKee Memorial, for free-for-all pacers, at The Meadowlands.

Catch The Fire shifted to the outside and paced down the leader to win in 1:47.2. USTA/Mark Hall photo.

In the first split, worth $157,100, favorite Nicholas Beach left quickly from the outside to chase Backstreet Shadow and Catch The Fire, both of whom sought good early spots.

The first quarter action was swift as Backstreet Shadow cut a :26 panel, but Catch The Fire, driven by Scott Zeron, took over before yielding when Nicholas Beach shuffled him back to take over.

American History came first-over to chase the leader in a :53.2 half, but to no avail as Nicholas Beach maintained command through three-quarters in 1:20.3. The early speed shuffles were unkind to Nicholas Beach, who gave way late when Catch The Fire shifted to the outside and paced down the leader to win in 1:47.2. Backstreet Shadow held for third with Workin Ona Mystery fourth.

Catch The Fire, a son of Captaintreacherous whom Todd Luther trains for Black Magic Racing and CT Stables, raised his bankroll to $879,065. He paid $9.00 to win.

“He’s shown up every week for us,” said Luther. “The first time I’ve been here for the Hambo, and he showed up for us (again). I think we’ll go to the Dan Patch next week, and hopefully he comes out of it good.”

Zeron said, “I never dreamed heading into it (that) I would be able to have a two-hole trip, but Todd made a big change — a closed bridle — and he was a different horse behind the gate. He left out better than I thought, and it got me in a good position.”

Allywag Hanover shook free for Todd McCarthy and won in 1:48. USTA/Mark Hall photo.

In the $158,500 second division, This Is The Plan shot to the lead off the gate, followed by Allywag Hanover and Cattlewash through a :26.2 first quarter. Cattlewash pulled out from third and rushed to the lead up the backstretch with Captain Barbossa at his tail, a move that shuffled Allywag Hanover to fifth by the half in :53.4.

The front four battled to three-quarters in 1:21.2 while Allywag Hanover shook free for Todd McCarthy, going three-wide to charge strongly down the stretch, catching This Is The Plan and Cattlewash easily to win in 1:48. Also soaring late was Western Joe, who edged This Is The Plan for second. Captain Barbossa was fourth.

Brett Pelling trainee Allywag Hanover, a son of Captaintreacherous, brought his earnings past the half-million-dollar mark to $547,938. The Allywag Stable owns Allywag Hanover, who paid $7.60 to win.

“He struggles in the turns a little bit,” McCarthy said, “but he was well behaved there today when I asked him to come out. He was happy to go forward at the end. He’s got phenomenal gate speed, so it’s handy to be able to put him in a good spot.”