from the Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — Trainer Jim Arledge, Jr. hoped to keep Mythical Lindy away from the Meadowlands until the Hambletonian, but a last-minute schedule change has him facing Donato Hanover in Friday night’s (July 6) eliminations for the $400,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial.

Mythical Lindy drew post six in the second of the two $35,000 Dancer eliminations, while Donato Hanover, the defending freshman champion and 4-5 morning line favorite, drew to his immediate inside. The top five in each elim advance to the July 14 final, which shares the spotlight with the $1 million Meadowlands Pace.

“We planned to stay away from the Meadowlands as long as possible,” Arledge said. “If we had won the Nevele Pride Final (on July 2 at Monticello) we probably would have missed the Dancer, but that’s all we have on his schedule before the Hambletonian. It worked out this year with a week off between those two races.”

“There’s no doubt Donato Hanover is the one to beat, but I don’t think he’ll dominate them and there are a lot of others who are very competitive,” he added. “I still think my colt is among the top contenders.”

Mythical Lindy has four starts under his belt this season. He picked up three easy wins at Hoosier Park, The Meadows and Monticello before making a break in the Nevele Pride Final at the latter.

“He trained well the other day and seems to be very good going into Friday’s race after we ran into some bad luck at Monticello,” Arledge said. “Something bit him on the ankle and we really don’t know what did it. His leg swelled up, it came to a boil and busted out, but he’s okay now, so we went ahead and entered him. His leg is back down to normal and looks great now.

“He didn’t get to do much in the race at Monticello,” he continued. “Again, he trained good, but he might not be as race-tight as he could be. He can go on any size track and I was actually shocked the way he got around Monticello. That’s good because he has the Yonkers Trot later on this year. If he stays healthy we’re going in with some respect and we’re a major player.”

The first foal from the Lindy Lane mare Myth, the son of SJ’s Caviar sold for $60,000 as a yearling at the Lexington Select Sale.

Mythical Lindy was first or second in nine of 11 starts as a freshman and his seven wins included eliminations for the Peter Haughton and Breeders Crown and the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes Final. The colt scored his biggest paycheck of the season by finishing second to Donato Hanover in the $456,000 Peter Haughton Final.

“I was very pleased with the way he raced near the end of 2006, but he got a bit hot on us and he was getting to be quite a handful,” he said. “We worked on him a lot this winter and now he’s very relaxed. We’ve put an open bridle on him and he’s been two fingers to drive. He’s become a real racehorse this year.”

Arledge, who is based in Ohio, developed and raced the 2006 Hambletonian favorite, Mr Pine Chip, as a 2-year-old before owner Joe Sbrocco sold 50 percent of the colt to Southwind Farm and he was subsequently sent to trainer Trond Smedshammer. This year, Arledge will have the opportunity to take Mythical Lindy all the way to the Hambletonian winner’s circle for Sbrocco and co-owner Thomas York, Jr.

“Joe Sbrocco sold half of Mr Pine Chip last March to Southwind Farm and they wanted Trond Smedshammer to train him,” Arledge said. “Mr. Sbrocco has been in the business for a long time and it’s certainly a dream for him to win the Hambletonian. For me, it’s always been a goal to just get one in it and you don’t get one like this every year. He’s turned down quite a bit of money for him.

“I knew he was a better horse than Mr Pine Chip,” he added. “He’s a lot stronger and versatile. You can leave with him, back him off the gate, sit him in a hole and do whatever you want with him.”

TVG to air Meadowlands Pace Press Conference Live

TVG Network, presenting sponsor of the $1 million Meadowlands Pace, will air the post position draw and press conference for the race live at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, July 10.