Post positions drawn for Cane Pace at Freehold
August 28, 2008,from Freehold Raceway
Freehold, NJ — Post positions for the $392,850 Cane Pace Final — the first jewel of the Pacing Triple Crown — were drawn at Freehold Raceway on Thursday morning. The Cane final will be contested as part of a big, 13-race holiday card at Freehold on September 1, Labor Day.
Drawing post seven and favored at 9-5 is Meadowlands Pace winner Art Official. The Art Major-Naughty Shady Lady colt set a record for the fastest mile in Freehold Raceway history last Saturday in the Cane Pace elimination. Art Official will be guided by Ron Pierce, who is going for his fourth Cane Pace win. The last horse to win the Cane Pace and the Meadowlands Pace was On The Road Again in 1984.
Second choice at 5-2 is the entry of Badlands Nitro (Brian Sears) from post one, and Rudy Rednose (David Miller) from post four. Sears is going for his second consecutive Cane, winning last year with Always A Virgin.
Tim Tetrick drives Lis Deo (9-2) from post six. He was second in one of Saturday’s eliminations.
John Campbell will be looking for his sixth Cane Pace win with U Smooth Talker U, coming from post five at 15-1.
The field for the Cane Pace final, with head numbers, post positions, drivers and morning line odds are: 1. Badlands Nitro (post 1, Brian Sears, 5-2); 1A. Rudy Rednose (post 4, David Miller, 5-2); 2. McCedes (post 2, Daniel Dube, 6-1); 3. Moon Beam (post 3, Yannick Gingras, 3-1); 4. U Smooth Talker U (post 5, John Campbell, 15-1); 5. Lis Deo (post 6, Tim Tetrick, 9-2); 6. Art Official (post 7, Ron Pierce, 9-5); and 7. Major General (post 8, Andy Miller, 10-1).
- Moon Beam is hoping to shine in Cane Pace (Tuesday, August 19, 2008)
After overcoming knee and heart problems, Moon Beam might be ready to shine brightly.
- Three pay to play in Cane Pace (Wednesday, August 20, 2008)
Art Official, Badlands Nitro and Major General have all paid the $35,000 supplemental fee to enter the Cane Pace.
- Art Official and Badlands Nitro take Cane Pace elims at Freehold (Saturday, August 23, 2008)
Eight spots were up for grabs on Saturday in a pair of $65,475 eliminations for the 54th Cane Pace Final.
- Art Official: “He’s a gorilla,” says Pierce (Monday, August 25, 2008)
The colt became the fastest performer in the history of Freehold in the Cane Pace Eliminations this past weekend — and thus the early favorite to win the first leg of the Pacing Triple Crown.
- Wayne Whebby pins his Cane hopes on a “Smooth Talker” (Wednesday, August 27, 2008)
Wayne Whebby has been associated with some top performers, but harbors realistic hopes for his 2008 Cane Pace entrant, U Smooth Talker U.