Do you know My Boy David?

My Boy David, who had been cruising the Illinois tracks for most of his career, slips into the Meadowlands this week to bid for a spot in the $1 million Meadowlands Pace on July 15. He drew the rail in the eighth race, the second of the two elims.

Until a couple of weeks ago, My Boy David had toiled far away from the Meadowlands spotlight. He had won Illinois’ $80,000 Governor’s Cup, $65,000 Cardinal and $140,000 Abe Lincoln stakes at two and finished second in the $300,000 Orange and Blue Final, wrapping up his freshman campaign with seven wins, five seconds and two thirds from 14 tries, earning $255,999.

This year he has two seconds and two thirds in eight starts, adding $71,125 to his bankroll.

Helping to earn his trip East was a third-place finish behind Total Truth and Western Guy in the $450,000 Hoosier Cup on June 24 at Indiana’s Hoosier Park.

“He got off to a rocky start this season, but he’s improved in his last three or four races,” said trainer Homer Hochstetler. “I took him over to Maywood Park near the end of April, and I shouldn’t have. He was ready, but he got tough trips and things just didn’t work out. Then, he was going to win on May 27 at Hawthorne, but he got hit across the face with a whip and he shows an interference break. He was really good in the Hoosier Cup, finishing third in both heats to Total Truth and kicking home in :26.4 and :26.1.

“We were probably going to bring him the Meadowlands anyway, yet his miles at Hoosier Park kind of sealed the deal,” Hochstetler added. “He was good on the mile tracks out here last year, and he got the winning habit. He’ll be a player. Shirley LeVin [of Schaumburg, Illinois, who is partners with her 2-year-old grandson and the source of the colt’s name, David Riff of Barrington Hills, Illinois] bought him at the Cottonwood Sale for $9,000. I just wanted to sneak in under the radar and kick their butt.”

The son of Cole Muffler–Eicarls Valentine has more than earned his trip to the Meadowlands. No one would expect less from Hochstetler who made his Meadowlands Pace debut last year with Team Hutch. Team Hutch went home with $50,000 of the Meadowlands Pace riches, finishing fifth in the final.

This week, David Miller will drive My Boy David who has a variety of pilots.

“I’ve been having trouble getting a steady driver, but once he starts winning they’ll be standing in line,” mused Hochstetler. (Meadowlands press release)

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