MacGrath talks some SBSW as colt aims for 11th straight

Somebeachsomewhere will bid for his 11th straight win as the overwhelming 2-5 morning line favorite in the $1.1 million Meadowlands Pace on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

Gates open at 5:30 p.m. on Meadowlands Pace night, with a T-shirt giveaway to paid admissions while supply lasts.  First race post time is 7:30 p.m. (30 minutes later due to the Red Bulls vs. L.A. Galaxy game at Giants Stadium). The Pace is carded as race eight with an estimated 10:14 p.m. post time.

The three elimination winners--Somebeachsomewhere, Share The Delight and Sand Shooter--earned their choice of post position in the Pace final. Trainer Brent MacGrath selected post two for Somebeachsomewhere at Tuesday's draw. Top Canadian driver Paul MacDonnell will be in the sulky Saturday night.

Somebeachsomewhere seeks to become the first colt to sail through pacing's million-dollar events--the North America Cup and Meadowlands Pace-in undefeated fashion. The colt made a splash in his U.S. debut as he won his Meadowlands Pace elimination in 1:48.3. His clocking was the fastest Meadowlands Pace elimination victory in history and equaled the stakes record set by Rocknroll Hanover in 2005. 

"The horse was on a 30-day (layoff before the Pace elim), so he's got to be tighter this week," MacGrath said. "He loves to race and he bounced out of this race real sharp. Paul said he was a little staggery behind that gate last week and he was looking around at the infield a lot scoring down. I think with that behind him, the fact that he's coming out of this on a seven-day start and the way he came out of that start last week, he's got to be a little sharper.

"I sharpened his shoes up today," he added. "He slipped a little in the stretch when he kicked into gear and caught his quarter, which he's never done before (in the Pace elim). Paul said he knew when he got into it, and if you watch the replay, you can see him put in a little step. He touched his quarter and lost his footing a little bit. The track was dried out quite a bit and there was quite a heavy wind. I sharpened his shoes up a little bit and he'll be getting hold of the track a little better; that, with a seven-day start, and I'm sure he will be a little stronger."

Somebeachsomewhere was voted top 2-year-old colt pacer in both Canada and the United States last year, earning more than $800,000 while setting a world record of 1:49.3 in the Metro Pace. He tied with Tell All for Canada's Horse of the Year honor. The son of Mach Three-Wheres The Beach is the only horse trained by MacGrath, who runs two car dealerships in Nova Scotia. MacGrath shares ownership of the colt with five other Maritimers who race as Schooner Stable: Reg Petitpas, Pamela Dean, Jamie Bagnell, Garry Pye and Stu Rath. 

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