One More Laugh takes Meadowlands Pace

One More Laugh rallied from off the pace to wear down the pacesetting Rock N Roll Heaven and win the $1 million Meadowlands Pace by a head in 1:47.4 Saturday night at the Meadowlands. Valentino finished third while Rockin Image held on for fourth.

 

As expected, several horses were fired off the gate, with the rail-leaving 53-1 shot Kyle Major, driven by Jody Jamieson, holding his position while John Campbell was moving forward from post three with Rock N Roll Heaven. Meanwhile, Yannick Gingras slid to the pylons with Rockin Image.

 

Campbell and Rock N Roll Heaven had to work hard to take command from Kyle Major, who eventually finished last. They were parked to the first quarter in :25.4 and finally cleared midway to the half. Others had also left from the gate at the start, including North America Cup winner Sportswriter from post 10, but no one moved on Campbell until they neared the half, when Tim Tetrick, driving One More Laugh, flushed Gingras and Rockin Image.

 

By the time the timer flashed :53 for the half, the outer flow was well developed and moving, with Rockin Image, One More Laugh, and Valentino in the second tier.

 

Rock N Roll Heaven passsed the three-quarter mark in 1:20, with Rockin Image and Gingras poised to strike. In the homestretch Gingras asked his horse to give chase, but Rock N Roll Heaven dug in and kept him at bay

 

Then came One More Laugh flying wide. With Tim Tetrick working his magic, the gelded son of McArdle out of the Sportsmaster mare Fancy Creek Funny edged past Rock N Roll Heaven with a :27.2 last quarter.

 

Tetrick, 28, became the first driver to win the track’s signature event twice before the age of 30.  He scooted up the rail to win the 2007 edition with Southwind Lynx.  Tetrick’s Pace win boosted his purse earnings past the $6 million-mark for the season, giving him a substantial lead in the North American driver standings.

“If I wouldn’t have been [sitting second over], I wouldn’t have caught [Rock N Roll Heaven],” Tetrick said.  “I got lucky and got a good spot and a perfect trip.  I give my horse all the credit in the world.  He’s been right there every week, but just hasn’t had good luck.  Today, I did my job and he was right there.  He doesn’t get tired.  He keeps going and doesn’t give up.  I knew we were going really fast and my horse still felt comfortable at the top of the lane.  It took the whole lane to get by those colts.”

“It was a hard race and he raced tremendously,” driver Campbell said of 8-5 favorite Rock N Roll Heaven.  “One More Laugh raced well and you have to tip your hat to him.  My horse was tremendous, he just got beat.  He showed a lot of courage.”

One More Laugh delivered Ray Schnittker his first Meadowlands Pace trophy and second million-dollar win in two years.  The trainer won the $1.5 million Hambletonian with undefeated Deweycheatumnhowe in 2008.  He became the sixth trainer in history to capture both the Pace and Hambletonian, joining the elite company of William Haughton, Ray Remmen, Chuck Sylvester, Steve Elliott and Blair Burgess.

“He had a ton of pace [in his elimination], which was a very positive step for this race,” Schnittker said.  “Nothing’s ever going to beat winning the Hambletonian with Dewey.  He went undefeated and was an unbelievable horse, but this horse is just a tough, really good horse.  He’s a gelding, so we’ll be racing him.  Hopefully, he’ll be around another five years racing in the Breeders Crown.”

One More Laugh has now won 12 of 19 career starts and $1.3 million for Schnittker of Middletown, NY and co-owners Mathias Meinzinger of Central Islip and Jerry Silva of Long Beach.  Meinzinger bred the son of Mcardle-Fancy Creek Funny.  One More Laugh is expected to race in the Oliver Wendell Holmes on Hambletonian Day, Saturday, August 7.

 

The complete order of finish is as follows:

1--One More Laugh--$8.20, 4.00, 3.40

2--Rock N Roll Heaven--$3.20, 2.80

3--Valentino--$7.40

4--Rockin Image

5--I'm Gorgeous

6--Delmarvalous

7--Sportswriter

8--Nova Artist

9--Fred And Ginger

10--Kyle Major