#Harness trainer sets sights on fifth Meadowlands Pace title

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Allywag Hanover is one of the favorites for Saturday’s Meadowlands Pace.
Lisa Photo

In Saturday’s $636,650 Meadowlands Pace, trainer Brett Pelling is looking for one for the thumb.

Pelling has won the prestigious race for 3-year-olds at the Meadowlands a record four times, and this year has two good chances to get the fifth.

Pelling’s prolific pair, Allywag Hanover (9-2, post 4) and Papi Rob Hanover (4-1, post 9), will look to beat morning-line favorite Tall Dark Stranger (7-5, post 5).

“It should come down to a dogfight in the last eighth. That’s what is meant to happen and if it’s anything other than that I’d be disappointed in the race,” Pelling said.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s Pace competitors have had only half as many seasonal starts at this point, but Pelling is happy with Allywag’s progression and is confident in his driver, Tim Tetrick.

“There’s no better driver in a money race,” Pelling said.

The Hall of Famer Tetrick has won the Pace five times, the most for all active drivers. John Campbell holds the Pace record of seven.

Tetrick confirmed Tall Dark Stranger is the one to beat and agrees with Pelling that even though Allywag has won all three of his starts this year, he has yet to be tested, giving him a good shot to win.

“I’ve had some great luck in [the Pace] and gotten to drive some great horses. To win my sixth would be pretty astronomical, especially before the age of 40,” said Tetrick, 38.

The Meadowlands Pace is race 9 on a 13-race card that gets underway at 6:30 p.m. and the scheduled post time for the Pace is 10:05 p.m.