One More Laugh picked as favorite for Cane Pace
September 3, 2010FREEHOLD, N.J. (AP) - One More Laugh was made the morning-line favorite for the $300,000 Cane Pace on Labor Day at Freehold Raceway.
The winner of the Meadowlands Pace, One More Laugh drew the No. 1 post position and was made the 2-1 favorite for the opening leg of pacing's Triple Crown for 3-year-olds. Driver Tim Tetrick will handle the gelding.
Trainer George Teague Jr. has the second and third choices in the race on Monday. Delmarvelous drew the No. 2 post in the eight-horse field and was made the 5-2 second choice with Brian Sears listed to drive.
I'm Gorgeous was made the 4-1 third choice with driver Andy Miller. The colt, who drew the No. 4 post, matched the track record last week, winning his elimination in 1:50.4.
Rockin Image drew post No. 5 for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Jimmy Takter, who will be looking for his second straight win in the Cane Pace. He won last year with Vintage Master. The last trainer to win consecutive Cane paces was Ken Seeber in 1989-1990 with Dancing Master and Jake And Elwood.
If Takter does win the Cane Pace, it would give him a sweep of the year's first three Triple Crown races. He won the Yonkers Trot with On The Tab and the Hambletonian with Muscle Massive.
Ron Pierce will handle Woodstock from post No. 7. The colt was a strong second despite racing on the outside last week for trainer Noel Daley. Pierce will be going for his fifth Cane Pace victory.
Filling out the field are Urgent Action, Valentino and BG's Folly, the New Jersey Classic winner. Urgent Action was the fifth and final qualifier in last week's elimination.
Valentino will be handled by George Brennan, who is coming off his first driving title at the Meadowlands. The colt is trained by Lou Pena, who also coming off his initial title at the Big M.
The Little Brown Jug on Sept. 23 and the Messenger Stakes on Nov. 6 are the other two races in pacing's Triple Crown.