Timesareachanging favored in Meadowlands Pace

By TOM CANAVAN, AP Sports Writer
July 13, 2004

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Trainer Brett Pelling believed all year that he would have the favorite in the $1 million Meadowlands Pace.

It just wasn't supposed to be Timesareachanging.

Coming off a world record-tying performance in Saturday's eliminations, Timesareachanging drew the No. 7 post position on Tuesday and was made the morning-line favorite for the Meadowlands Racetrack's most prestigious pace.

Pelling had thought I Am A Fool would be the top 3-year-old after winning the Dan Patch award as the best 2-year-old pacing colt in 2003.

However, I Am A Fool tore a tendon about two months ago, and he probably will be retired to stud.

``This year looked like it would be a disaster,'' Pelling said. ``Now this has popped up and he looks like he is going to be a savior. He was always a good horse, but he was always a second-stringer. It's one of those things. He has changed and gone forward.''

Pelling said Timesareachanging has learned to control his speed. The gelded son of Cam's Card Shark has won three of his last four starts, capped by an impressive 5 1/4 -length win in 1:48.4 in the elimination on Saturday.

The time was a track record for 3-year-old geldings, matched the world record for 3-year-old geldings and was the fastest clocking for any race associated with the Meadowlands Pace. It also was a second faster than Geartogear and Circle L Kid, the other elimination winners, both driven by Ron Pierce.

``I would say last week was a perfect trip for him,'' Pelling said.

If Timesareachanging wins, 24-year-old Yannick Gingras would become the youngest driver to win the Meadowlands Pace.

The competition this Saturday night will be a lot tougher.

Geartogear, Pierce's choice in the final, was made the 7-2 second choice after drawing the No. 2 post position.

``I think we do have the horse to beat,'' Pierce said. ``He was well within himself last week.''

Camelot Hall and Metropolitan, both beaten as odd-on favorites in last weekend's eliminations, were the third and fourth choices, respectively.

Metropolitan had the misfortune to draw the outside No. 10 post position on Tuesday.

The good news is that driver John Campbell has won this race seven times, including twice from the outside post with Hilarion in 1982 and The Panderosa in 1999.

Campbell thinks the race is wide open, considering that four of the last five winners have started from the three outside posts.

``There has been no horse that has stepped up and stamped himself as the horse to beat week after week,'' Campbell said. ``Modern Art didn't make the final. I Am A Fool certainly was the favorite and now he is nowhere to be found. It's left things wide open to be the horse to beat every week.''

Circle L Kid, who will be driven by David Miller in the final, drew the No. 1 post and was made an 8-1 choice.

After Geartogear in the No. 2 post, the rest of the field in post position order with horse, driver and odds:

Georgia Pacific, Brian Sears	8-1
Holborn Hanover, Jim Morrill Jr.	15-1
Camelot Hall, George Brennan	5-1
Brandon's Cowboy, Daniel Dube, 15-1
Timesareachanging, Gingras	5-2
The Preacher Pan, Luc Ouellette	15-1
Mantacular, Cat Manzi	10-1
Metropolitan, Campbell	6-1