Huntsville sets ‘Pace’ at Big M

The $738,550 Meadowlands Pace Final came down to the wire and when the dust settled, it was the 1-5 favorite Huntsville who was victorious Saturday at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

Trained by Ray Schnittker and driven to victory by Tim Tetrick, Huntsville scored the head victory over Downby theseaside in 1:47 4/5. Classic Pro was third.

Tetrick secured the lead with Hunstville just before the half and despite some lively fractions, was in contr ol turning for home. But in the stretch, Down by theseaside, the 4-1 second choice, and Brian Sears challenged Huntsville and the pair dueled to the wire where Hunstville hung on.

“I knew [Down by theseaside] was going to give me a run, he always does. My horse was tired late, but he went a big middle half and kept push- ing all the way to the wire,” Tetrick said.

Huntsville, who paid $2.40, gave Schnittker his second win and Tetrick his fifth in one of the Meadowlands’ signature events.

Huntsville, the Dan Patch 2-yearold colt pacer of 2016, now has five wins in seven starts this season.

The $1 million Hambletonian takes place in three weeks and Walner stamped himself as the one to beat with a victory in the first division of the $159,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial for 3-year-old trotters.

Walner (1-9), the Dan Patch awardwinning 2-year-old colt trotter of 2016, scored the 3 ¼-length victory over Devious Man in a stakes-record time of 1:50 2/5. Bill’s Man was third.

Trained by Linda Toscano and driven by Tim Tetrick, Walner paid $2.20 to win.