NORTH EAST BOUND BREEDERS' CUP BOUND AFTER MEADOWLANDS CUP WIN
Full Charts
 
East Rutherford, N.J...North East Bound ran three-wide around the track and rolled to a 3 1/2 length victory over long shot Lord Sterling in the $400,000 Grade II Meadowlands Cup and earned himself a shot in the Breeders' Cup. Where's Taylor finished third in the Meadowlands' premier event, witnessed by a crowd of 14,877, the largest for a Cup in nearly a decade. A crowd of 15,264 saw Twilight Agenda win the 1991 running of the Cup. "Breeders' Cup, we're coming," said winning owner Julian De Marco. "This horse has performed beyond all expectations." North East Bound earned $240,000 fresh off a victory on the turf in the Meadowlands' Cliff Hanger and returned $22.80, $9.20 and $5.20. Lord Sterling paid $41.40 and $13.80 with Where's Taylor paying $4.60 to show. In the night's other stakes action, jockey Jerry Bailey traveled to the Big M on and made quick work of the $100,000 Paterson Stakes field by taking the race by six lengths under the wire aboard Cat's At Home. "We'll probably go to the Pegasus (October 27 at the Big M)," said winning trainer Mark Hennig. "He seemed to handle the track well and that's one of the main things, just make sure he's comfortable under the lights and he seemed to be fine." A three-year-old colt by Tabasco Cat, Cat's At Home covered the mile and a sixteenth in 1:41 4/5 and paid $4.40 as the favorite. Haskell competitor Mercaldo closed late to complete a $55.40 exacta and bested follow Haskell horse Thistyranthasclass. It was the fifth win in 10 tries for the winner who now has earnings of $188,240 for owner Edward P. Evans. Max's Pal clinched the overall victory in the 2000 MATCH Series after taking the $100,000 Bergen County Stakes at the Meadowlands on Saturday night by a nose over Trounce. Ridden by Rick Wilson, Max's Pal covered the six furlongs in 1:09 4/5 and returned $3.20 as the race favorite. Trounce completed an $8.80 exacta and bested show horse Stormin Oedy by 3/4 of a length. "I'd like to run in the Breeders' Cup, if he can get in," said winning trainer Ben Perkins, Jr. "He's won more stakes than any horse in the country. We'll nominate him. If he gets in, we'll go, and if not, we'll retire him for the season." The Mid-Atlantic Championship Series (MATCH) showcases the best in five divisions and this year Max's Pal, a son of Marquetry, captured the $150,000 in bonuses for owner Raymond Dweck and trainer Ben Perkins, Jr. by taking the series through the sprint division. Not including the MATCH Series money, Max's Pal now boasts lifetime earnings of $425,420. In the night's $45,000 William Livingston Stakes, Texas Glitter made all the running to capture the five furlong turf event in :56 1/5 and paid $4.60. Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Aaron Gryder, Texas Glitter bested runner-up Rudirudy by six lengths. Sheikh Rattle rounded out the top trio. The first division of the Montclair State University Stakes saw Jeunesse Doree run down Ladies Night In to capture the 1 1/16 miles turf contest in 1:42 by a neck. Ridden by Dale Beckner and trained by Roger Attfield, Jeunesse Doree returned $33.40 to win and topped a $410.20 exacta. Complete Number was third. In the second division of the stakes event, Maddy's A Winner took control out of the gate and never looked back covering the mile and a sixteenth in 1:42 1/5. Trained by Gamaliel Vasquez and ridden by Joe Rocco, the five-year-old daughter of Septieme Ciel paid $14.80 and bested runner up Red Royal by three lengths who completed a $218.40 exacta. Raging Love completed the top trio.