DRF HARNESS HOME DIGITAL HARNESS EYE HARNESS PPS DRF BETS ENTRIES ARCHIVE THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021 Can ‘Curbside’ be the next Southwind Ozzi? Just two years removed from winning the Adios and Little Brown Jug with Southwind Ozzi, trainer Bill MacKenzie is back with hopeful Curbside Pickup

Inside this issue

Jay Bergman: Gamblin Mo starting to live up to expectations, Page 4 Derick Giwner From the Cutler to Sire Stakes, The connections behind 2019 Jug winner Southwind Ozzi hope to taste that success again. Campbell with a busy weekend, Page 6 the entire turn wide and edging clear from a Darin Zoccali: Horseplayers deserve game Century Hannibal before crossing the more respect, Page 8 EDITOR’S EYE wire a 1 1/4 length winner in 1:53 2/5. “I knew at that point he would win by as Ocean Rock now with Takter for By Derick Giwner much as Timmy wanted,” said trainer Bill Graduate at The Meadowlands, Page 9 MacKenzie on his thoughts when Curbside @DRFHarness Pickup made his move. “Go watch his quali- On The Backstretch: Profile of driver/ fier. I think he was even better in that race,” trainer Nick Clegg, Page 10 When watching races there is something continued MacKenzie, rightfully bragging called the “vision test.” The concept is simple: about a second-place finish behind recent Best Bets--Big M PK6 Carryover, Page 12 Was the horse visually impressive? In the stakes winner Whichwaytothebeach, where Headlines: Randall hospitalized after case of Curbside Pickup, who made his career his gelding made up 10 lengths in the second accident; Yonkers Trot/Messenger see debut at Harrah’s Philadelphia on May 5, the half of the mile with a 53 2/5 final half at Phil- answer was a resounding yes. adelphia. purse increases to $500K, Page 13 Curbside Pickup got away fifth in the early Curbside Pickup, a $160,000 yearling Comments? Questions? going through moderate fractions of 28 4/5 purchase at Harrisburg in 2019, was unraced and 57 3/5 for a non-winners-of-1 race before at age 2 because he was too big and growthy. Email the Editor [email protected] driver Tim Tetrick edged the son of Some- The price tag was high for owners Vincent beachsomewhere off the pylons. They were Ali Jr and Alma Iafelice, but riding the wave To ensure proper delivery third-over in a bad spot just before the three- of winning the Little Brown Jug a couple of the newsletter via quarter pole when Tetrick showed Curbside of months earlier, they loosened the purse Pickup daylight. The Hall of Fame driver strings in an attempt to relive the good times. email, add [email protected]. sent him three-wide and the gelding acceler- com to your contact list ated with a wicked turn of speed while taking CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

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3-year-old Events Supplements (Early Closers) The Courageous Lady Filly Pace (Early Closer) Chris Tully Trot.com $120,000 Est. in 2021 Supplemental Nomination: May 15 - $3,500 To race Saturday, October 16 at Northfield Park Entrance Fee: $1,500

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The Hambletonian Society | Breeders Crown • 109 South Main Street, Suite 18 • Cranbury, NJ 08512-3174 Phone: 609-371-2211 • Fax: 609-371-8890 • Web: hambletonian.com Grace Zimmers Curbside Pickup made an impressive wide move on the final turn and was an easy 1:53 2/5 winner in his career debut at Philadelphia.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 the ninth-race $51,045 Sire Stakes or six-figure winners Southwind Gendry, Chase H Hanover, Exlpoit and others in the eighth and tenth “That was probably the biggest one we’ve gone after. We had a good race splits. year with ‘Ozzi’ and we were looking for another Somebeachsome- As Curbside Pickup attempts to follow in the footsteps of Southwind where,” said MacKenzie, who added that the partnership bought four Ozzi, the now 5-year-old is trying to rebound off a lackluster 4-year- yearlings in total. old campaign that saw him earn less than 10 percent of his sophomore While Curbside Pickup has begun his journey, there is a long road bankroll. from winning a maiden race and taking on the best 3-year-olds in “Unfortunately they didn’t write any 4-year-old Opens on any North America. Even MacKenzie is unsure at this time where his of the tracks where I race,” said MacKenzie about the subpar year budding talent fits on the spectrum. compared to 2019 when Southwind Ozzi earned $837,685. “He’d win a “I get a lot of my information from my driver and Timmy seems to non-winners of $14,000 and then the non-winners of $20,000 wouldn’t love him. I don’t sit behind 30 or 40 yearlings a year, so I don’t have fill. I’d have to bring him to places that he didn’t like and it was just a many to compare him to. He has a big engine, but we have to make sure catastrophe for him. he is behaving. He wasn’t the easiest horse to get to this point. That is “At the beginning [of Southwind Ozzi’s 2020 campaign] I thought I why he is a gelding,” said MacKenzie. “He doesn’t know how to race dropped the ball a little bit. With COVID going on and not knowing yet. When he got to the front, Timmy said he was looking left and right when racing would start, I don’t think I had him ready fitness-wise. wondering where everyone went. When we train them at home we keep The whole year was just a mess.” them together and he wasn’t used to being out there all alone.” Despite dealing with the growing pains sometimes associated with MacKenzie, well aware of the tough competition on the Pennsylvania switching from racing against peers to facing hard-knocking older Sire Stakes circuit, is taking a more conservative approach with his foes, Southwind Ozzi was well-staked in 2021 by his connections and young prospect, electing for the Stallion Series this Sunday at Pocono will focus on specific races if those tracks will have him. rather than risking having to face the top two ranked 3-year-olds in “We are going to try to keep him more to the five-eighths races the country – Perfect Sting and Southwind Gendry – in the Sire Stakes. because that is where he’s done the most damage,” said MacKenzie. “If “It was a bit of a coin toss. I think he can go and chase those horses you take him to Yonkers he loses three races on every turn and at The but I don’t think it makes sense to ask him for that right now,” said Meadowlands he just doesn’t finish up as strong on the long stretch. MacKenzie about the decision to avoid the Sire Stakes. “We wanted “Hopefully he’ll get invited to the Commodore Barry [Philadel- to get him a bit more of an education before races like the Adios, Max phia], the Senditin [Scioto], the Potomac [Rosecroft], and the Always Hempt, Progress and Breeders Crown down the road. B Miki [Pocono]. He’s also in the Breeders Crown, we can’t miss that.” “If he wins the Stallion Stakes impressively and the horse is good, Southwind Ozzi qualified sharply with Tim Tetrick in the bike at we’ll head right to the Sire Stakes off that.” Harrah’s Philadelphia. The pair posted a wire-to-wire 1:50 3/5 victory Luck wasn’t on MacKenzie’s side when it came to the draw for over a track rated “good” on May 4. The plan is to qualify a second Sunday’s Stallion stakes. Curbside Pickup not only drew the outer- time before pointing for overnight races ahead of his stakes schedule. most post 9 in the sixth of seven $20,000 Stallion Stakes divisions (race “We are going to start him in the conditioned races and see where 11) but he also caught a strong field that includes 2020 Governor’s Cup he takes us,” said MacKenzie. “I’m hoping he has a really good year. winner Always A Miki (post 7) and the aforementioned Whichwayto- My fingers are crossed for him.” thebeach (post 4). If Southwind Ozzi returns to the form that saw him pace in 1:48 Although fortune wasn’t on MacKenzie’s side, the competition for while winning multiple stakes as a 3-year-old and Curbside Pickup Curbside Pickup would’ve been much tougher facing the undefeated proves he belongs among the elite in his division, the 48-year-old Perfect Sting and co-Breeders Crown winner Summa Cum Laude in MacKenzie could be in for a career year.

DRF Harness Digest | 3 | May 13, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Gamblin Mo starting to live up to Butenschoen’s expectations

JAYWALKING By Jay Bergman @BergmanJay

Trainer John Butenschoen thought he had a nice colt training down and preparing to race as a freshman in 2020. Gamblin Mo, a son of Captaintreacherous and half-brother to the speedy Major Betts, had given the kind of indi- cators necessary for owners to expect bigger things. “We staked him pretty well,” said Buten- schoen of Gamblin Mo and 2-year-old expecta- tions. It took 13 races in a juvenile campaign for Butenschoen to do some soul searching and try to change the courage of the underachieving Curtis Salonick colt. Gamblin Mo is now perfect in two 2021 starts and is entered Sunday at Pocono. “I kept racing him thinking he would get better and he didn’t,” said Butenschoen. By season’s end it was clear that Gamblin Mo was not finishing races as While Sire Stakes are likely on the menu for now, Gamblln Mo could expected. “We decided to geld him,” said Butenschoen, who noticed see Grand Circuit action in August if he lives up to expectations, with a nice change in the sophomore’s demeanor training back over the the Adios a possibility. winter. Butenschoen’s stable has come out red-hot since its arrival at “He was much calmer to be around and acted better on the track,” Pocono this year and the trainer was excited about a pair of trotters. said Butenschoen, who admittedly was reluctant to get high on Gamb- “My stable was next to Ed Lohmeyer’s down in and we’ve lin Mo again only to be disappointed when the season began. “I trained gotten to be good friends,” said Butenschoen. “When he asked me to him with Blank Stare,” Butenschoen said of last year’s top 3-year-old. take Melania for Patty Hogan I didn’t know what I was getting. She’s “I sat on Blank Stare’s back with him and then he just blew right by got a chance to be a top filly.” in the stretch. Honestly, I wondered more about what had happened to Melania, a daughter of Donato Hanover, had some minor stakes Blank Stare than how good Gamblin Mo was.” experience as a 2-year-old but ended the 2020 campaign with just one A week later Butenschoen put the two in a qualifier at South Florida win in seven tries. Trotting Center and this time Gamblin Mo cut the mile with Blank Melania debuted on April 27 at Pocono and won easily from off the Stare tracking him and the results were the same, with Gamblin Mo pace in a 1:54 4/5 clocking, then looked extra-special a week later showing a 54-flat final half in a 1:55 2/5 mile. powering wire-to-wire from post eight leaving favored Imhatra Am S The stable came north in the spring and Gamblin Mo got his chance in her wake on the final turn and coasting home in 1:54 3/5. to do on the track what he had shown Butenschoen capable of in Flor- Melania was a $27,000 yearling purchase at Harrisburg in 2019. ida. On April 27 Gamblin Mo equaled his win total of his full fresh- Butenschoen has another Donato Hanover offspring in Truffles man season scoring in 1:51 3/5 for driver Tyler Buter against non- Too, who he gelded after last season and has seen a difference with winners-of-2 company at Pocono. already in 2021. A winner in 1:54 4/5 in his sophomore debut at Pocono, “He was eligible to the Sire Stakes at The Meadows but I didn’t want Truffles Too made a break last week. “We’ve made some equipment to throw him in against the wolves,” said Butenschoen, suggesting changes and I think he’ll be fine,” said Butenschoen with expecta- he thought enough of the sophomore to let him make a more natural tions for stakes action in Truffles Too’s immediate future. progression. The aforementioned Blank Stare is a rarity in the Butenschoen Last Saturday in the Pennsylvania All-Stars at Pocono, Gamblin stable. “We generally sell all of our 4-year-olds,” said Butenschoen. Mo drew into what appeared to be the deepest of the four $30,000 divi- “I’m really hoping they start carding a 4-year-old Open at Yonkers.” sions. The field of nine included last year’s Governor’s Cup champion The trainer believes that Blank Stare could thrive on the half-mile Always A Miki making his season’s debut from post nine as well as track and given the son of Ponder’s 10-1 upset at Yonkers in last year’s Stonebridge Reef, who was just a head off in second in the first leg of $225,000 New York Sire Stakes Final, there’s certainly cause for opti- the Sire Stakes at The Meadows a week earlier. mism. Tyler Buter drove Gamblin Mo with extreme confidence and the Over the years Butenschoen has done a fabulous job in the trotting Captaintreacherous gelding marched out of the gate with a 26 3/5 game and he’s hopeful that this year perhaps a pair of 2-year-olds he’s opening quarter, forcing his rivals to take a seat. Buter never looked training will benefit from an earlier start. to invite trouble and instead of backing down the pace he let Gamb- “I’ve got two by Dover Dan,” said Butenschoen of the first-crop sire lin Mo dictate the action, cutting snappy fractions of 54 2/5 and 1:22 who he campaigned a few years ago. Dover Dan is an Andover Hall 1/5 before a final quarter of 28 sealed the 1:50 1/5 mile. From all indi- from the former Horse of the Year C R Kay Suzie whose first crop is cations it looked pretty clear that Gamblin Mo had something in eligible in Indiana. reserve. While comparing horses by final times is a slippery slope, the Muscle Dan and Famous Dan are training as well for Buten- highly-rated and far more expensive One Eight Hundred captured his schoen as some of the other trotters in his barn with more estab- stanza in the same time. For the record Gamblin Mo cost just $30,000. lished trotting sires in their pedigrees. Muscle Dan is the first foal Gamblin Mo is the fourth foal from Southwind Johanne and the from the 1:52 3/5-winning Windsongmusclelady, while Famous first by the Somebeachsomewhere stallion line. Dan is the first foal from Silvia, a 1:56 2/5 stakes winner as a 2-year- “We’re going to try him in the Sire Stakes on Sunday,” said Buten- old that is a full sister to the fast 3-year-old from 2017 by the name schoen of Gamblin Mo, who starts from post 4 in the first of three of Hey Mickey. $51,045 Sire Stakes races at Pocono (race 8) According to Butenschoen the two Dover Dans are now geldings.

DRF Harness Digest | 4 | May 13, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness YEARLING PAYMENTS Due MAY 15* One list and one check keeps your yearlings eligible to these top events. *per USTA rule 12.02 all payments must be postmarked by midnight Monday, May 17 Don’t forget to stake your yearling! Trotters Arden Downs Breeders Crown® Currier & Ives Dexter Cup Hambletonian Hoosier Stake No. 86 Horseman No. 114 Ralph Wilfong No. 85*** Foals of 2020 MGM Yonkers Trot *** no separate filly division

Pacers Adios Arden Downs Breeders Crown® Fox Stake No. 96*** Hoosier Stake No. 86 Horseman No. 114 MGM Grand Messenger Progress Pace*** *** no separate filly division

Make checks payable and send all entries to: The Hambletonian Society®

Be sure to check our website for complete conditions, race dates & payment forms! Chris Tully Trot.com Cranbury Gates Office Park • 109 South Main Street, Suite 18 • Cranbury, NJ 08512-3174 Phone: 609-371-2211 • Fax: 609-371-8890 • Web: hambletonian.com From Grand Circuit to Sire Stakes, Campbell has a busy weekend

By Jay Bergman $141,250 Cutler Memorial - May 15 Meadowlands - Race 9 Trainer Jim Campbell has a busy weekend planned with four horses POST HORSE DRIVER MORNING LINE racing on Friday and Saturday night in stakes action at The Meadow- lands and a fifth headed for The Meadows on Saturday afternoon for 1 Reign Of Honor D.Miller 15-1 the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes. The biggest race of the weekend purse- 2 Oney Hall T.McCarthy 10-1 wise is the $141,250 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial at The Meadowlands 3 Guardian Angel As T.Tetrick 5-1 where Campbell sends out last year’s Breeders Crown Open Trot 4 Play Trix On Me S.Zeron 15-1 runner-up Crystal Fashion against nine rivals. 5 Majestic Player a y.Gingras 6-1 “I was happy with his first race,” said Campbell of Crystal Fashion, 6 crystal Fashion j.Stratton 8-1 a 6-year-old gelding that enters the Cutler with in excess of $2 million 7 Lindy The Great a.Miller 3-1 earned, making him the second-richest horse in the field behind Manchego. 8 felicityshagwell S a.Svanstedt 10-1 “He’s a big horse and he needs a lot of work,” said Campbell, think- 9 Manchego D.Dunn 9-2 ing more long-term for the veteran that managed to show up when the 10 forbidden Trade b.McClure 7-2 big money was riding a year ago, earning a shade under $300k in 13 starts. Crystal Fashion drew post six and will have Jordan Stratton race 8 - Graduate Race 10 - Graduate in the bike in the Cutler. 1 No Lou Zing 1 Allywag Hanover Manchego returns for her 6-year-old debut for trainer Nancy Takter and the champion mare won’t have the luxury of a start under 2 Ocean Rock 2 Sandbetweenmytoes her belt. Manchego had two qualifiers at The Meadowlands in April 3 Poseidon Seelster 3 Fortify with an effort on the 24th that proved sub-par. 4 The Greek Freak 4 Seriously Hanover “She was pretty sick,” 5 Warrawee Vital 5 Save Me A Dance said Takter. “But her blood 6 Captain Barbossa 6 Chief Mate is good. She scoped clean 7 Beaumond Hanover 7 Elver Hanover and trained well. Of course, 8 Tattoo Artist 8 Ruthless Hanover I would have liked to get 9 Splash Brother another race in her.” The Cutler could be a good spot for Lindy The Great to Nancy Takter’s potent stable drawing the inside post positions. No continue his winning form. Lou Zing (post one) was a sharp winner in his 4-year-old debut scor- Trainer Julie Miller sends ing in 1:49 3/5 last Saturday (May 8) at The Meadowlands. Ocean Rock out the 7-year-old by Crazed (post two) makes his long awaited 4-year-old debut following a wicked in great shape considering 1:50 3/5 qualifying effort on May 8. he’s won both of his starts in On Friday, Sire Stakes action kicks off at The Meadowlands for 2021 after enjoying just one 3-year-old -bred trotters and Campbell is optimistic that victory in 16 attempts a year a pair of his sophomores will be able to perform at a high level. Cool ago. Andy Miller will guide Trix (post 5) is a Trixton-sired half-brother to Real Cool Sam that him from post seven. makes his career debut (in race 3) off a May 8 Meadowlands qualifier. Trainer Luc Blais has “I was very happy with the way he raced in the qualifier,” Campbell brought some solid trot- said of the pacesetting mile that netted out at a 1:55 2/5 clocking. ting talent with him from Last year Cool Trix had numerous qualifiers but no starts and Ontario and the Cutler will was racing with trotting hopples. This year he qualified without the Derick Giwner Jim Campbell will start Crystal mark the seasonal debut hopples. “He was a little immature last year,” said Campbell. “He’s Fashion in the A.J. Cutler of the 2019 Hambletonian grown up and can handle his speed much better.” Memorial at The Meadowlands. winner Forbidden Trade. Cool Trix faces a field of seven rivals, many with stakes experience Unfortunately, the 5-year- including last year’s Valley Victory champion Bee Forever (post 4) and old by Kadabra has not raced competitively since last August and gets Peter Haughton Memorial champion Zenith Stride (post 6). This field a double whammy drawing the outside 10 post. also includes the $700,000 yearling Really Fast (post 3), who has captured The $1.4 million career earner Guardian Angel As (post three) had both of his sophomore starts effortlessly for trainer Nancy Takter. little chance but still offered a solid late kick finishing fifth in the Char- Lindysmusclemania (post 1) won four of seven starts as a juvenile and lie Hill Memorial at Scioto Downs on May 6. The 25-time winner draws makes his sophomore debut for trainer Ake Svanstedt off a vicious 1:53 favorably for trainer Anette Lorentzon with Tim Tetrick in the bike. 2/5 qualifying victory on April 30 with a 28 final quarter into the wind. Others in the field of 10 for the Cutler are Reign Of Honor, Oney With two qualifiers under his belt, Campbell believes Cricket Fash- Hall, Play Trix On Me, Majestic Player A and Felicityshagwell S. ion (post 5, race 10) is ready for his sophomore debut. The Muscle The second leg of the Graduate for 4-year-old pacers has a pair of Hill-sired colt earned $137,622 last year finishing on the board in $50,000 divisions on Saturday with Campbell’s 2020 Breeders Crown eight of 10 starts. Campbell is expecting Cricket Fashion to be ready winner Sandbetweenmytoes looking for his first victory of the season but suggested he’s got a long schedule ahead that could include the in the tenth race division. Hambletonian. “It’s kind of hard to come from off the pace when they are going Sandwiched between his Meadowlands appointments, Campbell 53-second final halves,” Campbell said. Sandbetweenmytoes paced home sends out Broadway Don in one of three divisions of the Pennsylvania in 25 3/5 in the opening Graduate leg on May 1 and didn’t get a check. Sire Stakes for sophomore male trotters at The Meadows on Saturday “He’s a versatile horse that just needs to get into the race,” said afternoon. Campbell about his charge. Sandbetweenmytoes drew post two with “He’s a horse with a lot of talent,” said Campbell of the full brother the rampaging Ruthless Hanover, already a leg winner in the series, to the $1.4 million winner Broadway Donna. landing post eight on the outside of the select group. Broadway Don spent much of his 2-year-old campaign learning the In the first Graduate division on Saturday (race eight) Captain ropes and then needed three qualifiers at The Meadowlands to trot a flat Barbossa seeks his third consecutive win on the season for trainer mile. To his credit, the 1:54 2/5 mile he trotted on May 8 was most impres- Tony Alagna. The altered son of Captaintreacherous landed post six sive since he cut the mile, trotted a final quarter in 27 1/5 and was only and finds some solid competition to his left with a pair from trainer passed by a pair of top-ranked stakes winners in the last few yards.

DRF Harness Digest | 6 | May 13, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Yearlings of 2021 by these Breeders Crown nominated stallions have a May 15 payment due for continued eligibility to the championship series. STALLION NOMINATIONS TO BREEDERS CROWN NO. 36 THE BREEDING SEASON OF 2019  FOR FOALS OF 2020 Opened January 15, 2019  Nominated as of November 1, 2019

A ROCKNROLL DANCE CREATINE LIS MARA ROCKIN IMAGE ALARM DETECTOR CREDIT WINNER LONG TOM ROLL WITH JOE ALL BETS OFF DEVIOUS MAN LOOKSLIKEACHPNDALE ROYAL MATTJESTY ALWAYS A VIRGIN DEWEYCHEATUMNHOWE LOST FOR WORDS ROYALTY FOR LIFE ALWAYS B MIKI DOMETHATAGAIN LUCK BE WITHYOU SANTA FE BEACHBOY AMERICAN IDEAL DONATO HANOVER LYONS SOMEWHERE SEBASTIAN K ANDOVER HALL DOVER DAN MAHARAJAH (Sweden) SHADOW PLAY ANDOVERSURE DOWNBYTHESEASIDE MANNINGLY SO SURREAL ANGUS HALL DUDE’S THE MAN MCARDLE SOUTHWIND FRANK ARACACHE HANOVER E L ROCKET MET’S HALL SPORTSWRITER ARCHANGEL E L TITAN MR WEB PAGE STATE TREASURER ART DIRECTOR ENCORE ENCORE MR WIGGLES STAY HUNGRY ARTISCAPE ENTERPRISE MUSCLE HILL STRAIGHT SHOOTING ARTSPEAK EXPLOSIVE MATTER MUSCLE MASS SUNSHINE BEACH BAR HOPPING FATHER PATRICK MUSCLE MASSIVE SWAN FOR ALL BETTERTHANCHEDDAR FEAR THE DRAGON MUSCLES YANKEE SWAN IN A MILLION BETTING LINE FOURTH DIMENSION MUSICAL RHYTHM SWEET LOU BETTOR'S DELIGHT GLIDEMASTER MY MVP TACTICAL LANDING BIG JIM HE'S WATCHING NOTHING BY CLASS TELLITLIKEITIS BOLT THE DUER HELPISONTHEWAY NUNCIO (Sweden) THINKING OUT LOUD BOSTON RED ROCKS HESTON BLUE CHIP NUTCRACKER SWEET THIRD STRAIGHT BREAK THE BANK K HOLIDAY ROAD ODDS ON EQUULEUS TRIUMPHANT CAVIAR BRING ON THE BEACH HUNTSVILLE PACIFIC RENEGADE TRIXTON CANTAB HALL IF I CAN DREAM PANTHER HANOVER UNCLE PETER CAPTAINTREACHEROUS IN THE ARSENAL PET ROCK WALNER CASH HALL INTERNATIONAL MONI POSSESS THE WILL WELL SAID CENTURION ATM JK ENDOFANERA PRESTIDIGITATOR WESTERN VINTAGE CHAPTER SEVEN JUSTICE HALL RACING HILL WHAT THE HILL CHECK SIX KADABRA READLY EXPRESS (Sweden) WHATAWORKOUT CLASS INCLUDED KEYSTONE VELOCITY REAL DESIRE WHEELING N DEALIN CONTROL THE MOMENT LAZARUS N RESOLVE YANKEE CRUISER CONWAY HALL LIONHUNTER ROCKIN AMADEUS YOU KNOW YOU DO

The above list is subject to omissions and corrections

128 stallions as of November 1, 2019 that finished second, lost to a horse who tested positive for a banned substance. In that scenario, that horse is disqualified from purse at the track money and the owner of the second-place finisher is made whole as AtTheTrack7 he or she will be awarded the first place purse money. The bettor, who By Darin Zoccali again is the customer, is not made whole. His win wager on the origi- nal second-place finisher is still a losing ticket, despite the fact that horse is now the “official” winner of the race. The logistics of correcting the DQ issue from the perspective of the Horseplayers deserve more respect gambler would be a nightmare. It would be impossible for the race- track to recoup all of the winning payouts on the disqualified horse in order to redistribute those winnings to the bettors of the horse who The customer is always right. We have all heard that a million originally finished second. If such a rule were ever implemented, the times. Admittedly, I don’t believe that as a blanket statement. Obvi- racetrack would have to go into its pockets to make the bettors whole. ously a customer can do something outrageous that would disqualify We can argue that maybe that kind of pressure would lead to better that notion. A customer, for example, cannot physically or verbally testing and a healthier sport, but that debate is for another time. abuse an employee and be “right.” But I do believe the customer is the Not only do bettors catch the raw end of the deal often, but people most important person. within the industry trivialize their value, which could be a product of It amazes me that there are many people in who don’t racing becoming too dependent on casino subsidies. In no other indus- seem to agree. Instead they are of the opinion that everyone involved try, in no other sport, does anyone claim the owners are as important in racing has an equal hand in making the horse racing industry or even more important. function. Imagine if someone in professional sports made that claim. Imag- Of course, everyone from the owners to the trainers, grooms, driv- ine if an individual in Major League Baseball or the National Football ers and jockeys all play a role. But the customers (bettors) are the life- League stated that “the owners are as important as or more impor- blood of the sport. I find it bizarre that horse racing appears to be the tant than the fans.” It’s ludicrous to even suggest such a notion. only sports where people within the industry don’t believe this to be In fashion, would a designer ever suggest he or she was more impor- true. tant than the customers who purchase his or her products? If people On Twitter I recently posted the following tweet: don’t like the product you are trying to sell, the product and the In every industry, the customers are the lifeblood of that industry. person who own or create it does not matter. In horse racing, the bettors are the customers. But in racing we see that point of view on a daily basis. To say the That’s the end of the conversation. bettors are the most important part of horse racing isn’t meant to While many agreed with that viewpoint, there were some who demean owners, trainers or anyone else of value within the industry. responded with some version of “and the owners too.” Are owners Of course everyone matters. Everyone plays an important role in the important? Of course they are. We need as many owners involved in industry. racing as possible. As someone who now owns a part of seven thor- Perhaps because of the advent of casino subsidies into horse racing oughbred racehorses (I don’t know how that happened) and as some- purses, the value of the horseplayer has become trivialized. As I one who also is a bettor, I can tell you the bettors are the single most stated earlier, if you are a horse trainer, there was a time in the not important cog in the machine. too recent past where if you looked at your income statement for the Believe it or not, there was a time before casino-enhanced purse year, every single dollar that comprised the number that appeared on subsidies where the purses at racetracks were comprised entirely of that statement came from the customers betting on your horses. The the revenue from the dollars wagered on the races. When a $50,000 bettors quite literally “paid your salary.” Did the owner hire you? Yes. purse was disbursed, that money used to be from the pockets of the But the money you earned from the purses you raced for came from bettors. The bettors literally paid the owners, who subsequently paid the bettors. the trainers, drivers/jockeys, grooms, etc. Without the bettors, in When Tom Durkin retired he gave a brilliant speech at Saratoga. addition to the owners having to pay for their horse’s monthly train- He concluded with the following words: ing and well-being, they would essentially have to challenge another “There is one person that is completely and entirely responsible for owner to a race and put up more money in doing so. this wonderful life that I have had the privilege to live . . . and that In addition, as we have learned from recent events, bettors often person that I owe an inexpressible gratitude is you, the racing fan, catch the short-end of the stick in many situations. For example, a the horseplayer, thank you, thank you for it all, thank you for every- horse being disqualified for a post-race positive. thing.” In such a situation a bettor (customer) who wagered on a horse Tom Durkin got it. I don’t understand why others can’t.

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DRF Harness Digest | 8 | May 13, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Ocean Rock now with Takter for Graduate at Meadowlands

By Gordon Waterstone

Trainer Nancy Takter has had a number of world champions in her barn over the years, so what’s one more? Takter recently added the Ohio-bred Ocean Rock to her stable roster, with the Buckeye State’s 2020 3-year-old Male Pacer of the Year sent her way this past winter by breeder-owner Sandra Burnett to compete on the East Coast, primarily in the Graduate Series. The first leg of the Graduate Series for 4-year-old pacers was contested on May 1 at The Meadowlands, with the second leg set for this Saturday (May 15) at the Big M. Ocean Rock will make his season’s debut in this week’s Graduate, and he’ll be joined by stablemate No Lou Zing in the first of two $50,000 Graduate divisions on the 14-race program. Ocean Rock, who won a May 8 qualifier at The Meadowlands in 1:50 3/5, will start from post two with Yannick Gingras driving. No Lou Zing, who won his 2021 pari-mutuel debut in a May 8 overnight at the Big M in 1:49 3/5, will be in post one with driver Dexter Dunn. Captain

Barbossa, who won a division of the Graduate opener last time out in Conrad Photo 1:48 4/5 as the 3-5 betting favorite, will start from post six. Ocean Rock proved he had big speed as a 3-year-old and new Ocean Rock put his name in the world-record books on Aug. 24, trainer Nancy Takter hopes he can show that in 2021. 2019, when he won an Ohio Sires Stakes division in 1:51 1/5 at MGM Northfield Park, the fastest mile ever by a freshman gelding on a half- mile track. Last year, he lowered his career mark to 1:48 4/5 in an OSS void on the calendar for the division with the cancellation of the May 23 contest over the five-eighths-mile oval at Eldorado Scioto Downs. That Confederation Cup at Flamboro Downs, and Takter didn’t want to miss was one of six wins in 10 starts overall in 2020 for Ocean Rock, whose the opportunity to get Ocean Rock’s season underway. earnings of $363,360 boosted his career total to $519,737 for Burnett. “I would have maybe liked another qualifier, but he had already In addition to his OSS victories, including capturing the state’s missed one leg,” said Takter. “He qualified well enough so I think he Triple Crown in 2020 with wins in the OSS championship, Ohio Breed- will be all right in there. I don’t think Yannick will be overly aggressive ers Championship and Ohio State Fair Stakes, Ocean Rock finished a with him though.” close second to Odds On Osiris in the $250,000 Carl Milstein Memorial Gingras said he is looking forward to racing Ocean Rock in Satur- at Northfield Park. day’s Graduate. In the last start of his sophomore season, Ocean Rock was supple- “He was good in the qualifier but he hadn’t gone a real mile in a mented to the Hollywood Dayton Pacing Derby where he took on older while,” said Gingras. “It was good to stretch him out a little bit. This horses. He missed the only check of his 10-start campaign last year in week we’ll try him out and see what he’s made of and see how much that race, tiring late to an eighth-place finish after leading the entire speed he has. It’s all a learning experience, to try and figure out what way through the stretch call. type of horse he is.” Ocean Rock was raced his first two years by the husband-wife, driv- As for the Takter-trained No Lou Zing, the 4-year-old gelded son of ing-training team of Dan and Christi Noble, who remain at their home Sweet Lou was a prominent player in 2020 as a sophomore, posting a base in Ohio. Ocean Rock was sent to Takter after a Feb. 3 qualifier at 16-7-6-2 slate with $523,558 in earnings for 3 Brothers Stables, Rojan Miami Valley, and she sent the pacer out to a 1:53 4/5 qualifying score Stables and Caviart Farms. on Feb. 27 over a “good” track at The Meadowlands. Despite the victory, “He’s an honest horse and he always puts in a good performance,” Takter was not totally pleased with the effort, so she decided to pause said Takter. “He’s a gelding so we can take our time with him and he’ll the son of Rockin Amadeus’ campaign. be around for awhile. I will give him the opportunity to be a free-for-all “I only had him about a week before I qualified him, and I wasn’t horse after the Graduate and toward the end of the summer with the happy with how he qualified,” said Takter, the 2020 Glen Garnsey free-for-all races.” Memorial Trainer of the Year. “So I called the owner and told her I Takter also has a horse in the second Graduate division on Saturday, needed a little bit more time.” as 2020 Progress Pace champion Fortify will start from post position Not returning until that May 8 qualifier, and with Gingras in the three with driver Tim Tetrick. Another son of Sweet Lou, Fortify banked sulky for the first time, Ocean Rock led gate-to-wire, closing out the $297,296 last year as a sophomore for owner Diamond Creek Racing. mile with a final quarter of 27 3/5 to draw clear by 4-1/4 lengths. Satur- Racing begins at 6:20 p.m. (EDT) Saturday at The Meadowlands. day’s Graduate leg was recently added by The Meadowlands to fill a -Courtesy USTA

DRF Harness Digest | 9 | May 13, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Did you ever want to know more about the people involved in the harness industry? Editor Derick Giwner combs the harness land- scape each week to profile a new personality from the sport.

Driver/trainer Nick Clegg What kind of car do you drive? I have a truck and some cars. My daughter drives a nice car, I don’t care what I drive. My daughter has a Lexus SUV and I have like a 1984 Dodge. Favorite dinner meal? Snack? Pizza and cheeseburgers; there’s nothing else. For snack, Hershey Bars. What is your favorite track to race at? Why? Nick Clegg Facebook When I was at The Meadowlands I liked that a lot. I tend to drive The 47-year-old Nick Clegg has won over 700 races as a driver and and do a lot better against real drivers and real trainers. As a driver 400 as a trainer. I’m one of those people who never gets nervous. Nothing bothers me whether we are going for $12 or $12 million. I guess I’m way better asking how to play the game, so I just played it without understand- when the money is down or there is some importance. ing it. One day I bet $50 on a game and by halftime I was a master, be- cause once you gamble on a game you instantly learn how it works. What is your favorite big event in racing? So now I watch football as much as anything. My least favorite is that I look at races that mean something. People that are in the Hamble- stupid hockey. I don’t believe in teams. The players change every tonian and North America Cup tend to be there every year, but the year so I follow players. I love Tom Brady and [Julian] Edelman be- ones that are in the Orange and Blue or something in Illinois, where cause of his toughness. I love people that can achieve greatness and I half the people are pig farmers that bought a yearling and have feel achieving it is probably easy, but doing it from zero is difficult. a shot at a touchdown, that interests me a lot because some of the people who need the money get to make it. What is one thing about you most fans/bettors don’t know? I was always a fat kid so the chances of me ever driving horses was How often is racing on your mind? zero. When I was a kid I was a superstar. When I was 21 or 22 years All day, every day. I have a lot of different aspects in racing. My out- old, I was the leading driver at every track I went to. Then I got look on racing is way more economics than ego. If everyone worried too fat to drive horses. People didn’t realize that I could even drive about economics as much as they did ego, it would be a better sport. horses. Jim Morrill Jr. once told me that I was the best fat driver who ever lived. I always took that as a compliment. What is your favorite thing to do outside of racing? You drove regularly from 1992 to 2008 then only sporadically I like to fish. I hate people yet I’m a people person. This might sound until the last couple of years. Why did you start driving more stupid but I’m kind of a celebrity in the business. I’m the funny guy that shows up. My spectrum is very broad in this business, so when again? Was it just the weight loss? I show up at someone’s barn, they always tend to be pretty happy. Yeah, 100 percent. There are two kinds of great drivers. Of course Whether I show up at The Meadowlands or Brian Brown’s barn, and Tim Tetrick are great, but there are guys who are people seem to be happy to see me. So for me, showing up someplace really good at reading programs, like Jason Bartlett and Brent unexpectedly and making people laugh is something I like to do. Holland. These guys are sharp. They are strategic, really good at reading a program, drivers. As the saying goes, those who can’t, What is your favorite sport to watch? Team? teach. I really know how to read programs. I really know a lot about the business and the other horses. I drive horses at Northfield and When I was younger I won the MVP for Defensive Player of the Year they don’t drive strategically. It is just a “go” place. For me to drive twice because I got the most tackles. It was the same year as the 1985 correctly I have to go against “correct” drivers. You can’t play chess Chicago Bears. The day after I got the trophy we were watching the against checker players. That’s my style of driving. Bears game and my brother jumped up and he high-fived me because the Bears got a first down. He was like, ‘aren’t you excited?’ and I said ‘excited about what?’ I didn’t know what a first down was. My brother was a good player and I didn’t want to embarrass him by CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

DRF Harness Digest | 10 | May 13, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

Is that why you have been driving more at Yonkers lately? I moved to Northfield and I love it, but they don’t go for as much money as on the East Coast. I basically bought a house that I really couldn’t afford and I had one year to pay for it and I figured if I’m going to get the couple-hundred thousand I need by July I better race some horses where you can get a touchdown. Looking back at your history, it seems you’ve raced at almost every track in the country at one point. Do you like change? When I was a kid I assumed I was a superstar because I won so much. Then I realized that being a superstar in this sport is easy. I can take a 22-year-old paper boy and teach him how to win races if he had horses like some of the top trainers. The most important thing you need to win horse races is to be in them. You can’t win the Filly and Mare Open if you aren’t in it. You are only as good as the horses you get to race. So before you accept a trainer’s greatness, look at the horses they are racing. Good horses will win and bad horses will lose. What is one word that describes for you? There really isn’t one word to describe how management has totally messed up a sport that was so great. How did you get started in the sport? My father opened Midwest Horse Spa which is a training facility. After the first day I went there I told everyone I was going to be a driver. My brother [George Clegg II] and my brother-in-law [Roger Lyall] said I’ll never be a driver because I was too fat. To this day I’ve won more races than they’ve driven combined. Nick Clegg Facebook Nick Clegg (far right) has brought some smiles to the Yonkers Was there ever a chance that you wouldn’t be involved in driving colony, including (left to right) Mark MacDonald, Todd harness racing? McCarthy and Dan Dube.

I’m glad I did get involved because I’m sure I would be in a peniten- before we had to leave. So I went to a used car dealership knowing tiary somewhere if I didn’t. I would’ve been stuck in Moline, Illinois it was a quarter to five and asked them if I could buy a truck today wondering how I could possibly achieve greatness and the avaneues knowing they would be looking to get out of there at 5pm. I asked if I for that are very short there. I’m sure I would’ve ended up being a could test drive one of the trucks and they told me they were getting drug dealer or stealing cars because I wouldn’t have sat there and ready to close so I could test drive it overnight. I was able to get the not achieved greatness. truck back home, hook the trailer up and get the horse to the track, and he won. I remember Gary Siedelman, who just died and was my There are 19 Clegg’s listed on the USTA’s Pathway system. best friend, said to me ‘oh my God Nick, can you believe they are How many relatives do you have in the business? going to hand us $4,500?’ Back then that was like $265,000 to us. That was a wonderful moment in my life. Just two and of course my wife Betty makes three. Which is the best horse you’ve ever trained or driven? In addition to over 700 driving wins you also have more than Rampage Jackson. He changed our lives. We bought Rampage Jack- 400 as a trainer. Are you a better trainer or driver? son’s full baby brother as a yearling last fall and I bought him the I couldn’t train a hungry dog to eat Alpo. I tell people all the time, same day that my father died. His famous saying was ‘never better’ some of the horses I have that are good, if a real horse trainer had so when we bought him, and he looks just like Rampage Jackson, we them they’d be really good. I’m really good at fixing lame horses. named him Georgecleggnevrbtr. What would take the average trainer that you think is smart . . . what would take them three weeks, four vets, two vet clinics and Which horse is/was your favorite? an act of Congress, I would find out why the horse is lame in five My wife’s favorite is Visible Gold. He’s like the barn mascot and is minutes. like 1,800 pounds. What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten about harness What’s the one race that you most want to win in your career? racing? The next one. It’s always the foot. When a horse is lame and he wasn’t lame yester- day and you are going crazy and x-raying, it is always the foot. You are very active on social media. Is harness racing missing What was your favorite moment in harness racing? the boat on that opportunity to reach a general audience? There isn’t even a question about it. If any of these racetracks would My first horse I ever drove at The Meadowlands [Special Destiny] hire me for one month, I’d have 5,000 people in the grandstand on was a great moment. Another one that is a great story . . . we had a Saturday nights. horse in-to-go that I bought for $1,000 and he was in a $17,500 claimer at Balmoral. I got everything ready and we barely had enough mon- ey to get to the track at the time. We put the horse in the trailer and CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 the starter went out on my truck. We only had 15 minutes of leeway

DRF Harness Digest | 11 | May 13, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 At DRF Harness we strive to provide the best handicapping You have a few on- and off-track conduct violations. Are information in the sport. Each week we’ll use this space to bring those an indication of how seriously you take racing? you some of our handicappers’ best bets, value plays and horses to watch. Use this information as one of your tools when wagering or No. The problem is that horsemen are like kids in junior high school. simply click on the link above and head to DRF Bets to wager now. They think it is ok to mouth-off to people because they think the principal will come to save them. Most horsemen are not real-world Thursday, MAY 13 people because if you talk shit to people in the real world they will knock you out. Some people just said things to me they probably RACE 4 shouldn’t have. (3) BLUFFINNER kept If you could choose any horse in history to train or drive, his streak of vicious perfor- which horse would it be and why? mances going down at Harrah’s Philadelphia as he Probably Well Said so I could’ve gelded him and his offspring blew away a group of NW5’s wouldn’t be torturing me. in a life’s-best clocking. He won’t offer much of a price, If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what but I think he’s too sharp to go against. would it be? -Greg Reinhart People forget that we bet on this. That’s what makes it a sport. Ulti- mately it is about random numbers. I love racing in seven to eight- friday, MAY 14 horse fields because I have a better chance of making money, but for people to be able to bet on the sport it needs bigger fields. RACE 8 - $14,686 PICK 6 CArrYOVEr How do you view the future of harness racing? Very tricky Pick 6 sequence that lacks any “true” singles. Pay for play. I think races will eventually have entry fees. Somebody Below is my best try at a some- has to pay for the purses because at some point the casino money what reasonably-priced ticket will be gone. because you could realisti- cally spend $1,000 and not feel You recently had a pacer that you made into a trotter. What confident you have all of the was that about? potential winners. Best of luck if you play; you’ll need it! The race office would reach out every week looking for Non- .20 Pick 6 Ticket: 1,2,3,8 / 3,5,6,7 / 1,2,3,6 / 4,8 / 2,3 / 2,9 = $102.40 winners-of-1 trotters. So I said to my wife, we have 20 horses here, surely one of them can trot. She said, ‘Nick, none of them -Derick Giwner are trotters.’ I said, we’ll turn one of them into a trotter. I had this pacing filly [Delight Kate] and I trained her on the trot and Saturday, MAY 15 qualified her the next day on the trot. She ended up winning a race on the trot. RACE 8 Time for the stretch drive: (5) WARRAWEE VITAL was a willing second in his Lasix – Yes or No?: I have a problem with Lasix. If you get shot in 2021 debut. Captaintreacher- the chest, when you go to the emergency room they don’t give you ous-sired 4-year-old displayed Lasix. So what does Lasix do? I understand that it makes horses 50 big speed in his sophomore pounds lighter when they race and it lowers their blood pressure, but season and should be sitting it isn’t a proven drug for bleeding. I just don’t get how one coincides on a top effort at a good price with the other. I love Lasix. It does help horses, but there is no proven in his second start back. link that it helps for bleeding. -Giwner Favorite TV Show?: Family Guy

Trotters or Pacers?: I like both but you have to be an idiot to have full card analysis / past performances trotters because they’ll drive you crazy. Yonkers (THU) Analysis Meadowlands (SAT) Analysis

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DRF Harness Digest | 12 | May 13, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness NEWS FROM AROUND THE HARNESS INDUSTRY

Jay Randall injured in accident at Saratoga Put On A Show sold

Driver Jay Randall was injured and taken to the hospital after an Put On A Show p,5,1:47 3/5 ($2,406,628) has been sold to a Hunterton accident in the second race at Saratoga Raceway on Wednesday after- Farms-based group for an undisclosed sum. It was jointly announced noon. The incident occured as the field headed towards the three- by previous owner Richard Young and Hunterton Farms mentor quarter pole when Lady Eloquence made a break and scattered the Steve Stewart. majority of the field. Put On A Show, a member the inaugural crop of Rocknroll Hanover, Randall is said to have suffered seven broken ribs on his left side is from the brilliant Stienam’s Place p,3,1:50 4/5 ($1,402,301), is the and two on his right side. He also has some minor fractures and blood dam of five foals to date. They include winner Best in his chest. He remains in the ICU and will be monitored for the next In Show p,3,1:48 ($609,407), a son of Bettor’s Delight, and Come See few days. The Show p,1:52 3/5f ($131,866), by Somebeachsomewhere. Randall, who turned 60 earlier this month, has 4,438 driving wins Put On A Show has been bred to last year’s superstar colt Tall Dark and 239 as a trainer. Stranger for the 2021 breeding season. All other drivers suffered only minor injuries and all horses came The new owners will be Steve Stewart, Taylor Stewart, Black Creek out ok. Farms and Victor Zehr. Due to the accident, the Virginia O’Brien Pacing series has been -edited release (Bob Marks) postponed until May 26. Ohio Fantasy League contest returns for fifth year Messenger, Yonkers Trot get purse boosts to $500,000 The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association’s Racing Fantasy Yonkers Raceway is pleased to announce that the four major Grand League is back in 2021. Fantasy stable owners will compete for over Circuit stakes scheduled for Friday, July 2 will all see substantial $5,000 in prizes and a share of a real racehorse as part purse increases over the originally advertised amounts. of a fractional ownership stable. The MGM Yonkers Trot and MGM Grand Messenger Pace will see a READ MORE purse boost from $300,000 to $500,000. READ MORE Steve Jones named NY Breeding Development Fund trustee

Camera Lady tops robust Blooded Horse Sale Influential Standardbred breeder Steve Jones has been appointed a Trustee of the Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Devel- Horsemen eagerly came to the Champions Center in Springfield, opment Fund. Jones was nominated by the majority leader of the New Ohio on May 11 seeking racehorses and breeding stock. The $10,500 York State Senate and appointed by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to average was the highest in the Spring Sale’s 57-year history, with a lot serve. of happy sellers and buyers that were grateful to get horses. Bidding READ MORE was so spirited that at one point the auctioneer humorously referred to it as a “slugfest.” SBOANJ golf outing set for July 6 Burke Racing Stable brought an especially strong consignment that included both the sale-topper and the runner-up. Leading the way at The annual golf outing to benefit New Jersey horsemen and will $47,000 was the 7-year-old Dragon Again mare Camera Lady, who was take place this year on Tuesday (July 6). racing competitively in the conditioned ranks at the Meadows. The The Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey’s classy winner of $544,302 was purchased by William Hartt of Maine. fundraiser will once again take place at Knob Hill in Manalapan, N.J., READ MORE featuring Putting Contest, Longest Drive Contest, Prizes, Drinks, Lunch & Dinner Buffet. HHYF announces 2021 summer/fall schedule The shotgun start is at 1 p.m., preceded by registration, starting at 11:30 a.m., and buffet lunch. Dinner is at 7 p.m. and is available to non-golfers. The Harness Horse Youth Foundation is pleased to announce the The money raised through the golf tournament supports the 2021 summer/fall schedule. It includes one-day camps as well as meet- SBOANJ Horsemen’s Benevolent Fund and TrotPAC. and-greet events. Sponsorship opportunities are available, for more information, “We are elated to be able to restart our hands-on programs which contact Marie Lauer at the SBOANJ office at 732.462.2357. are such an important part of HHYF’s mission. The HHYF horses will -release SBOANJ be back in shape after their extended vacation and we’ll be sharing harness racing excitement with young people of all ages at many loca- Meadowlands adds series for Open Mare pacers tions very soon” HHYF President Adam Bowden said. READ MORE The Meadowlands will offer a short overnight series for pacing mares consisting of two legs with a purse of $30,000 each and a $50,000 Trio of 2-year-old champions qualify at Philly final for the top earners that declare. The series begins on Saturday, May 22, the second leg is set for The 2020 Dan Patch award-winner in the 2-year-old trotting filly Friday, June 11 leading into the final on Friday, June 18. category, Anoka Hanover, and the O’Brien award-winner in that divi- This series is open to all mare pacers. No nomination or payment is sion, Donna Soprano, were successful in qualifying races at Harrah’s necessary, only the will to enter and the desire to race. Philadelphia on Tuesday morning, as was the O’Brien winner for The first leg will be on the upcoming Meadowlands condition sheet. 2-year-old pacing fillies, Scarlett Hanover. -release (Meadowlands) Anoka Hanover, a Donato Hanover filly who was also successful in a Philly qualifier last week, won Tuesday in 1:56 1/5, coming her Potential changes in the offing for Ontario Sire Stakes own back fractions in 56 - 27 4/5. A winner in 10-of-14 at 2, including the Goldsmith Maid, Kindergarten Final, and both Lexington Grand In response to the current suspension of live racing due to the Circuit stakes, Anoka Hanover was driven by Todd McCarthy for provincial stay-at-home order, Ontario Racing’s Standardbred Horse trainer Noel Daley, the latter co-owner with Caviart Farms, Crawford Improvement Program (SIP) Committee is reviewing the 2021 Ontario Farms Racing, and L. A. Express Stable LLC. Sires Stakes and Prospect Series schedules. READ MORE READ MORE

DRF Harness Digest | 13 | May 13, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness