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Three $100,000 Invitationals, a pair of PA Sire Stakes and eight Stallion Series races highlight a spectacular afternoon of racing NEW PLAYERS

DOUBLE YOUR By Jay Bergman Jim King Jr. has been able to forge ahead FIRST DEPOSIT with some very talented open pacing mares. The best of the best in the older divisions Soho Burning Love A was second fiddle in will be on display on Sunday when Harrah’s the stable for some time but the import has UP TO Philadelphia hosts three $100,000 Invita- emerged in recent weeks and enters Sunday’s tional events. The Commodore Barry for open Betsy Ross in brilliant form. $250 pacers joins the Betsy Ross for open pacing

Join Now: promos.drf.com/offer mares and the Maxie Lee for elite trotters on a 15-race program with a Pennsylvania-bred stakes-filled supporting cast. Manchego is likely to be the star of the day given her exemplary performance in her Inside this issue season’s debut a couple of weeks back in the Arthur Cutler Memorial at The Meadowlands. “That may have been one of the greatest Jay Bergman: Mallard Hanover perfect efforts by a trotter of all time,” said trainer and exceeding expectations, Page 4 Nancy Takter, attempting to describe the 1:51 1/5 score on May 15 by Manchego, the likely Derick Giwner: A filly in the favorite in Sunday’s Maxie Lee. Hambletonian is the new norm, Page 5 Manchego captured the Cutler after being parked the entire mile and racing without Elitloppet brings some of the best cover for a long distance. The 6-year-old by trotters to Solvalla, Page 7 Muscle Hill could have been racing in Sweden on Sunday instead of Pennsylvania but her Darin Zoccali: Something special is ames isa isa hoto connections felt the travel demands currently J L /L P Caretaker Katie Remmerswaal shows her happening at The Big M, Page 8 in place for a U.S.-based horse to race in the love for Manchego after her Cutler win. On The Backstretch: Profile of trainer Elitlopp were too much to ask of Manchego or any other top trotter. Amanda Fine, Page 10 “Without a direct flight into Stockholm, I “I think Shartin N retiring has helped a lot Best Bets & Analysis, Page 12 can’t see how any American horse will enter of these mares,” said King. there,” said Takter. Still, the 7-year-old Soho Burning Love A Industry Headlines: Freehold meet While Manchego (post 5) enters the Maxie has done some things recently that make her ends Saturday; Meadowlands Pace to Lee (race 13) as the richest and fastest in the stand out in her own right, most notably a 1:48 be broadcast on Fox Sports 2, Page 13 field of eight, she is the only mare in a group 2/5 score at The Meadowlands on May 15 that that includes Dan Patch winner Amigo Volo ended with a 52 4/5 final half. Comments? Questions? (post 1), 2019 Hambletonian champion Forbid- “I think we’ve started to figure her out Email the Editor [email protected] den Trade (post 4), as well as the streaking It’s better,” said King. “We’ve spaced her races Academic (post 8). It’s Academic has captured out and given her more recovery time and two stakes races in succession and was bril- that seems to have made a difference.” To ensure proper delivery liant for trainer Ron Burke winning a Gradu- Soho Burning Love A drew post 2 in the of the newsletter via ate division at The Meadowlands on May 22 in Ross, race 12 on the Sunday program with email, add [email protected]. 1:51 1/5 after being parked a half-mile to get a first post of 12:40 p.m. She’ll meet a solid control. com to your contact list With champion Shartin N retired, trainer CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Congratulations to these Ohio Sires Stakes Winners!

Spyder The Striker Summer Touch

Conditions & schedule available at

Trained by Chris Beaver www.racingohio.net Trained by Ron Burke

Owned by Chris Beaver, Charles Beaver, Owned by Burke Racing, Knox Services, Leo Fleming & Vip Internet Stable Slaughter Racing & Weaver Bruscemi

© 2021 Daily Racing Form, LLC - 10 Grand Central, 3rd Floor, NY, NY 10017 Memorial Day Weekend Invitationals at Harrah’s Philadelphia!

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$100,000 Maxie Lee Open Trot $100,000 Commodore Barry Open Pace $100,000 Betsy Ross Mare Pace PLUS PA Sire Stakes for 3-year-old C&G

Sunday, May 30 - Post Time 12:40 PM Chris Brokate Soho Burning Love A began her current three-race winning streak at Yonkers Raceway and looks to continue it in the Betsy Ross.

Western Joe (post 1) has earned more this year through May than CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 he did in 2020 and could add to his bank account with a top perfor- collection of mares that includes JK First Lady (post 3), who makes mance on Sunday. The 7-year-old has the most career starts by far in the third start of the season for trainer Nancy Takter. the field but remains as tough a customer in this class as you could “She’s had a pair of tough races so far,” said Takter of the 4-year-old find. Western Ideal-sired mare. “I’m hoping with the inside post she can Add American History, a past Breeders Crown champion, to the work out a better trip.” solid group and it’s easy to see how contentious the field could be once First or second in 11 of her 14 starts as a sophomore, JK First Lady, the starting gate pulls away. The 6-year-old, who landed post 7, has like the aforementioned Manchego, will be driven by Dexter Dunn. been on a solid form spree of late winning two of his last three starts, The $100,000 Commodore Barry has all the elements of the best including a 1:47 2/5 mile at The Meadowlands on May 15. pacing race of the season given the draw and the contenders. Leoni- On the undercard at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday are a pair of das A (post 3) has won six of his seven starts this year, all at Yonkers Pennsylvania Sire Stakes events for 3-year-old male pacers. Abucka- for trainer Sheena McElhiney. The import returned from a month off bett Hanover (post 1) and Perfect Sting (post 5) meet once again in with a solid 1:51 1/5 victory over that surface on May 17 against Open the $76,329 first division carded as race six. Abuckabett Hanover company. That should serve as a useful tightener for the Commodore ended Perfect Sting’s 10-race winning streak with the 1:50 clocking Barry. at Pocono on May 16. This Is The Plan was the only horse to defeat Leonidas A this year One Eight Hundred (post 6) looks like the real deal for trainer and that came in the final of the Borgata at Yonkers on April 19 when Nancy Takter in the second $76,729 Sire Stakes division that goes as Yannick Gingras guided the veteran from post eight to victory in the race 14. “Timmy (Tetrick) was very excited about him after his last $514,000 event. Gingras and This Is The Plan once again are behind race,” said Takter of One Eight Hundred. “We’re going to point him the eight-ball for the Commodore Barry, but the resilient son of Some- for the big races.” beachsomewhere has proven on countless occasions that he can over- One Eight Hundred was a solid first-leg winner in the Sire Stakes come tough draws and more taxing trips. pacing home in 26 1/5 in defeating Southwind Gendry on May 16 at Nicholas Beach may be an emerging star from the Jennifer Pocono. The pair renew their battle on Sunday with Southwind Bongiorno stable. The 5-year-old by Somebeachsomewhere enters the Gendry landing post 2 in the field of seven. Commodore Barry with the least experience in the field but perhaps In addition to the on-track action, Harrah’s Philadelphia is offering the most amount of pure speed. That speed was in evidence last week a $10,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Late Pick 4 that kicks off with race when he captured an Open Handicap at The Meadowlands (5/22) in 10. a career-best 1:47 2/5 clocking. Joe Bongiorno will guide Nicholas Beach from post 5. CLICK HERE FOR FREE HARNESS EYE PPS FOR SUNDAY’S CARD

DRF Harness Digest | 3 | May 27, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Unblemished Mallard Hanover exceeding expectations

Bender got him to settle fourth in the early stages but that allowed Trace Tetrick to set a 57 2/5 half with Illini Earl. Mallard Hanover jaywalking would be tested for the first time in this mile, first going by the pace- setter in the accelerated final half and then having to hold off the By Jay Bergman BergmanJay charging Katkin Morgan near the wire. The 1:53 3/5 clocking was his fastest at the time and certainly gave indication of better to come. Still, last Friday’s first round of the Indiana Sire Stakes was expected to be a severe test, with returning horses from last year’s division having experience at this level that Mallard Hanover clearly lacked. Bender and Mallard Hanover proved to be calm and cool once again despite the bigger stage. “I just let him sit and relax the first half,” said Bender. “This time when we got to the half he was asking me to come out.” Mallard Hanover settled in fourth in the early stages then advanced on the final turn before hitting high gear in the homestretch. Bender Yearling sales have a way of dividing people. Buyers and sellers remained just a passenger as Mallard Hanover effortlessly rolled are naturally on opposing sides. Then there are buyers who come over the field and stopped the timer in 1:52 4/5. It would be the fastest prepared to spend from six-to-seven figures while others looked to clocking for the horse as well as the young driver, who was more than find more reasonably-priced horses. Together the goal is to take an shocked by the final time. unproven horse with looks and pedigree and make something happen “I saw 1:50 as we were passing the toteboard,” said Bender, knowing on the racetrack. full well there was just a short distance left until the finish line. “I’d For trainers and longtime friends Erv Miller and John Buten- driven trotters in 1:55 and 1:56, but never one this fast.” schoen, each fall has found them coming together to purchase a single While Bender is excited about the future for Mallard Hanover he yearling pacer and trotter for co-ownership. recognizes he may not be driving him in every start. The Miller stable “Erv takes the pacer and John takes the trotter,” said Atlee Bender, in Indiana has 53-head with Bender assisting Emanuel Hernandez. a 29-year-old horseman who currently handles the 3-year-old trotter “We’ve got horses eligible in Indiana, Ohio and Illinois,” said Bender. Mallard Hanover, a product of that relationship. The pair of trainers were hanging around the back ring at Harris- burg at the 2019 auction watching horses go into the ring. “I saw him in the ring and the bidding was at $8,000 and I looked at Erv and asked if there was anything wrong with this colt,” said Butenschoen, who along with Miller spend many hours canvassing the farms preparing for the auction. “I said I’m going to bid on him and before I turned around the bidding was back to $4,000.” The hammer came down at $7,000 and Butenschoen took the son of Swan For All to Florida for the winter. “He trained down like a good horse and went in 2:03 before we came north,” said Butenschoen. “I trained him up here in 2:03 again but he got sore and we decided to quit with him.” So the unraced Mallard Hanover tried again this past winter and by spring was ready to qualify. “John put him in a qualifier and since the horse was going to Indiana he put me down to drive,” said Bender, who after spending some six years working for Erv Miller in Pennsyl- vania was given the assignment of assisting training a large group of horses in the Midwest. “He just told me to sit and let him trot at the end,” continued Bender. Mallard Hanover’s first taste of competition was a 2:03 victory at Dean Gillette Southern Oaks Training Center on March 16 in a field of four and Mallard Hanover remains unbeaten in five career starts after his Indiana Sire Stakes win on May 21. hardly gave a clue of what type of horse he would become in the next two months. “That first race at Hoosier was kind of incredible,” said Bender. “We “There are going to be times I’m driving in Illinois.” were just way back at the half and he took off that last quarter and While a perfect five-for-five at this point, there’s a long road ahead wanted to chase the other horses down.” to prove just what Mallard Hanover will become. For Butenschoen, It was just a non-winners-of-one for Mallard Hanover on April 7 but it’s been a fun ride thus far. the gelding came from well back to post a 1:56 4/5 final time. More “It’s been a lot of fun watching him. He’s going to get beaten eventu- impressive was the 26 3/5 final quarter, a lot more inspirational than ally, they all do,” said Butenschoen, who is as surprised as anyone as the 2:03 clocking just a few weeks earlier. to how well Mallard Hanover has progressed in such a short period For Bender, getting the chance to drive this horse sort of came by of time. accident. “Trace (Tetrick) was given the chance to drive him,” said Considering he was just a $7,000 yearling colt that was unraced Bender. “But he asked what kind of horse he was, and I really couldn’t as a 2-year-old, Butenschoen and Miller, along with partner George tell him.” Thus, Bender got in the bike, despite confessing to getting Golemes, had to make some major decisions this past February when more satisfaction from the training side of the business as opposed to stakes payments were due. driving. “You know there are people who say you can never make a mistake Mallard Hanover has continued to progress since his debut and by over-staking a horse,” said Butenschoen. “Then again you can look he along with Bender captured the next three races at Hoosier with kind of stupid after staking a horse that can only trot in 1:55.” the same calmness and blistering late speed they had exhibited in The February date came and passed, and no payment was made the debut. On May 12, in the final of an early-closer at Hoosier Park, for Mallard Hanover to this year’s Hambletonian. In hindsight that the cards appeared stacked against Mallard Hanover having drawn missed payment could be a blessing should Mallard Hanover rise the post eight and perhaps speed compromised by his off-the-pace style. ranks in Indiana’s lucrative sires program.

DRF Harness Digest | 4 | May 27, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness A filly in the Hambletonian has become the new norm

Clearly in the more talented of two $71,000-plus events carded as races one and three, Anoka Hanover drew post 2 with regular driver EDITOR’S EYE Todd McCarthy in the bike. The field also includes the once-beaten- in-2021 Bella Bellini (post 1) and 2020 Breeders Crown winner Lady By Derick Giwner @harnesseyeguy Chaos (post 6). Recent 1:52 4/5 Sire Stakes winner Love Muffin (post 4) highlights the first division. Whether Anoka Hanover Have you ever heard or read the question: What’s the first thing can become the third filly in that comes to mind…? four years to win the Hamble- When watching Harrah’s Philadelphia on May 21, the first word tonian will remain a mystery that popped into my head as Anoka Hanover widened her lead to for another 10 weeks. At this more than three lengths in the stretch and won effortlessly in a track- point we don’t even know if record equaling 1:52 3/5 was “Hambletonian.” the thought of taking on the Certainly one start into her 3-year-old campaign is a bit premature boys has entered the minds of to start pointing her to the million-dollar race on the first Saturday in her ownership group of Cavi- August at The Meadowlands against the boys. Or is it? art Farms, Crawford Farms During the first 35 years of the Hambletonian an impressive 10 Racing, L A Express Stable fillies were crowned champion before everything changed. The next and Daley, but one nugget of 55 years brought just three winners, but as the breed has progressed information we are privy to in recent years the fillies have clearly come on par with the colts in is history. Atlanta, Ramona terms of raw speed and ability. Hill and Anoka Hanover have Mission Brief, still the fastest 2-year-old trotter in North American something in common – Crawford Farms Racing. history at 1:50 3/5, got the ball rolling for this new generation of young To stray from facts for a moment, perhaps Crawford is the “lucky ladies in 2015 when she won an elimination of the Hambletonian and charm” that leads to filly Hambletonian dominance. finished second in the final. Then Atlanta came along to win the event in 2018 and she was followed up by Ramona Hill in 2020. Some can look at two fillies winning the Hambletonian in three years Hambletonian Notebook as an anomaly. Thankfully there is even more proof of the increased The top-ranked horse on the Road to the Hambletonian is 2-year-old superiority of the modern filly. In 2020 the fastest 3-year-old trotter in colt champion and Mohawk Million winner Venerate. He is scheduled the sport was Ramona Hill at 1:50 1/5 and three of the top five fastest to make his first on-track appearance in a qualifier Saturday after- (all under 1:51) were fillies. Half of the under 1:51 squad in 2019 were noon (May 29) at The Meadowlands. fillies led by Beautiful Sin and When Dovescry in 1:50 1/5. Nine horses The fastest 2-year-old trotter of 2020, Southwind Tyrion (1:51 1/5) were sub-1:51 trotters in 2018 and five were fillies, with Impinktoo and has yet to hit the track this year but is reportedly training well and Plunge Blue Chip putting up world-record 1:49 4/5 miles. expected to qualify in early June, perhaps as early as the 5th. Armed with the above facts, you can hardly wonder why my first The speedy Cuatro De Julio (5-1) and the first-out 1:51 4/5 winner thought was Hambletonian when Anoka Hanover crossed the wire Lindysmusclemania (2-1) are two of eight Hambletonian eligibles first, and I’m the last person to hype up a horse off one or even a few in-to-go Friday at The Meadowlands in the $200,000 New Jersey Sire races. When Get Legs looked like he could be anything earlier this Stakes final (race 9). year, I watched as the bandwagon sailed down the road. Is there a In addition to the fillies competing at The Meadows on Saturday, chance he can be the next Lucky Jim or be a Wiggle It Jiggleit type the colts and geldings will battle in three divisions of PA Sire Stakes that excels during the winter and carries that success on to a great on Monday afternoon at The Downs at Pocono. Some of the standout career? Sure! But more likely he’ll just be a good horse. horses include 2020 PASS champion Captain Corey (race 8) making The effort I saw from Anoka Hanover in her 3-year-old debut flick- his seasonal debut along with PASS and Breeders Crown runner-up ered thoughts of a great horse . . . one who could overcome bad posi- In Range (race 10). While that duo competes in the main-event Sire tion and a first-over trip to win as she pleased. Dating back to last Stakes on the card, Breeders Crown winner On A Streak (race 4) year, the Noel Daley trainee has won eight straight races and will makes his second start of the year in the second-rung Stallion Series. start next in the second leg of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at The ***Ramona Hill won the 2020 Hambletonian but is not listed in the Meadows on Saturday (May 29). chart below.

DRF Harness Digest | 5 | May 27, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness

Elitloppet 2021 brings some of the world’s best to Solvalla

By Greg Reinhart who will have post eight in the second heat, which is labeled as the “Blue” elimination. Very Kronos, the second-place finisher in the The 2021 edition of the Elitloppet is coming up on Sunday at Solvalla Paralympic Trot, will be driven by Erik Adielsson. A 7-year-old by Racecourse in Sweden. Due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, the Ready Cash, Very Kronos was victorious in the 2020 Swedish Cham- event will be run without the traditional amount of fans for the second pionship, a Group 2 race. straight year, but nonetheless, the show will go on, with 16 horses, Ecurie D was the first horse to get an invitation to the Elitloppet representing several different countries, electing to compete. after taking the Dartster F’s Lopp back on April 7, but the winner of The lead-up to the “Elite Race” was not without controversy. 15 of 19 races lifetime finished last in the Paralympic Trot. He won the The connections of Paralympic Trot winner Delia du Pommereux 4-year-old Elite Race on the undercard of last year’s Elitloppet, and received an invitation after her victory in that prestigious Group 1 Ulf Ohlsson will drive the Frode Hamre trainee. race on May 8, but following a significant fine to driver Eric Raffin Cokstile, who was placed the winner of last year’s Elitloppet after for “incorrect use of the whip,” owner Noël Lolic announced that he the results of Propulsion were thrown out, is back to defend his title, was not interested in competing in the Elitloppet and would not bring and he will start from post one in the second elimination for driver Delia du Pommereux back to Sweden. Then, after a race on May 15, Vincenzo Gallo and trainer Mattia Orlando. trainer-driver Robert Bergh, who has defending Swedish Horse of Riordan also has a starter in the Blue heat, with Gareth Boko start- the Year Hail Mary, received a suspension for an in-race infraction ing from post five for driver Mats Djuse. Gareth Boko picked up his that he has to serve during Elitloppet weekend, taking his horse out of ticket to the Elitloppet after winning the Group 2 HRH Prins Daniels consideration. A few days after that, trainer Jean-Michel Bazire and Lopp. the connections of Prix du Luxembourg winner Dorgos de Guez also The top four finishers from each elimination, which will be races passed on their invitation, with Bazire telling the Paris-Turf publica- six and seven on the card, will come back for the final in race 12, with tion that the horse’s lack of experience at the mile distance, and the elimination winners drawing for post one and two, the second place penalty to Bergh, were the reasons. horses for posts three and four, and so on. The full fields for the elimi- While those are significant defections, a strong field will line up nations are listed below. for the Elitloppet. The eliminations were drawn last Sunday, and pre-race favorite Vivid Wise AS, trained and driven by Alessandro ELITLOPPET Elimination 1- Heat “Green” Gocciadoro, drew post one in the “Green” heat, which will be the POST-HORSE DRIVER Bet365 Odds first one to go behind the gate. Vivid Wise AS scored two significant 1-Vivid Wise As Alessandro Gocciadoro 6.00 wins in prep races in France, taking the Grand Critérium de Vitesse, which is conducted over the same mile distance he’ll face Sunday, and 2-Moni Viking Björn Goop 7.50 the Prix de l’Atlantique. 3-Milliondollarrhyme Fredrik Larsson 25.00 Moni Viking, who will be driven by trainer Björn Goop from post 4-Aetos Kronos Magnus Djuse 8.00 two, is another contender in the first elimination. Moni Viking won 5-Hickothepooh Vidar Hop 75.00 last year’s Group 1 Åby Stora Pris, and collected victories in the 6-Bahia Quesnot junior Guelpa 45.00 Group 3 Prix de la Marne in France and Group 2 Örebro Intn’l in 7-Cyber Lane Johan Untersteiner 30.00 Sweden in 2021. 8-Don Fanucci Zet örjan Kihlström 7.00 Representing the United States in the race will be Jerry Rior- dan-trained Aetos Kronos (post four, Magnus Djuse). Co-owned by ELITLOPPET Elimination 2 - Heat “Blue” Team Snyder AB, which includes Jeff and Mike Snyder of Rocknroll POST-HORSE DRIVER Bet365 Odds Hanover fame, Aetos Kronos won the Prix Bold Eagle at Vincennes 1-Cokstile Vincenzo Gallo 15.00 Racecourse in Paris during the winter meet and then was third in the Prix De France and Paralympic Trot. 2-Heavy Sound kenneth Haugstad 25.00 “Top three,” said Mike Snyder about what he thinks of Aetos 3-Seismic Wave claes Sjöström 9.00 Kronos’s chance in the race. “It’s going to be a very, very exciting race. 4-Gelati Cut Gabriele Gelormini 17.00 I think it’s going to be a competitive race, and he’s going to do well.” 5-Gareth Boko Mats Djuse 15.00 Don Fanucci Zet is another horse who has been well-backed in 6-Ecurie D Ulf Ohlsson 8.00 pre-race markets, but the Daniel Reden trainee had the misfortune 7-Click Bait Per Lennartsson 35.00 of drawing post eight in the first elimination. Örjan Kihlström will 8-Very Kronos Erik Adielsson 11.00 drive the winner of last year’s Group 1 Sprintermästaren in Sweden for 4-year-olds. **Listed odds are live as they appeared on braodds.com as of May 26 Another horse hurt by a poor elimination draw was Very Kronos, at 3pm ET.

DRF Harness Digest | 7 | May 27, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Something special is happening at The Meadowlands

seeing a near 26 percent increase in that category compared to 2020, from $198,000 per race to nearly $250,000 per race. In fact, The Meadow- at the track lands has not had a single racing program where the handle per race was under $200,000 and some nights it eclipsed $300,000. By Darin Zoccali AtTheTrack7 As of this column, The Meadowlands has contested five programs over $4 million in handle and another 27 programs that yielded over $3 million in handle. These are tremendous figures and literally make it the largest racing signal on Friday and Saturday evenings, easily In 2018, $189 million was wagered on Standardbred races at The surpassing all Thoroughbred tracks with the exception of Churchill Meadowlands. That came to an average of $2.36 million per racing Downs “Downs after Dark” racing program. program over 80 racing dates. At this point in 2021, The Meadowlands In years past, June was a slower month for The Meadowlands. The has contested half that number of racing programs (41 to be exact) and North America Cup would lure drivers north of the border as well as has yielded a combined handle of $137.7 million, or $3.36 million per the best horses. The Big M would have to create lower-level mini-series racing card. That’s $1 million more per night than three years ago. to fill its racing programs. In 2021, that is not going to be an issue. The Those figures are staggering. The Meadowlands will push the enve- North America Cup has been moved to the fall and The Max Hempt lope on $300 million in handle this year when you consider they have Memorial will now take place in August. The Meadowlands racing not even run half its racing programs at this point and still have The quality will be leaps and bounds better in the month of June than it has Meadowlands Pace, Hambletonian Day and Breeders Crown in their been in quite some time, setting them up nicely for the great six-week back pocket. stretch of July into Hambletonian weekend. Comparing these figures to 2020 is unfair as The Meadowlands lost In years past, I would find that even on the biggest days there was nearly three months of racing to the COVID pandemic, but that being only so much money to go around harness racing in terms of handle. said, if you compare the first 41 racing dates of 2020 to 2021, The Mead- Therefore, despite everything The Meadowlands would do, there would owlands is still realizing astonishing gains of nearly $700,000 in wagers be a cap as to what it would see come through the betting windows. In per racing card. If you look back to 2019, The Meadowlands posted $235 2021, I am not sure that is the case. million in handle over the entire season, a really solid number and a Last year, The Meadowlands saw a $5 million night for The Meadow- number they will be approaching by Hambletonian Day this year. lands Pace. That figure marked the largest amount wagered on a Mead- In addition, Mohawk as well as other Standardbred tracks in Canada, owlands Pace card in 13 years. With the momentum The Meadowlands has not raced for several months, which has directed more attention has seen over the past few months, I would not be surprised to see that onto The Meadowlands and it will be interesting to see how The Mead- figure push $6 million this year. owlands handle performs once the Mohawk signal returns, which It was just announced that The Meadowlands Pace will get national appears to be a month or so away, possibly less. television coverage on Fox Sports (FS2). For years I have heard people Without question, The Big M has been able to hold onto at least some within the industry claim that these “minor sports networks” don’t of the new bettors they picked up last year, when for a period of time, move the needle. Essentially, if it’s not on NBC or ESPN, it’s not worth it. horse racing was quite literally the only game in town. The product is The last year has proven this to be wrong. “America’s Day at the Races” leaps and bounds better than it was three or four years ago, which is a on FS2 has been incredibly helpful to the industry, especially throughout result of the increased purses. this pandemic, and the fact that The Meadowlands Pace will follow the The Meadowlands does face some content distribution limitations coverage from Saratoga is incredibly significant. On a Saturday night, a due to their relationship with Monarch Content Management, who has fan who just watched the day of racing at Saratoga will stick around to had a history of issues with certain simulcast locations. This includes watch $2 million worth of stakes races from The Meadowlands. I am not an ongoing dispute in Arizona and in the past, the Mid-Atlantic Co-Op. sure people realize how significant this announcement was. Due to the relationship with Monarch, The Meadowlands signal is not The Meadowlands locomotive is full-steam ahead, which is remark- received at every location it actually could be available, making these able considering where it was 10 years ago. I remember being despon- increases all the more impressive. But, The Meadowlands benefits dent in 2010, reading the news about the racetrack’s potential closing. from that same relationship when it comes to the importing of signals, Everything seemed to be doom and gloom. Incredibly, The Meadowlands which the track relies heavily upon for its purse account, so it is not has made a 180 degree turn and is once again the “King of the Hill” in without a valid reason. harness racing and the arrow is still pointing up! I am a life-long fan and As of this week, the per-race average for Standardbred racing handle supporter of The Meadowlands and I can tell you, there is something in the United States is up almost 15 percent. The Meadowlands itself is special happening at the big oval in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

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DRF Harness Digest | 8 | May 27, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Everything for the Harness Player. All in One Place.

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Visit 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.

TRAINER AMANDA FINE What kind of car do you drive? James Lisa/Lisa Photo Jeep. Amanda Fine is joined by her dad, former trainer Marty Fine, after P L Ozzy picked up Amanda’s first win at The Meadowlands. Favorite dinner meal? Snack? Steak; Fruit. How did you get started in the sport? My dad [Marty Fine] was a trainer so I would always come with him What is your favorite track to race at? Why? to the barn. Any chance I could to skip school I would go to the barn. Probably Mohawk because it is my home track. I was probably in the barn when I was 2 years old because my mom and dad were both involved in it. What is your favorite big event in racing? Did your mom help your dad train? The Hambletonian. It has always been a dream of mine to have a horse race in the Hambletonian. She did for a while and now she helps with my stable. How far into the future do you think it will be before You’ve put up a very respectable 15% win rate in your accomplishing that goal? 167-race training career that began in 2019. Has your success exceeded or met expectations? I’m hoping it is only a couple of years away. Exceeded. I never expected to be where I am now so early in my How often is racing on your mind? career. I’ve gotten so lucky. I have a lot of nice horses and good, sup- portive owners. Every day. You decided to bring some horses down to the U.S. from your What is your favorite thing to do outside of racing? home base in Canada during the recent COVID lockdown. Horseback riding. I have some retired Standardbreds and I like to Why did you make that decision? ride them when I have time. I had some claimers that I had to get rid of because racing up here Speaking of retired Standardbreds, you recently posted about [Canada] was a no-go. I had one 3-year-old [P L Ozzy} that had never a horse you saved from a kill pen? raced at 2 and while I knew he had talent, I needed him to show me before I continued on with the stakes payments. I also have some That was over a year ago. It was a horse [Diane’s Shark] that I Pennsylvania-sired horses and they had to come down and qualify claimed years ago. I found him there and we brought him back to so they could race in the PA-bred events. Canada. He was the first horse I ever got myself and when I saw him in there I had to bring him home. While in the U.S. you won your first race at The Meadowlands with P L Ozzy. What was that feeling like for you? What is your favorite sport to watch? It was exciting. If I had to race at a track outside of Mohawk, Mead- I’m not really a sports person but if I had to choose it would be base- owlands would be the place I would go. To do it with that horse . . . ball. he didn’t show much on the program but had always showed me so much talent training. He finally showed it to me in a race. What is one thing about you most fans/bettors don’t know? How much did you stake P L Ozzy? I love hiking with my dog Ziya. He’s just in the North America Cup and Somebeachsomewhere. I What is one word that describes harness racing for you? own him myself and stakes payments are expensive. Passion.

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DRF Harness Digest | 10 | May 27, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

Have you returned home in anticipation of reopening? Yes. Do you see yourself taking a shot in the U.S. in the future? I would love to. I enjoy racing in the United States more than Canada, but I would have to get the right horses to make a move like that. A lot of our horses can do there, but some of them do well up here and they aren’t so good in the U.S. What is the scene like up in Canada now? It is kind of nerve-racking. No one knew until a week ago what would happen. I know there is a lot of talk about people moving to the States and I’m sure some people have just gotten out of the business because it wasn’t worth it without being able to race. It is kind of a sad situation. At 24, what are your career goals? I’d love to win a major stakes race, whether it be the Metro or the Meadowlands Pace. We’ve won some stakes events but I’d like to win at least one major stakes event this year.

New Image Media Do you think that a win like that could vault your career Amanda Fine has won 25 of 167 career races as a trainer and will ahead? look to add to that total when racing resumes in Ontario. Yes, 100%. If you weren’t involved in harness racing, what would you be What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten about harness doing? racing? Something along the lines of helping or rescuing any type of ani- Probably from my dad. He would always tell me, ‘Never question mals. I’m more of an animal person than I am a people person. anything. Just sit and watch.’ If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what What was your favorite moment in harness racing? would it be? Winning the Metro elimination with Highlandbeachsbest. That was Honestly, for up here, the atmosphere. I find it kind of catty in On- pretty exciting for me. It was only my second year of training. tario. In the United States it seems they love the winners whereas up here it doesn’t seem like they love the winners. When you win in the Highlandbeachsbest is not in Sunday (May 30) in the PA Sire States everyone is congratulating you, here it seems like they only Stakes. What is next for him? want to ask you about the horses that finished last. He was actually sick his last start so we decided to skip it. He is How do you view the future of harness racing? staked to everything so we are going to focus more on the bigger stakes. I think good for the younger horses. The Sire Stakes programs should keep getting better. The claimers, I’m not quite as sure how Which is the best horse you’ve ever trained? long that will keep going. Highlandbeachsbest or PL Ozzy. As a young person in the sport, what can we do to make it Which horse is/was your favorite that you’ve trained? more attractive to your generation? We need to get people more hands-on with the animals rather than My all-time favorite, probably until the day I die, will be Alexa’s just watching them from the sidelines. Working with the animal is Jackpot. My dad trained him. He took me on a lot of adventures as a kind of what draws us all in. Even tours where people can see the groom. We went to Lexington and other places. I still have him; we horses closer would really help. retired him. I actually have him tattooed on my body. He’s a once in a lifetime horse. Time for the stretch drive: If you could choose any horse in history to train, which horse Best horse you ever saw: Captaintreacherous. would it be and why? Lasix – Yes or No?: Yes – I’m a big believer in Lasix. Probably Always B Miki. He had a lot of ailments and showed true grit. He was such a tough horse. Favorite TV Show?: Law and Order or Criminal Minds. Trotters or Pacers?: Pacers.

DRF Harness Digest | 11 | May 27, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Million-dollar Mondays becoming the new norm at Yonkers Raceway

When Yonkers Raceway management made the decision to scrap Saturday night racing in favor of Wednesdays and switch its upper- level events to the Monday card, hopes were high that the moves would provide favorable returns. Some five months into the experi- At DRF Harness we strive to provide the best handicapping ment and the results are in . . . and positive. information in the sport. Each week we’ll use this space to bring Since the start of April, total handle has averaged just over one you some of our handicappers’ best bets, value plays and horses to million for the eight programs contested on Monday. The high-water watch. Use this information as one of your tools when wagering or mark came on May 3 when handle was $1,254,745, easily the largest simply click on the link above and head to DRF Bets to wager now. single-night total seen by the track in nearly a decade. “We really wanted to move the top-class races to Mondays and that’s Thursday, MAY 27 worked out great,” said Director of Racing Alex Dadoyan. “Many times those good races could get lost in the shuffle of a crowded week- RACE 2 end simulcast slate but now they can stand out on Mondays. Even if we add back Saturdays to the schedule the top classes are going to (4) ELIZA B looked excel- stay on the Mondays.” lent in her first start of 2021 The “Million-Dollar Mondays” are bolstered by the fact that a couple weeks ago, and if Yonkers has averaged just 10 races per card during the eight-week anything she should be even span, well short of other tracks that typically eclipse that handle bar. better tonight. Expect a short Taking the $100,000 average per race as a barometer, a normal 14-race price. card offered by many tracks would push the Yonkers handle over the -Greg Reinhart $1.5 million plateau on some nights. The Monday cards at Yonkers typically feature some of the best pacers friday, MAY 28 in North America. The Borgata series was moved from Saturday to Monday in 2021 and was very well-received from a handle standpoint. RACE 8 Planned Vacation: After racing concludes on Thursday, May 27, Yonkers Raceway will take a mini vacation from live racing while the (1) WET MY WHISTLE track undergoes maintenance. Racing will resume on Monday, June was my top pick in this series 7 with the normal Monday to Friday schedule. Post time remains at coming into the first leg and 7:15 PM nightly. nothing has changed after a Purse Increase: When the post-break condition sheet is released, win. Now she adds Yannick owners, trainers and drivers will be delighted to see an across-the- and that should only improve board purse increase. All classes will get a boost with some seeing her chances. increases approaching 20 percent. -Derick Giwner The bottom condition of Non-winners-of-$5,000 (Last 5)/$12,500 Claiming will bump up to $12,500 as the lowest purse offered at Saturday, MAY 29 Yonkers. The top of the class ladder features multiple Opens getting a boost from $37,000 to $42,000. One of the largest purse increases RACE 13 are for younger horses, with Maidens now going for $14,000 and Non- winners-of-2-races at $16,000. (3) LEXUS WITH A VIEW New to the class system at Yonkers will be a Non-winners-of-$30,000 A drops in class for the third (Last 5) and $75,000 Claimer which Racing Secretary Bob Miecuna is straight week and has shown hoping will fill. good life in his last two starts. Triple Crown: Yonkers will play host to the first legs of both the There really are no excuses Pacing and Trotting Triple Crowns on Friday, July 2. Eliminations for failure here. for the MGM Yonkers Trot and MGM Grand Messenger Pace are -Giwner slated for June 25. A total of 44 colts and geldings are eligible to the Yonkers Trot while 38 were nominated to the Messenger. Both events sunday, may 30 offer a $30,000 supplement option for horses who are not eligible. More information on racing dates, conditions and stakes events can RACE 3 be found on our website. -release (Yonkers Raceway) (1) TATTOO ARTIST got a much deserved week off after missing a nose in 1:47 4/5 against stakes foes last Follow time. Four-year-old seems to be coming into form -Giwner full card analysis / past performances

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DRF Harness Digest | 12 | May 27, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness NEWS FROM AROUND THE HARNESS INDUSTRY

Persistence pays off for connections of Racine Bell NYS calls for 2021 Grant Applications

Racine Bell took time to get going, but there is no stopping her now. The Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development A 4-year-old female pacer, Racine Bell will make her Grand Circuit Fund is now accepting grant applications from certified 501(c)(3) debut in Sunday’s $100,000 Betsy Ross Mares Invitational at Harrah’s nonprofit organizations. The Fund will award grants up to $100,000 for Philadelphia. For her career, the mare has won 16 of 34 races and hit 2021. Awards will be based on the strength of proposal and its adher- the board a total of 27 times for trainer David Dewhurst and owners ence to the statutorily mandated mission of the Fund, to promote agri- Chris Lawton and Dale Lawton. Purchased for $9,000 at the 2018 culture through the breeding of Standardbred horses and the conduct Blooded Horse Sale, she has earned $369,526. of equine research within the state. READ MORE Grant proposals from eligible organizations must be received by the Fund no later than June 10, 2021. Freehold winter/spring meet concludes Saturday The grant application can be found here. Interested organizations are asked to review the application and the Fund’s grants policy to deter- Freehold Raceway will wrap up a successful 48-day winter/spring mine their eligibility. The Fund will review each grant application it meet this Saturday (May 29) with a 13-race card starting at about 12:30 receives and invite eligible organizations to present at a board meeting PM. tentatively planned in late June. Grant awardees will receive written As usual, the Saturday card features full fields and interesting notification, including deadlines for submission of expenditure reports. betting races. The featured event is a non-winners-of-$8,000-last-five “The Fund has long provided grants to help accomplish its mission pace with a full field of eight. The favorites include Ozone Blue Chip, by championing programs that support and promote the breeding, who has hit the board in his last three races for trainer Ron Coyne Jr, research and racing of Standardbred horses in New York,” said Exec- Dull Roar, who won at this level two back for trainer John Wyatt, and utive Director M. Kelly Young. Ruthless Dude, a winner of two in a row for trainer Izzy Estrada. It’ll Please mail proposals to: Agriculture and New York State Horse Breed- go as the eighth race with a scheduled post time of 2:50 PM. ing Development Fund - Attention: Kelly Young - 1 Broadway Center - READ MORE Schenectady, N.Y. 12305. Or email to [email protected]. -edited release (New York Sire Stakes) Test Of Faith, Forbidden Trade take qualifiers at Philly Party Girl Hill in foal Test Of Faith, the fastest 2-year-old of 2020, showed she’s ready for whatever her opponents may throw at her with a sensational qualify- “I guess she does everything right,” said Hunterton Farm’s Steve ing victory in 1:53 1/5 at Harrah’s Philadelphia Tuesday (5/25) morn- Stewart regarding world champion Party Girl Hill’s seamless transi- ing. tion from superior racehorse to motherhood. “She arrived from Chris The Art Major filly, trained by Brett Pelling for Melvin Segal, Ryder on a Monday, we bred her on Saturday two weeks ago and she’s Kentuckiana Racing Stable, and Eddie Gran, was reserved off early in foal,” he explained. fractions of 28 2/5 and 58 2/5 by driver David Miller, sitting third, Last year’s Dan Patch winner as 3-year-old Filly Pacer of the four lengths off at the half. Test Of Faith moved up to second, still Year, Party Girl Hill was truly remarkable during her sophomore six lengths off the lead, by the 1:26 three-quarters, but she roared her campaign, winning 15 of 16 starts for $880,345 earned. Her wins individual last quarter in 26 to be a 1 1/2 length winner. included the Fan Hanover, Jugette, Matron, PaSS Championship, READ MORE Bluegrass, Adioo Volo and a split of the Tattersalls where she defeated her male counterparts in 1:47 2/5, her life mark. USTA donates $40K, establishes new funding mechanism for STA Owned by breeder Tom Hill and trained by Ryder, the daughter of Captaintreacherous was retired in late April. Her consort, Tall Dark The U.S. Trotting Association announced Monday (May 24) that the Stranger, was also a Dan Patch winner last year as both 3-year-old organization will donate $40,000 and establish a new funding mecha- Pacing Colt of the Year and Horse of the Year. nism to assist the Standardbred Transition Alliance. The $40,000 will -edited release (Hunterton Farm) come from the USTA’s Support Our Standardbreds budget. In their May 13 meeting, the USTA’s Executive Committee voted John Brennan Memorial Mass scheduled for June 26 to make the contribution and establish a new, opt-in option for USTA members to donate to the STA, which will be included on all new and A Memorial Mass for former U.S. Trotting Director John Brennan renewal membership applications. has been scheduled for Saturday, June 26 at 11 a.m. at St. Francis De READ MORE Sales Church in Belle Harbor, NY according to an announcement from the Denis S. O’Connor Funeral Home. Gaitway, Magical Acres to broadcast “baby” races Brennan, 69, a USTA director for 23 years and chairman of District 12, died March 10, 2020 due to COVID-19, which was exacerbated by Harness racing fans and participants worldwide can enjoy the June existing health problems. A resident of New Jersey, he was reported series of 2-year-old races from Gaitway Farm and Magical Acres via a to be the state’s first coronavirus victim. series of live broadcasts produced by 412 Communications. Brennan trained horses for more than 40 years, racing stables in New The broadcasts will feature the entirety of the 2-year-old and quali- York and New Jersey. He won the 1995 Merrie Annabelle with Missy fying programs at Gaitway Farm on Mondays, June 7, 14, 21 and 28, Will Do It and was part-owner and trainer of Sugar Trader, winner of and select races from Magical Acres on Wednesday mornings, June the 2003 Yonkers Trot and runner-up in the 2003 Hambletonian. 9, 16, 23 and 30. In addition to his service as USTA director, which began with his READ MORE election in 1997, he was on the board of the SOA of New York for more than 30 years and an HHI delegate for more than 20 years. Meadowlands Pace to be broadcast live on Fox Sports 2 At the time of his death, he was the horsemen’s representative at Yonkers Raceway. The Meadowlands, in association with the New York Racing Associ- Arrangements are as follows: Saturday June 26, 2021, 11 a.m. at St. ation (NYRA), is pleased to announce that the Meadowlands Pace will Francis De Sales Church - 129-16 Rockaway Beach Blvd - Belle Harbor, be broadcast live as a part of the popular America’s Day at the Races NY 11694. series on Fox Sports 2 from 8:00 to 10:00PM on Saturday, July 17, 2021. -edited release (USTA Communications) READ MORE

DRF Harness Digest | 13 | May 27, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness