DRF HARNESS HOME DIGITAL HARNESS EYE HARNESS PPS DRF BETS ENTRIES ARCHIVE THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021 All hail the undefeated: King Of The North & Venerable

Even Hall of Fame driver David Miller, no stranger to handling top young horses, was EDITOR’S EYE surprised and impressed by the fight and staying power of the Walner filly. By Derick Giwner “She’s very, very special,” said Miller about @DRFHarness Venerable, now undefeated in four career starts. “I thought I was using her way too hard in the mile but at the top of the stretch she The post-Hambletonian question of the found more. I was very impressed with her.” day on the DRF Harness Twitter account was “Which Hambletonian Day performance impressed you most?” Unfortunately on Twitter you can only list Inside this issue four choices and we went with Captain Corey, Venerable, Manchego and Bella Bellini, while also asking people to comment if they felt Jay Bergman: Will lightning strike twice strongly that another horse was more deserv- for Hill/Ryder with Niki Hill?, Page 7 ing. Here are the results: Captain Corey 47.5%, Manchego 24.2%, Keith Gisser: Standard colors for Venerable 15.2% and Bella Bellini 13.1%. , Page 9 King Of The North (3), Tattoo Artist and Atlanta (2), and Catch The Fire and Jujubee Charlie May looks for hometown all received write-in votes. advantage in $300K Milstein, Page 11 It was no surprise to see Captain Corey top Dan Patch field has Catch The Fire to the list and everyone loves Manchego, but Venerable got my vote. As Whiteney Hous- beat at Hoosier, Page 13 ton sang, I believe children are the future, and Hoosier & Northfield Analysis, Page 15 the 2-year-old trotting filly Venerable along with fellow freshman colt King Of The North On The Backstretch: Profile of Chris appear to have a very bright future. Schick, Page 17 Venerable was parked almost every step of the first five-eighths of the mile in the Jim Derick Giwner Best Bets & Analysis, Page 21 Doherty Memorial and felt immediate heavy Owner David McDuffee won the James pressure once she assumed the top spot with Doherty with Venerable and the Industry Headlines, Page 22 pylon position. After such a disastrous jour- with Bella Bellini. ney, reaching three-quarters in 1:23 4/5, a Comments? Questions? clocking that was a full second faster than the As giddy as Miller was speaking about the Email the Editor [email protected] Hambletonian Oaks recorded and only two- filly, David McDuffee, who shares ownership fifths slower than older trotters went one race with Mel Hartman, Paul Bordogna and Steven later in the Vincennes, Venerable not only Arnold, was beaming after watching not only To ensure proper delivery found more but laughed at her competition. Venerable finish first in the $326,850 race but of the newsletter via She easily drew clear of those closest to her at Delilah Hanover, another he co-owns, picking email, add [email protected]. three quarters and lost no ground to the clos- up third. ers in the field while stopping the clock in a com to your contact list BHSCo.-Summer PTA_Layout 1 8/9/2021 11:55stakes-record AM Page 1 1:52. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

PLAN TO ATTEND 330 Entries! Online Catalog at www.bloodedhorse.com

JERRY HAWS P.O. Box 187 Wilmore, Kentucky 40390 Phone: (859) 858-4415 ONE DAY! AUGUST 24, 2021 Fax: (859) 858-8498 “There’s No Substitute for Experience” © 2021 Daily Racing Form, LLC - 10 Grand Central, 3rd Floor, NY, NY 10017 CAPTAINTREACHEROUS DOMINATES THE PACING RACES ON THE HAMBLETONIAN DAY CARD

LYONS SENTINEL - Hanover Bred & Sired p,4, 1:48-’21 ($1,510,134) · Dam: Tutu Hanover by Western Ideal $191,050 Lady Liberty Final winner. OWNED BY: Threelyonsracing TRAINED BY: James King DRIVEN BY: BRED BY: Hanover Shoe Farms Inc.

LISA PHOTO We will offer her half-sister by Stay Hungry, TALLCHIEF HANOVER, in Harrisburg this fall.

ROCKYROAD HANOVER - Hanover Bred & Sired p,3, 1:48.1-’21 ($294,626) · Dam: Romantic Moment by American Ideal $276,150 Final winner. OWNED BY: Riverview Racing Llc., Brad Grant, Ken Jacobs, Plouffe Head And Vj Stable TRAINED BY: Tony Alagna DRIVEN BY: Dexter Dunn BRED BY: Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. LISA PHOTO

ALLYWAG HANOVER - Hanover Bred & Sired p,4, 1:47.1-’21 ($551,108) · Dam: Anderosa Hanover by The Panderosa $158,500 Sam McKee Memorial winner. OWNED BY: Allywag Stable TRAINED BY: Brett Pelling DRIVEN BY: Todd McCarthy BRED BY: Hanover Shoe Farms Inc.

LISA PHOTO We will offer his half-brother by Stay Hungry, APROPOS HANOVER, in Harrisburg this fall. CATCH THE FIRE p,4, 1:47.2-’21 ($881,421) · Dam: Dream Outloud by Bettor’s Delight $157,100 Sam McKee Memorial winner. OWNED BY: Llc Black Magic Racing, Ct Stables Llc TRAINED BY: Todd Luther DRIVEN BY: Scott Zeron BRED BY: Fred Kruszelnicki

LISA PHOTO

PURCHASE A YEARLING BY CAPTAINTREACHEROUS THIS FALL! (717) 637-8931 fax: (717) 637-6766 www.hanoverpa.com [email protected]

ANDOVER HALL · BAR HOPPING · BETTING LINE · CANTAB HALL · CAPTAINTREACHEROUS · GREENSHOE INTERNATIONAL MONI · NUNCIO · PAPI ROB HANOVER · STAY HUNGRY · TALL DARK STRANGER Nikki Sherman Venerable, with David Miller in the bike, set a stakes record of 1:52 in winning the Jim Doherty Memorial.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“I was thinking she’s as good as I thought she was,” said McDuffee with a laugh when asked about his thoughts in the stretch. “That is a hell of a mile. Obviously if you set a track record at The Meadowlands you have a hell of a filly.” McDuffee, who is not afraid to spend for what he views as quality at the yearling sales, spent $210,000 to buy Venerable from breeders Maumee River Stables, Black Creek Farm, Martin Schmucker and Steve Stewart at the Lexington Selected Sale and $440,000 for Delilah Hanover at the Horse Sale in Timonium. While Vener- able has already made back the initial sales price, McDuffee wasn’t exactly worried about her Nifty Norman barnmate. “They are both good horses,” said McDuffee. “I think you’ll see a lot more from Delilah Hanover going forward. I think she’s a really good horse. She threw in kind of a clunker a week ago but she was good today.” From $231,673 winner Jolene Jolene, Venerable has already out- earned 3-year-old sister Ineffable (Cantab Hall) and is halfway to her 4-year-old Father Patrick sister Crucial ($528,598). Delilah Hanover Nikki Sherman is the second foal from Danielle Hanover and a sister to The team behind King Of The North hopes he comes close to his Hambletonian Oaks fourth-place finisher Darlene Hanover ($356,462). mother Check Me Out’s level of greatness. Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, the first colt from Danielle Hanover, Declan Hanover (International Moni), is slated to sell at Lexington it corrected and took off from there.” in the fall. Armed with a 27 2/5 final quarter, King Of The North was sent Also owner of an unblemished record (5-for-5) and certainly impres- widest by MacDonald and charged home to make up more than five sive on Hambletonian Day is Peter Haughton Memorial winner King lengths while out-finishing the mostly rail-skimming (until the Of The North. With Mark MacDonald in the bike, the son of Walner’s stretch) Classic Hill by a half-length. obstacle to victory was a somewhat slower pace (1:25 2/5 to three For Schnittker, who is no stranger to training star 2-year-old trot- quarters) and plenty of traffic in front of him as he sat seventh with a ters having conditioned Deweycheatumnhowe to a 10-for-10 record quarter-mile to go. and King Of The North’s mom Check Me Out to a 14-for-16 record as a “He showed how good he was,” said trainer , who freshman, it never gets easier despite the experience. also bred the colt along with Steve Jones. “You don’t know until they “I think all it does is make you know that it is tougher than hell,” have to dig and he had to do that a little bit because it was kind of a said Schnittker. “His mother won the Merrie Annabelle by open tough trip with the traffic in front of him. “It looked like he might’ve taken a bad step down the lane but he got CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

DRF Harness Digest | 3 | August 12, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Train Keeps Rollin’

Lexington Selected Yearling Grad | Hambletonian Champion CAPTAIN COREY

Lexington Selected Yearling Sale graduates won back-to-back Hambletonians and five more stakes on this year’s card, including the Peter Haughton (King Of The North), Jim Doherty (Venerable), Shady Daisy (Grace Hill), Sam McKee (Catch The Fire) and John Cashman (Manchego). This train is charging nonstop to the . Lexington Selected Yearling Sale 2021 Yearlings Sell Oct. 5-9 at Fasig-Tipton’s Newtown Paddocks Click to request catalog or call (859) 255-8431

GSI, LLC 2021 | Photo: Michael Lisa/Lisa Photo CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 Interestingly, handle for the eliminations is also recorded and for the last two years these races were placed as the lead-off leg or middle lengths here on the same day, so he’s right in the same footsteps.” leg of the Pick 4. If those races ended the two Pick 4s and we could get Check Me Out was a superstar on the track, earning over $1.9 a couple of 10-horse eliminations, total handle for the race (including million in three years of racing. Her first three foals, all fillies, have elims) could reach $2 million. done little to date, but the pairing with Walner to produce a colt seems There was a high level of confidence from “Team Svanstedt” in the to have produced gold in King Of The North. Check Me Out’s next foal paddock leading up to the Hambletonian. When I told Sarah Svanst- (2020) is a filly from new stallion Tactical Landing called Check Her edt I picked against them and why she looked at me like I had 10 heads. Out. I did find her in the winner’s circle after the victory and told her I We will all be checking out King Of The North and Venerable should’ve listened. throughout the rest of 2021. While plans aren’t set yet for Venerable, Perhaps lost in the Schnittker still plans six to seven more races for his charge, with a spotlight of Hamble- trip to Woodbine Mohawk Park or The Red Mile as the next stop. tonian Day or over- Certainly sparked by new blood from stallions like Walner, Down- shadowed by the bytheseaside and others, It seems the 2-year-olds are stealing the grit and determina- show a bit in 2021, and that is just fine by me. There’s always room for tion that Manchego the next generation of talent. showed in her John Cashman victory was that she passed Hambletonian Day Notebook fellow great mare Nifty Norman was nifty trotter Hannelore indeed on Hambleton- Hanover on the all- ian Day with four wins, time North Ameri- a second, a third and a can earnings list. fourth from seven starters The Nancy Takter on the card. That’s impres- trainee now sits sive! Two of those wins 11th in earnings came for David McDuffee among all trotters as in addition to winning on these shores and with Venerable, he is the has a legitimate sole owner of Hambleto- shot to reach third. Nikki Sherman nian Oaks winner Bella Manchego would Caretaker Katie Remmerswaal shows Bellini. likely need to come some love to Manchego after her gutty Walner isn’t the only back at age 7 to win in the John Cashman Memorial. connection between eclipse Bee A Magi- Venerable and King Of cian ($4,055,865) in The North. The ownership the top spot. Of course if you include foreign earnings Moni Maker group of the latter includes wears the crown at $5,589,256. Schnittker-Ward, Arden It is a bit too early in the year to even think about whether Nikki Sherman Homestead Stable, Nola- Hambletonian winner Captain Corey will retire to stallion duty at Pictured with Oaks winner Bella maura Racing, and Steven the conclusion of his 3-year-old season, but one good thing for the Bellini, Dexter Dunn (left) and Nifty Arnold, who owns a piece trotting breed in North America is that the son of Googoo Gaagaa is Norman both won four races on of both horses. That’s some likely to remain on these shores when he does begin his next career Hambletonian Day. good investing! in the breeding shed. “I’m just a partner so I don’t know for sure, When reviewing the but I hope we can stand him here in the future. I don’t want him to results from Hambletonian Day (August 7) at The Meadowlands it go to Europe because I think he is needed over here,” said co-owner is important to note how much the conditions changed from the Robert Lindstrom. start of the card to the finish. The track was much faster through While it looked like Captain Corey was home free in the Hamble- the first seven to eight races than it was later in the 16-race card. tonian, driver Ake Svanstedt admitted after the race that he was far Some trainers thought maybe there wasn’t enough water on the from confident as he came through the stretch. “The whole stretch I track as the day progressed but the predominant issue was the was afraid,” said Svanstedt, who added that he only felt like a winner wind. There was no wind when the card started, just mild winds at the wire. through the second quarter of action and strong winds during the entire second half of the card. The sun also disappeared from the scene through the final four races or so. It is also worth noting that Other Thoughts the wind was much stronger on the grandstand side than it was by Could the 3-year-old male pacing division be any cloudier? The the paddock. fastest horse (Lou’s Pearlman – 1:47 4/5) has just two wins and only Speaking of the track conditions, only three horses in the 16 races $47,887 in earnings. The richest horse (Lawless Shadow - $408,625) has on Hambletonian Day led at the half and won. Not one of those types lost his last three tries in Ontario Sire Stakes action, which perhaps of winners was Bella Bellini in the Hambletonian Oaks. When asked says something about the quality up north this year? The 2-year-old about the closers track bias, driver Dexter Dunn said: “It is good, well champion from 2020 (Perfect Sting) has yet to miss the board in seven maybe not good, but you have a chance if you are back a little bit, and starts but owns no major wins. American Courage hasn’t hit the that is good.” board since winning the Messenger at Yonkers. Maybe the dq’d Mead- A number of stories have touted handle on the Hambletonian as owlands Pace winner Charlie May can stamp himself as the head of just over $1.1 million. This was slightly confusing to me seeing as the the class with a Milstein Memorial win on Saturday at Northfield handle popped up on the simulcast screen as $866,008 after the race Park and we’ll have some semblance of clarity after the Max Hempt at was contested. After a bit of homework, it was clear that the reported Pocono the following weekend. handle included all wagers that ended with the Hambletonian. In 2020 Anyone who follows The Red Mile with some regularity knows that meant WPS, Ex, Tri, Super, Pick 3 and Pick 4. In 2021, added to that the track tends to play a bit slow in the early part of the meet those were Pentafecta, Double and Pick 6, which totaled $108,019.37. and starts to get faster as Grand Circuit racing comes to town at the Apples to apples, comparing similar pools, handle was still up on the end of September. It seems that due to the Corbin meet the track has Hambletonian regardless, but it seemed like a worthwhile footnote to “come to form” earlier and that is being reflected in the Kentucky Sire mention it. Actually, it’s quite smart to end as many wagers as possi- Stakes times. Of course the recent double-cancellation of racing on ble with the Hambletonian as higher totals in that race are good for August 9 and 10 due to heavy rains could change that in a hurry. the image of the sport.

DRF Harness Digest | 5 | August 12, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness GLOBAL REACH Now Accepting Entries to the World’s No. 1 Standardbred Mixed Sale | Nov. 11 & 12

Last fall’s mixed sale topper Sister Sledge ($265,000), purchased by Robert Lindstrom as agent for Daniel Redén, went on to become a European stakes winner and record-setter this year.

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GSI, LLC 2021 | Photo: Michael Lisa/Lisa Photo Lightning could strike twice for Hill, Ryder with Niki Hill

Shopping for a yearling and buying JAYWALKING one are two differ- ent things. When By Jay Bergman trainer Chris Ryder attended the Octo- @BergmanJay ber 6 session of the Lexington Selected auction, he had one filly in mind that he was interested in for owner Tom Hill. Hill was enjoying a huge season with Ryder at the time as Party Girl Hill was the talk of the town, having just dismantled her filly competi- tion in Grand Circuit action two days earlier and poised to take on (and defeat) the boys the next weekend in the Tattersalls. Curtis Salonick “I was looking at and really liked this filly that Brett Pelling paid Niki Hill became the fastest 2-year-old pacer on a five-eighths $260,000 for,” said Ryder. “Niki (Hill) came a little later in the sale and it track in 2021 when she won in 1:50 3/5 at The Downs at Pocono. was just two days after Cattlewash had won in (1):46 4/5.” That was bound to attract attention as the Always B Miki-sired filly let Niki Hill accelerate until the homestretch where she needed to work from Road Bet, a daughter of Bettor’s Delight, was hammered down for some to hold off the pocket-sitter in a 1:53 1/5 clocking. $155,000 with Ryder signing for owner Hill. Ryder hopes that Niki Hill can prove herself against better competi- “She was a handsome filly,” Ryder said. “She wasn’t pretty and looked tion that she’s sure to encounter at Woodbine Mohawk on September 18 like a boy.” for the She’s A Great Lady eliminations. The rest of her schedule has her Called Road Test Miki at the sale, she was rechristened with the “Hill” at The Red Mile and back to The Meadowlands for the Breeders Crown. moniker with Ryder taking the filly home to prep her for a 2-year-old The emergence of Niki Hill gives Ryder a great amount of joy given season. how tough things looked early this year when he had to call owner Tom “She was good right from the start,” said Ryder of Niki Hill, who this Hill with some terrible news. past Monday blistered the Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs oval with a 1:50 “That was bloody awful,” Ryder said of the telephone conversation 3/5 mile in capturing one of three Pennsylvania Sire Stakes events for where he told the owner that his prized pacing mare, 2019 champion juvenile pacing fillies. Party Girl Hill, had broken down in training and would race no more. What made Niki Hill’s mile stand out among the three divisions at While Hill enjoyed an epic year with Party Girl Hill in 2020, his last Pocono was not just the final time of her victory but how much faster it weekend was filled not just with the monster performance from Niki Hill was than the other two divisions. Treacherous Dragon, the aforemen- but also a Hambletonian Day upset by his sophomore Grace Hill in the tioned $260,000 yearling that Ryder missed out on, was a 1:54 winner in Shady Daisy at The Meadowlands over Fire Start Hanover. her division while the bargain buy Onecrookedleg paced in 1:52 4/5. “Party Girl Hill was a horse I got when she was ready to qualify as a Niki Hill handed the formerly unbeaten Captain Cowgirl her first 3-year-old,” Ryder said, giving full credit to those who helped bring the defeat but needed a back half in 54 4/5 to do so. It was just Niki Hill’s filly to him. “With Niki Hill, I picked her out for Tom and that means a second lifetime start, but driver Dexter Dunn learned much from that lot.” first victory (July 23) at The Meadowlands in a division of the Kinder- Party Girl Hill is also embracing her second career and is currently garten. carrying her first foal by last year’s Horse of the Year Tall Dark Stranger. “She’s not that quick sprinting but can go at high speed for a long period of time,” said Ryder of Niki Hill. “Dex backed it down a little too much in the Kindergarten and she almost got beaten.” So when Dunn pulled the trigger with Niki Hill this past Monday he moved her aggres- sively to the lead passing the stands and then never applied the brakes, letting the filly pace strongly down the backstretch and right through the finish line, only taking a hold of her when the race was no longer in question. “I really didn’t want to race her on a five-eighths mile track,” said Ryder. Still the trainer loves the surface at Pocono and didn’t think it would hamper his filly’s effort. For perspective, the 1:50 3/5 clocking in her second lifetime start and first over a five-eighths mile track was just two-fifths shy of the world record taken in a Breeders Crown elimination in 2013 by All Star Rating over the same Pocono oval. Yet Ryder, who has been here before with a host of brilliant pacing mares, wasn’t getting too excited about the clocking. “I know the other filly is undefeated but what does that mean at this time of the year,” Ryder said. With just two starts things are going pretty much as Ryder had planned for his filly. He has raced her sparingly early in the season before embarking on a late summer-fall schedule. “We’re going to point her for the She’s A Great Lady,” said Ryder. “I’m only going to race her on the big tracks.” Ryder never wanted to rush Niki Hill but he said she made his job a bit easier. “She bruised a hoof when we were all set to qualify her and backed off three weeks to allow it to heal,” said Ryder. Niki Hill made her qualifying debut with a 1:54 1/5 victory at The Meadowlands on July 10. A week later she would finish fourth in a qualifier, but caught a lot of eyes when she paced home in 26 flat for the final quarter with driver Dexter Dunn offering little encouragement. In her debut Dunn had her on the lead in just a 58 opening half and didn’t

DRF Harness Digest | 7 | August 12, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness BAR HOPPING FROM 61 FOALS IN HIS FIRST CROP, SIRE OF THE HAMBLETONIAN OAKS CHAMPION!

LISA PHOTO BELLA BELLINI 3, 1:52.1-’21 ($386,983) · Bar Hopping - Bella Dolce by Kadabra $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks winner, yesterday at The Meadowlands. OWNED BY: David McDuffee | TRAINED BY: Nifty Norman DRIVEN BY: Dexter Dunn | BRED BY: David McDuffee PURCHASE A YEARLING BY BAR HOPPING THIS FALL

(717) 637-8931 fax: (717) 637-6766 www.hanoverpa.com [email protected]

ANDOVER HALL · BAR HOPPING · BETTING LINE · CANTAB HALL · CAPTAINTREACHEROUS · GREENSHOE INTERNATIONAL MONI · NUNCIO · PAPI ROB HANOVER · STAY HUNGRY · TALL DARK STRANGER CONFESSIONS By Keith Gisser

Standard colors for Standardbreds

Recently at Harrah’s Philadelphia, Yannick Gingras won three races on the same day and did it while wearing three different sets of colors. He won a Pennsylvania Sires Stake in his own traditional green and whites and then won another in the diamond pattern of Diamond Creek Farm. He also won a Stallion Series event in the Antonacci Family’s blue and black colors. Many pundits thought this was great – that owners and breeders deserve recognition just like we see in the Thoroughbred sport where jockeys typically wear the owner’s colors, rather than their own. While I agree that we absolutely need to recognize owners in our sport -- along with bettors they are why the sport continues to exist -- this is not the way to do it. First, it appears that our sport is following, rather than leading, trying to become more and more like the Sport of Kings, rather than the Sport of the common man. More importantly, it is easy to lose the identity of our drivers with these color changes. With personalities like Tetrick and Gingras, we need to emphasize that. When I first started going to the races, I hated it at Thistledown, our local Thoroughbred track. It was hard to identify the horses on the backside when in a bunch and four jocks might be wearing the same colors over the course of the card. Then I went to Northfield. The same drivers in the same colors. Who was that making a move up the backstretch? Was it the white and black of Larry Ward or the blue and gold of Lew Williams? Was it the gold and red of Don Irvine Jr or the dark and light-blue of Gene Duplaga? It is one of the reasons I became a fan and even now, broadcasting a fair for the Ohio Harness Horseman’s Associa- tion (OHHA) on its Internet platform or on the Little Brown Jug Radio Network, I know those colors. The purple and white of Dave Miller; the red, white and black of Dexter Dunn; and yes, even the green and white of Yannick Gingras. If this is going to become a “thing”- can often be seen wearing the Courant Inc. colors as well – it is CRITICAL that announc- ers get things right so people are not thinking there has been a driver change. They should also explain why Sears, Gingras or whoever are Grace Zimmers Photos not wearing their regular colors, or the move defeats its purpose. It may be hard to tell but that is driver Yannick Gingras winning with Pink Gypsy (top), I’ll Have A Lindy (middle) and Baptism on Personally, I see little advantage to this other than making owners August 6 at Harrah’s Philadelphia. happy, and there are other ways we can do that. The negatives outweigh the potential good. It is change for the sake of change and that is rarely good. written consent of the Daily Racing Form is strictly prohibited. No, it isn’t. Quote away, just make sure to credit DRF Harness Weekend). TETRICK vs OLIVIERA REDUX I came across a bit unimpressed last month on the Hall of Famer vs YOUNG DRIVERS UFC champ match race. Let me be clear, I loved the idea, I just thought I wrote about Justin Irvine a couple months back and asked folks to it could have been better executed. Having said that, we did, in the mention young drivers they liked or that we should watch for. Joshua following days, get a nearly 15-minute extended winner’s circle video. Dutzy wrote that he was following new “P” driver Patrick Ryder, son Unfortunately, I did not bookmark it and now I cannot find it using of trainer Chris Ryder. Although winless in 16 starts this year while usual search parameters. The sport also got coverage on at least one racing at some pretty tough tracks out east, 27-year-old Patrick has news program – Westchester New York News 12 – so the race accom- been on the board in nearly half of his career starts. plished what it set out to do. Kudos once again to the USTA’s Wendy Several people also wrote to me about 16-year-old Kyle Swift. He Ross and company. won his first two starts at Western New York fairs and picked up I was, however, appalled to learn (in editor Derick Giwner’s excel- three drives at the Lake County Ohio fair, which I was broadcasting lent sidebar) that racetracks don’t control the dissemination of their for the OHHA. While he did not pick up any wins, he did show a good own live video. That is controlled by the satellite company, in this seat and professional judgement, driving mostly for his mom, condi- case Roberts Communications. Just as Northfield Park had a legiti- tioner Ryan Swift, but also picking up a catch drive for trainer Clair mate beef with the USTA over who owns racing information a few Umholtz. Swift’s dad is Ray Fisher Jr., a winner of more than 4,600 years back, I think the tracks have a legitimate point of concern on races who also has a couple Little Brown Jug drives to his credit. We this. I do not understand how video shot on property owned by a race- will have to wait a couple years to see this youngster at the raceways track, with equipment owned by the racetrack, by employees paid by though, as he is only 16. the racetrack, does not give the racetrack the right to post it live or That is it for this month. Hopefully, we can talk some Little Brown provide it to whatever outlet it chooses (By the way any rebroadcast Jug next month. Until then, go cash. Hopefully on Patrick Ryder. See or retransmission of the accounts of this column without the express you next month.

DRF Harness Digest | 9 | August 12, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Thank You!

Thank you to all the owners, breeders, trainers, drivers, fans and bettors for making the 96th Hambletonian a day to remember.

Our heartfelt appreciation to our host track partner The Meadowlands and their dedicated staff as well as the large “stable” of free-lancers and Hambletonian staff who make the day happen.

Photos by Hugh Ducey and Chris Tully Charlie May hopes for hometown advantage in Milstein

By Jay Bergman

Trainer Steve Carter has already been through the highs and lows of the sport. For the trainer of Charlie May, who looks to capture Saturday’s $300,000 Carl Milstein Memo- rial at Northfield Park, the highs and lows came on one night and in one race. “It was like they said at the beginning of ABC’s Wide World of Sports,” Carter said. “The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.” The thrill was watching Charlie May capture the Mead- owlands Pace and the agony came minutes later when his number was taken down by disqualification. “I think it was one of the greatest races by a horse,” Carter said of the overland journey that saw Charlie May break stride at the head of the stretch yet still have some- thing left to overtake the field to finish first in The Mead- owlands Pace. It’s August now and Charlie May has put the Mead- owlands Pace in the rear-view mirror. He has moved on with successive Ohio-Sired stakes victories to his credit. Ken Weingartner The altered son of McArdle got back on the winning track Trainer Steve Carter is hoping Charlie May fires a big race in Saturday’s first at Northfield Park on July 31 pacing in 1:50 4/5 while Milstein at Northfield Park. overcoming post eight in a $50,000 contest. Last Saturday, Charlie May returned to Scioto with another easy win in a $60,700 event for state-sired sophomore pacers. Last year Bettor Sun was one of the better horses in the Ontario Sire “He’s good and fit right now,” said Carter, who continues to marvel at Stakes program. This year he’s had some ups and downs but arrives in the consistency he’s seen over the last two years. Charlie May shows up the Milstein on an upswing following a 1:49 score at Woodbine Mohawk every time Carter enters him to race. Park on July 31. Doug McNair will guide the gelded son of Sunshine This Saturday’s Milstein once again puts Charlie May at odds with Beach from the pole position where he can utilize his early speed. the draw as he landed post 7 in a field of nine that includes a trailer. The Milstein goes as race 10 of 16 on the Saturday evening Northfield Regular pilot Brett Miller will have to navigate the first turn, but Park program with an approximate post time of 9:30 PM. Charlie May has proven on more than one occasion that he can handle Trainer Carter has a pair of 2-year-olds racing on the Northfield card whatever Miller throws at him. Specifically in the Milstein there will as well in Ohio Sire Stakes events with Shane Falco, a Racing Hill-sired be speed inside that must be dealt with in the form of Water Sports Teen half-brother to Charlie May, set to battle in the $50,000 division carded (post 2), who enters the race after suffering his first loss after three as race six. straight wins since joining the Jennifer Bongiorno stable. “He’s a Racing Hill and he’s a McArdle,” is how Carter summed up Water Sports Teen captured his Adios elimination at The Meadows the clear difference between the brothers. He sees few similarities at on July 24 in a career-best 1:48 2/5 clocking but couldn’t repeat the effort this time other than they are both “easy keepers.” in the final, falling to third in the stretch as the 9-10 public choice. Prior Shane Falco has been consistent this year, finishing on the board in to his Meadows outings Water Sports Teen had a 1:51 victory over the all five of his career starts. “He was very good in his last start finishing Yonkers half-mile and that kind of speed makes him a serious threat behind two very good horses,” said Carter of Shane Falco. in the Milstein. Tre Cruz (post 5) goes in the second $50,000 Sire Stakes division The Milstein was by invitation only and one of Charlie May’s biggest carded as race seven. “He’s a nice horse,” said Carter of the altered son in-state rivals – Heart Of Chewbacca (post 9) – will be looking for of Yankee Cruiser that comes off a pair of second-place finishes in his another chance a glory. Heart Of Chewbacca was a soild second to Char- last two stakes encounters. lie May racing from off the pace into a wicked final half at Scioto last The Ohio Sire Stakes events on Saturday at Northfield encompass Saturday. The Ron Burke-trained son of Bring On The Beach flashed the first seven races on the card and begin at 6:00 PM. They share the 1:50 4/5 speed in his Ohio Sire Stakes victory at Northfield on July 31. undercard spotlight with a pair of $100,000 Ohio-bred Invitationals, the The Indiana-bred Rockin On Venus has won eight of his 12 starts this Tom Aldrich Trot headlined by It’s Academic and the Myron Charna year for trainer Kelly O’Donnell and will get tested for toughness in Pace with Ocean Rock tabbed as the 5-2 morning-line chalk. the deep Milstein field. Rockin On Venus drew post 3 and comes right The night also features three guaranteed wagering opportunities, a back in six days after a 1:51 4/5 victory over the Northfield half-miler $20,000 promised Pick 5 pool starting in race 6, a $10,000 Pick 4 in race this past Sunday. 11 and the nightly $10,000 guaranteed Hi-5 in race 13.

Ohio Sires Stakes ~ This weekend at Scioto Downs & Northfield Park!

Friday, August 13 at Scioto Downs

2-Year-Old Filly Trotters & Pacers ~ Leg 3

Saturday, August 14 at Northfield Park

2-Year-Old Colt Trotters & Pacers ~ Leg 3 OSDF Administrator Kim Rinker 614-779-0269 3-Year-Old Colt Trotters ~ Leg 4 www.racingohio.net

DRF Harness Digest | 11 | August 12, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Milstein Memorial Night At Northfield Park Saturday, August 14 | Post Time 6:00 EDT Get Free Harness Eye PPs & watch the races LIVE!

FEATURED WAGERING FEATURED RACES $20,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial Pick 5 (Races 6-10) $100,000 Myron Charna Invitational $10,000 Guaranteed $100,000 Tom Aldrich Invitational Pick 4 (Races 11-14) PLUS Ohio Sire Stakes $10,000 Guaranteed Hi-5 (Race 13) Pick 4 (Races 2-5) & Pick 6 (Races 8-13) Dan Patch field has Catch The Fire to beat at Hoosier Friday

By Ken Weingartner

Catch The Fire is red hot as he prepares for Friday’s (Aug. 13) $325,000 Dan Patch Stakes for older pacers at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The 4-year-old stallion has won four of his past five races, with his only setback coming from post 10 in a division of the William R. Haughton Memorial at The Meadowlands on July 17. For the season, the Todd Luther trainee has won six of nine starts, finished off the board only the previously mentioned one time, and earned $180,863. In his most recent outing this past Saturday, Catch The Fire won a division of the Sam McKee Memorial by a neck over Nicholas Beach in 1:47 2/5 at The Meadowlands. Catch The Fire will start the Dan Patch from post four with driver Scott Zeron and is the 3-1 morning-line favorite. “I couldn’t be happier with him,” said Luther, who trains Catch The Fire for Black Magic Racing and CT Stables. “As long as he draws good, I think he can go with any of them in the country right now. He’s possibly the sharpest. He’s really sharp right now.” Catch The Fire was a Kentucky Sire Stakes champion at age 2 and last year won four times on the Grand Circuit. He captured his elimi- nation and final of the Adios, won his elimination of the Little Brown Jug (finishing third in the final) and won The Pegasus at Hoosier Park. A son of Captaintreacherous out of Dream Outloud, he has won 14 of 38 career races and earned $879,064. He was trained at 2 and 3 by John Ackley. Luther took over the conditioning after his brother Greg (Black Magic Racing) bought an interest in Catch The Fire during the winter. “John did a great job with him,” Luther said. “I don’t think he Nikki Sherman missed one big dance at 3. He was in every single one of them and Catch The Fire has caught fire lately, winning his last two starts showed up. including the Sam McKee Memorial. “He’s a good horse. He’s very well-mannered, easy to get along with, and does everything right. And he gives a hundred percent every time he hits the track. He loves his job. I’ve got 50 head and he prob- ably likes his job more than anybody in the barn. He loves, loves, loves to race. There’s not much more you can ask of a horse.” This past winter, Catch The Fire began his stud career at Sugar Valley Farm in Ohio. His book was originally limited to 65 mares because of the plan to continue racing, but later increased to 85. He competed in Ohio exclusively to start the season while performing his double duties. “I thought maybe the breeding might get him a little more excited, and hard to handle, but you wouldn’t even know,” Luther said. “He’s so professional in every way.” With last week’s win, Catch The Fire established a new career mark. His time of 1:47 2/5 was just one-fifth of a second from tying for *postmarked by Aug. 17! the season’s fastest mile. The stallion raced with a blind bridle after wearing blinkers in his more recent previous races. “He was wearing a blind bridle at the beginning of the season, but $10,000 (US Funds) he was starting to get a little hot, so I put blinkers on him to try to calm him down a little bit,” Luther said. “I think the last few starts, PAYABLE TO & MAILED TO: he got a little too relaxed. So, in the McKee, we put a blind bridle back on him to wake him back up a little bit. He was so good, we’ll probably The Hambletonian Society, Inc. leave the blind bridle on him. “He came out of the McKee really good. He’s definitely feeling good 109 South Main Street, Suite 18 about himself. He knows he’s been racing really good.” Cranbury, NJ 08512 Catch The Fire will see a familiar trio of Ron Burke-trained horses in the Dan Patch. This Is The Plan is the 7-2 second choice, followed by Tel (609) 371-2211 I Fax (609) 371-8890 Backstreet Shadow at 4-1 and Cattlewash at 9-2. Backstreet Shadow starts from the second tier in post 10. Racing begins at 6:30 p.m. (EDT) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The Dan Email: [email protected] Patch is estimated to go to post at 10:59 p.m. as race 13 on the card. website: www.hambletonian.com

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DRF Harness Digest | 13 | August 12, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Dan Patch Night

At Harrah’s Hoosier Park Friday, August 13 | Post Time 6:30 EDT

Get Free Harness Eye PPs & watch the races LIVE!

$325,000 Dan Patch Stakes

1-Sintra (10-1) 6-Little Rocket Man (20-1) 2-Workin Ona Mystery (12-1) 7-Brassy Hanover (8-1) 3-This Is The Plan (7-2) 8-No Lou Zing (15-1) 4-Catch The Fire (3-1) 9-Tellmeaboutit (30-1) 5-Cattlewash (9-2) 10-Backstreet Shadow (4-1) HOOSIER PARK NORTHFIELD PARK

Friday’s $25,000 Guaranteed Superfecta Analysis sATURDAY’S $20,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Pick 5

The 28th edition of the $325,000 Dan Patch (approx. post 10:59 PM Race 6: $50,000 Ohio Sire Stakes - Race 13) lured just about every top older male pacer in the sport. (3) TERMINATOR has caught some tough foes like Pebble Beach Not only is this field loaded with talent but also plenty of horses in recent weeks. This is the softest Sire Stakes race he has seen by capable of firing off the gate, which could make for an interesting a fair margin. (5) SHANE FALCO falls into a similar boat as the finish through the long stretch at Hoosier. Let’s take a look at the top pick as he gets away from some top 2-year-olds to face this more field in graded order and toss out a Superfecta ticket to play into moderate group. This looks like a spot where driver Brett Miller the guaranteed pool. may get aggressive. (3) THIS IS THE PLAN posted the fastest mile ever on a half- Race 7: $50,000 Ohio Sire Stakes mile track (1:47 3/5) earlier this year at Northfield Park while on the lead, but his best game on the larger tracks is coming from off (1) SLING SHOCK is the clear horse to beat and a single on my the pace and I think we’ll see driver Yannick Gingras change to ticket. He won the prestigious Ohio-bred Next Generation to start those tactics here. He’s arguably been the best older pacer in 2021 his career and was perfect before running into the currently and should offer fair value in the 4-1 range. unbeaten Gulf Shores last time. He’s not a “can’t lose” horse but (4) CATCH THE FIRE has now won two straight and he’s very he’s pretty close. (4) SEASIDE WAY and (5) TRE CRUZ look to be versatile. On paper he’s the horse to beat, which means he’ll prob- the top contenders, but they give up a tactical edge to the top. ably offer a shorter price than warranted, but you have to use him. Race 8: $100,000 Tom Aldrich Trot (8) NO LOU ZING hasn’t yet proven he can go the 1:47-1:48 mile it will likely take to win this race. That said, his return effort from a (7) MISSION ACCEPTED has been super this year as a standout seven-week break was solid and he was clocked in 1:48-flat. He’s a Open trotter in Ohio. This race is clearly a step up in company, but longshot in with a chance, especially if they mix it up. the millionaire stayed with (8) IT’S ACADEMIC in the Charlie Hill (10) BACKSTREET SHADOW cleared a bit too late last week in at Scioto earlier this year and he’s super on the lead or from the the McKee. He’s raced well in almost every start but the second pocket, which is where he should land here. (3) A FANCY FACE is tier is a concern for a horse that tends to race near the front. still finding herself as a 4-year-old in some respects, though with (5) CATTLEWASH was used on the lead last time on a track that the already mentioned speedsters sure to make the pace fast, she favored closers, but he’s not supposed to stop that badly. Maybe the could be sitting pretty from off the pace. wind wore him down? If they don’t push him too hard near the Race 9: $100,000 Myron Charna Pace front, a rebound is within reach. (6) LITTLE ROCKET MAN has big early speed and has only While on paper this is a very competitive group, the race clearly missed the board once in 14 starts this year. The question is goes through (2) OCEAN ROCK. The 4-year-old was raced conser- whether he has the class to go with these. At the very least he can vatively from outside posts in his last two races but will almost hang on for an exotics spot at big odds. definitely be gunning to the front here and attempt to dissuade (7) BRASSY HANOVER probably should’ve won last time but as many leavers as possible. It may take two moves but he’ll be dug too big of a hole while chasing in the second-fastest three- cutting this mile. (6) BLLACK HOLE raced very well in the Haugh- quarter time in history. If the race falls apart and he’s in the flow, ton at The Meadowlands in a tougher field two starts back. He a win isn’t impossible. added Lasix last time and often the medication will take a start to (2) WORKIN ONA MYSTERY had some sneaky late pace in the be effective, plus the slow pace killed him in that start. While he McKee last time, but that means you might have to take 15-1 on a shows no early speed on paper, he did leave hard and finish second horse that should be 30-1. in this race last year behind (9) SECTIONLINE BIGRY, who only (1) SINTRA ships down sharp from Canada. Can this 8-year-old has four starts this year and is certainly eligible to keep getting do any damage versus a very talented younger group? sharper. (9) TELLMEABOUTIT has early speed and form, but this local Race 10: $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial horse is very much up against it from post 9. .20 Superfecta tickets below: (2) WATER SPORTS TEEN lost by just 1-1/4 lengths to two horses that had better trips in the Adios last time. You know 3 / 4,8 / 4,5,6,7,8,10 / ALL = $14 Bongiorno is gunning to the front here with the thought of only yielding to (7) CHARLIE MAY and will work out a great trip. The 3 / 4,5,6,7,8,10 / 4,8 / ALL = $14 latter already has a 1:50 4/5 win over this track two starts back and got a very easy race last time, so he should have plenty left in the tank. The disqualified winner is clearly the horse to beat. (1) BETTOR SUN doesn’t show it on paper but has some early speed in his tank over Flamboro and Grand River. If he sticks close a win is not impossible, but I’m sticking to the top pair in the Pick 5. $1 Pick 5 Ticket: 3,5 / 1 / 3,7 / 2,6,9 / 2,7 = $24

DRF Harness Digest | 15 | August 12, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness WE’RE BACK! NORTHSTANDARDBRED AMERICA’S #1 RACING 5 NIGHTS A WEEK Post Time: 7pm (ET)

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Know When To Take The Reins. ResponsibleGambling.org TM Trademark of Woodbine Entertainment Group 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.

Chris Tully Photo Track General ManageR With Ben Kenney (left) in the background, Chris Schick addresses the horsepeople at Cumberland in Maine. chris schick I would retire and parent with her if we fortunate enough to have a What kind of car do you drive? baby. I retired in May of 2007 three months before my daughter An- nie’s birth. I’m seriously considering purchasing a Polestar [Electric car]. I have a mint 2005 Lexus 430 that I purchased new with 48K miles. My everyday tank is a 2007 Mercedes 450 SUV with 82K which was also Your Golden Bear Racing is inching in on year 10 running Cal purchased new. It’s pretty evident I’m not a road warrior! Expo under the Watch and Wager banner. Have things gone as planned during that time? Favorite dinner meal? Snack? When Watch and Wager took over the lease at Cal Expo in 2012 the Alaskan Halibut, Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. California industry was in shambles. The recession had hit hard. Cal Expo had conducted a national search for an operator with no luck. What is your favorite all-time track to visit? Why? It was a very risky proposition. Ben Kenney urged me to partner with him to take over the lease. I certainly didn’t want the industry The Delaware County Fair. The feeling you get there is almost unlike to end in California. During negotiations with Cal Expo for the lease, any other. It really makes you be proud to be connected with the sport. Ed Comins from Watch and Wager called us expressing his com- pany’s interest in joining forces. We formed a partnership which has What is your favorite big event in racing? grown very strong over the past decade. Our plan at the time was The Hambletonian. I get up early and enjoy a power-packed day of simply survival for us and our dedicated horseman. I think overall great racing! the past 10 years has gone exceptionally well. We have been able to raise purses to a level 70% above 2011. I’m fairly confident if you How did you get start in harness racing? asked Watch and Wager, they would be very happy with the current position. My first trip to a track was Monticello in its heyday, 1971. Two of my best friends growing up were Steve and Dave Ferraro. They both Cal Expo has survived without casino subsidies for years. subsequently became Professional bowlers. Their father Jack was Were there times you thought the party could be over and it a part-time trainer/driver and had a nice little farm just on the out- skirts of my hometown of Kingston. We would often go to Monticello would have to close? and Saratoga to watch his horses race. The whole social atmosphere, Our biggest worry even to this day is what our product will look like the characters, the handicapping, it was totally addicting. year to year. We clearly have enough market share to survive if we can field a competitive product. As far as working in the sport, your roots are in simulcasting, right? How important is it for you to have Ben Kenney by your side Yes. I started as Director of Simulcasting at Los Alamitos in Decem- with Golden Bear Racing LLC? ber of 1993, five days before the meet opened. I had never worked a Ben is actually responsible for getting me back in 2012. He said we day in the industry prior. As you might imagine, it was quite a learn- both had too much invested not to give it a go. Ben was President ing curve, but I loved every minute. Our group took over Cal Expo of the CHHA for 10 years and we always had a strong relationship. in 1995. When Los Alamitos dropped harness racing after 2000, we Even though he had never worked in the management side when we transitioned the Los Alamitos dates to Cal Expo. It turned out that I began in 2012, his career in the hedge fund world proved very valu- just happened to be in the right segment of the industry at the right able. We complement each other well to this day. time. A memorable moment was when Cal Expo was the second track to stream its live races for free on Broadcast.com. We now laugh at Cal Expo offers incentives to lure horsemen. How did that the seemingly ever buffering dial-up internet age. idea come to pass? You were General Manager at Cal Expo for the Sacramento We started the new horse incentive program back in 2005. We had lost Harness Association but left in 2007. What made you leave? many of our top stables to Racino tracks the preceding decade. The I became General Manager of Sacramento harness when a new group took over in 2005. I always promised my wife at the time that CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

DRF Harness Digest | 17 | August 12, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 program today has been expanded to include returning horses as well as new horses. All of the incentive money is paid directly into the own- ers account. The annual cost of the program is right in the neighbor- hood of $200,000. The program is essential to our business model. Despite a tight revenue stream you decided to add an HD simulcast signal. Was that simply a necessity in today’s simulcast world? I believe it was/will be a necessity. TVG is moving their program- ing to all clean feed HD broadcast. Cal Expo always looked dark in simulcast land. The lighting has aged and we do not have limestone surface to reflect light. The HD has really brought our signal to life. It was a risky investment to upgrade during the pandemic, espe- cially with our entire California network shut down at the time. We couldn’t be happier with the way it turned out. Where do you see Cal Expo five or 10 years from now? We feel good about where we are today. Our purses are slightly over $50,000 a day. The hopes of any type of Racino or purse subsidy for the future is pretty much out of the question. We just have to keep grinding. I see us reinforcing our position as a solid mid-level winter meet.

Our biggest concern is a ballot measure that would prohibit . We have been through quite a lot here in California the past few years. What is your favorite sport to watch? Team? I grew up as a diehard Yankee fan. I really enjoy watching the Golf channel late at night when they show the day’s replay. What is one thing about you most fans/bettors don’t know? That I’m a wanna-be Argentine Tango dancer! What is one word that describes harness racing for you? Passion.

Do you have a favorite horse from your time in the sport? Chris Tully Photo Chris Schick’s Golden Bear Racing is currently running the It would definitely be Hi Ho Silverheels. Milan Smith, who I knew operations at Cumberland Racetrack in Maine. fairly well, purchased the Walton Hanover colt for $1,600. It was a truly a rags-to-riches story. He was named after his good friend and fellow stuntman Jay Silverheels. Jay was better known as Tonto in It’s been about 10 years since you floated the Strategic the Lone Ranger, but was also an amateur harness driver. Hi Ho Wagering idea to the USTA. Has it met or exceeded your Silverheels made like $1.7 million for Milan. He is still alive and standing stud in California. expectations? I would say it has somewhat met my expectations, but my vision What was your favorite moment in harness racing? had grandiose plans that haven’t evolved yet. The fact that we are It’s a tough one, but I’d have to say it was the day this 16-year-old fan 10 years down the road and the program has never been stronger is sold two live twin-double exchange tickets for $300 at Green Moun- satisfying. The program was founded on the belief that pool liquid- tain Park. I was making $80 a week at the time and this guy peeled ity was harness racing’s biggest wagering issue. The objective was off three crisp $100 bills. That is still vividly imprinted in my mind. to promote a nightly signature wager with a large pool relative to the track’s market share. We are currently guaranteeing over one You spent more than 20 years as a member of the USTA thousand wagers per year. Board of Directors. At 60-plus members, are there too many Let’s talk about your new venture in Cumberland, Maine. You cooks in the kitchen? just completed your first meet. Would you call it a success? I never perceived the Board as too big at all. I thought the diversity I would call the first part of the plan very much a success. With the actually made the organization stronger. Through attrition, the closure of 70-year-old Scarborough Downs this past November, there USTA has been asked to do things that were never really envisioned. were a lot of questions about the future of Southern Maine racing. The USTA has faced a huge budgetary challenges with declin- We were able to transition those dates to Cumberland and virtually ing membership and foal production. It’s not easy to provide more keep business as usual in Southern Maine. We reopen in November services, become the sports marketing arm, and provide support and race through December 31st, so more challenges lie ahead. The and grants to many worthwhile organizations when at the same time facility and racetrack have actually performed very well. The horse- revenues are shrinking. I have great respect for the organization and men and Commission have really been helpful as well. its dedicated Directors and staff. It was an honor to serve my district and have a voice in the national debate. CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

DRF Harness Digest | 19 | August 12, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Watch & wager on Red Shores Charlottetown & Summerside racing!

Elite Harness action from now until December 31 Great fields, stakes, and a NEW wagering menu featuring the Jackpot Hi-5

Low takeouts, low bet minimums & MORE! For race dates and times visit RedShores.ca CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 At DRF Harness we strive to provide the best handicapping You raced at the fairgrounds to start but a new track is in the information in the sport. Each week we’ll use this space to bring future. When do you see that coming to fruition? you some of our handicappers’ best bets, value plays and horses to watch. Use this information as one of your tools when wagering or We operate Cumberland for the Cianchette family. They are commit- simply click on the link above and head to DRF Bets to wager now. ted to building a new racetrack and multi-use facility in Southern Maine. My best guess at this point would be fall of 2023 or spring of Thursday, AUGUST 12 2024. You will hear more about those plans before year’s end. RACE 1 Can Cumberland, partnered with the current track at Bangor, help to revitalize the sport in Maine? (3) PETTYCOAT BUSINESS drops to the bottom level It will certainly help. We are located between Bangor to the North, tonight after a closing third- and Plainridge to the South. This past spring calendar had racing place finish last Thursday and seven days-a-week on the three-track circuit with no overlap. Many should take advantage. of our horseman at Cumberland also race Bangor and Plainridge -Greg Reinhart every week. We have also collaborated with Bangor on purse struc- ture, late closing series, and week-to-week condition sheet classes. friday, AUGUST 13 We have also expanded the calendar to include November and December racing this year. Bangor will reopen after the Fair season RACE 12 and close at the end of October. We will open early in November and race right until December 31st. (4) DOJEA GIZMO was caught in an insanely fast You’re a track executive that enjoys handicapping and wagering. mile last week and has been Does that give you a better perspective on the business? tackling better at The Mead- owlands. This is a good spot. Absolutely! It’s very hard to put yourself in that position unless -Derick Giwner you’ve been there. You are also involved in the sport as an owner. How many RACE 8 horses do you have? (7) DEWITT FOR JOSIE is clearly the best filly in this I currently campaign two, both at Running Aces. Pridecrest is the field and I expect hot driver stable star. He is a hard-knocking honest Open trotter at Aces. I Roy to make an early move to purchased a piece of my first horse in 1977 and with the exception of the front so he can control the about five years when I moved to California, have always had vary- fractions. She should be tough ing degrees of ownership interest. to beat in this field. -Garnet Barnsdale If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what would it be? Saturday, AUGUST 14

The racing information we provide our patrons. I feel as if our pro- RACE 9 gram is virtually no different than the program I purchased my first night in 1971. We should have detailed trip notes in the program. We (6) BLLACK HOLE could should have photo eye charts like in the old Sports Eye. We need to be an interesting value play assure the public is given a legitimate morning line. here given his current form. He’s raced well here in the How do you view the future of harness racing? past and really had no shot last time due to a slow pace. Very bullish. We have no real fatality issues in our sport. Handle has -Giwner been strong. The breeding market is strong. There are many groups out there currently that will bet many times more than currently if we provide larger pool size. For all of the horrific things related to the current epidemic, a couple hundred-thousand new players of full card analysis / past performances people now have new betting accounts. Many of these are millenni- als. There is no better time than now for the industry to laser focus Mohawk Park (THU) Analysis Mohawk Park (FRI) Analysis on the wants and needs of this new group. Analysis Analysis Time for the stretch drive: Yonkers (THU) Mohawk Park (SAT) Best Driver Ever?: John Campbell Yonkers (FRI) Analysis

Best Trainer Ever?: Ron Burke DHP PPs harness eye PPs trackmaster PPs free PPs Favorite TV Show?: Shark Tank followed closely by Rock legends on AXS

Trotters or Pacers?: Trotters all day! Want full-card analysis? Visit DRF.com/harness

DRF Harness Digest | 21 | August 12, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness NEWS FROM AROUND THE HARNESS INDUSTRY

Ahundreddollarbill eclipses another track record American Courage seeks rebound effort Friday at Yonkers

Ahundreddollarbill smashed the all-age track record for trotters American Courage looks to get back on the right track on Friday at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday afternoon by winning the lone night (August 13), as Yonkers Raceway hosts New York Sire Stakes $112,000 New York Sire Stakes race for 3-year-old colts and geldings action for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers. in 1:54 1/5. The winner of this year’s MGM Grand final at READ MORE Yonkers, American Courage sought to make it two-for-two in the Triple Crown for pacers in the Cane on Hambletonian Day at the Ohio Sire Stakes in full swing this weekend Meadowlands, but he backed up from the pocket to finish seventh. Trainer Travis Alexander believes he has pinpointed the reason for A plethora of Ohio Sires Stakes contests are set to be contested this his dull effort, however. weekend in the Buckeye State, at both Scioto Downs and Northfield Park. READ MORE Beginning Friday, Aug. 13, Scioto Downs will play host to three $40,000 divisions for 2-year-old filly trotters and two $50,000 divisions Heart Of Mine, Test Of Faith to compete Saturday at vernon for 2-year-old filly pacers. READ MORE Vernon Downs welcomes two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for sophomore pacing fillies on Saturday (August 14). Kentucky Sire Stakes double for Gingras Heart Of Mine (Scott Zeron) will be the huge favorite in the $55,000 first division of the NYSS while Test Of Faith figures to take much of The Kentucky Sires Stakes season for 3-year-old pacers kicked off the tote action in the second split. on Wednesday morning at The Red Mile with one $40,000 non-wager- READ MORE ing race for each sex. These events were supposed to have taken place on Tuesday afternoon but were moved when that card was cancelled Jay Randall returns a winner at Plainridge due to heavy rain that left the track in an unraceable condition. READ MORE After being sidelined with injuries suffered in a wreck at Saratoga Raceway on May 12, Jay Randall made his first start back at Plain- Gold Cup and Saucer trials drawn ridge Park a winning one when he captured the $25,000 Open pace with The Moonshadow N in an upset on Monday afternoon (Aug. 9). The 2021 The Guardian Gold Cup and Saucer will have 18 entrants Due to forecasted extreme heat & humidity, racing at Plainridge Park vying for glory in three trials at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at has been cancelled for Thursday (Aug. 12) and Friday (Aug. 13th). Racing the Charlottetown Driving Park. will resume at Plainridge on Monday (Aug. 16) with post time at 4 p.m. The first two trials will be held Saturday evening as part of Gold -edited release (Tim Bojarski for Plainridge) Cup Week 2021, with the third and final trial on Monday night. READ MORE Draw advisory for Pocono’s Sun Stakes

Bulldog Hanover tops Road to North America Cup The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono would like to alert horsemen of the conditions for the Sun Stakes Saturday events for 3-year-olds The Pepsi North America Cup is just a month away and Wood- taking place at the Downs on Saturday, August 21, and consisting of: bine’s Mark McKelvie has unveiled his latest ‘Road to the Pepsi North The Earl Beal Memorial (colt and gelding trot) America Cup’ rankings. The Max C. Hempt Memorial (colt and gelding pace) Bulldog Hanover moves to number one after scoring an Ontario The James Lynch Memorial (filly pace) Sires Stakes Gold victory last Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The Delmonica Hanover (filly trot -- *new event*) The Jack Darling trainee was last year’s Ontario champion and has Purses for the Beal and the Hempt will be $300,000 (final), $200,000 won three of five starts this season. Reinsman Jody Jamieson is (consolation I), and $100,000 (consolation II); for the Lynch and the hoping Bulldog Hanover is his ticket to a third Pepsi North America Delmonica Hanover, $250,000/$125,000/$75,000. Cup (Tell All, Up The Credit). Post positions for all events will be drawn by lot. READ MORE The Finals will be limited to the nine (9) highest money winning horses in 2021 of those who enter as of the published declaration date Callahan enjoys Hambletonian win by namesake and time (the draw will be held on Monday, August 16 at 9 a.m.). In addition to these four stakes, there will be two $75,000 Invita- As Captain Corey made his way down the stretch at The Meadowlands tional races on this card, one for top horses at each gait. Both the Invi- and headed to victory in Saturday’s $1 million Hambletonian Stakes, tationals will be for the nine highest seasonal money earning horses Corey Callahan was among the television viewers cheering him on. that enter, with one entrant per trainer. “I’ve never rooted that hard for a horse that I didn’t have any vested Please contact Pocono Director of Racing Rick Kane at 570 831 2127 interest in terms of owning or driving,” Callahan said with a laugh. with any questions. “It was really fun.” -edited release (PHHA/Pocono) READ MORE Blooded Horse Summer Sale supplement closes Aug 16 Balance shines brightly in Whenuwishuponastar final Supplemental entries will be taken for the Blooded Horse Summer Balance out-sprinted rivals to score a seven length victory in Tues- Sale until 5:00 p.m. Monday, August 16. The sale will take place on day’s Whenuwishuponastar Series final at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Tuesday, August 24 at the Champions Center in Springfield, Ohio. A field of seven 2-year-old pacing fillies squared off in the C$76,500 The first half of the sale features 172 yearlings comprised of 76 championship of the three-week event. Indiana-breds, 74 Ohio-breds, eight Ontario-breds, six Pennsylvania- Making her first appearance since the opening leg and her second breds, five New York-breds and one New Jersey-bred (the first Tacti- career start overall, Balance, a daughter of Bettor’s Delight, delivered cal Landing yearling offered). The remainder of the sale features over a strong maiden-breaking performance as the 1-2 favorite for driver 160 racehorses and racing prospects along with breeding stock. James MacDonald and trainer Nancy Takter. Enter the supplement or view the catalogue online at bloodedhorse. READ MORE com.

DRF Harness Digest | 22 | August 12, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness