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Derick Giwner Back Of The Neck (6) rolled to the front in the stretch to win the Stanley Dancer.

once inside the building it seemed like busi- Inside this issue ness as usual, other than that everyone had EDITOR’S EYE masks on their faces. The main simulcast- ing region was well-populated but not over- Captain Corey can bring Googoo Gaagaa By Derick Giwner crowded. Walking through the entire facility back into the spotlight, Page 4 @DRFHarness indoors and out, for the most part, people were respectful of the rules. I witnessed a gentle- Harris hoping for best against man at the second-floor lounge area being told Manchego/Atlanta in Sunday’s Spirit of It may not have been a return to complete he would have to put his mask on or leave and Massachusetts, Page 6 normalcy – masks were a required accoutre- also a loud round of applause came from some ment and security was more prominent – yet on the track apron midway through the night Taylor seeks ‘Groovy’ times in Adios it felt great to be back at The Big M for world- when a non-conforming female guest was eliminations, Page 6 class on Meadowlands Pace escorted from the premises by a pair of New night. Jersey state troopers. The amazing Southwind Amazon and Taking a positive from a terrible situation, Management did an excellent job of having other random musings, Page 7 COVID-19 has done wonders for the traffic (or ample security to make sure people were as lack of it) in the New York/ area. safe as possible. I did notice some social media On The Backstretch: Profile of trainer It was a pleasure to spend just over an hour complaints that a few people were caught on Tahnee Camilleri, Page 9 driving from Long Island to East Rutherford, the simulcast feed not wearing masks, but rest cutting a good 30 minutes off the usual clock- assured, they were the exception to a mostly Best bets and analysis, Page 11 ing. Upon arrival, everyone was asked to fill complying crowd. out a questionnaire confirming their health For the first few hours, with the sun beating Priceless looks to upend Reflect With and were given a thermal temperature check. down and the temperatures near 90 degrees, it Me in Nadia Lobell at Hoosier, Page 12 The process was seamless and really didn’t was borderline uncomfortable to continually Comments? Questions? take very long, as everything was well orga- wear a mask when outside, but that could take nized. Email the Editor [email protected] Entering through the simulcast area door, CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Ohio Sires Stakes ~ this weekend at Scioto & Northfield!

Friday Saturday July 24 July 25

2-year-Old 2-Year-Old Filly Pace Colt Pace

Scioto Northfield Downs Park

For information contact Kimberly Rinker at 614-779-0269 [email protected] For schedule & conditions go to www.racingohio.net

© 2020 Daily Racing Form, LLC - 10 Grand Central, 3rd Floor, NY, NY 10017

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 nothing away from some spectacular on-track performances. Being on hand to watch Tall Dark Stranger and Papi Rob Hanover empty their tanks through an epic stretch battle made the trip to the track more than worthwhile. The additional benefit of watching nine other stakes winners, including spectacular performances by Manchego, Ramona Hill, Dancin Lou, Gimpanzee and Our Majordan A, was just icing on the cake. Part of being a writer, handicapper and fan is forming opinions as the races are unfolding and after the dust has cleared. While Back Of The Neck and Ready For Moni both looked good wining their Stan- ley Dancer divisions, I couldn’t help but come away feeling that the Hambletonian picture is no more clear than before I showed up at the track. Neither horse in my mind separated themselves greatly from the “field” which includes 79 trotting colts and geldings plus another small handful of fillies which could conceivably roll the dice versus the boys. After a quick review of the eligibles, it is plausible to see two full elimination fields or perhaps even three eliminations on August 1 at The Meadowlands. Three horses with Hambletonian eligibility that didn’t win caught my eye for the future. I was happy with the Dancer performance from the Per Engblom-trained and Jimmy Takter-driven Beads. After displaying speed from his post-one starting spot, the son of Archan- gel and his driver found themselves searching for racing room in the Derick Giwner stretch. When the seam appeared nearing the wire, some will say he Panem was playful in the post parade but all business in the Del was a bit flat or just even, but I view this horse as one whose best attri- Miller Memorial. bute is carrying his speed a long way, regardless of trip, so the lack of a last-second sprint is not overly concerning. What is encouraging bit of time to realize her potential and every week we are seeing more is that since his trainer added a hood to his normal equipment, the dimensions from her. In her second start she went wire-to-wire in 1:53 Renee Spahr-owned colt is very manageable and showing no signs of 4/5. On July 11, she was a solid first-over second timed in 1:51 during his previous behavioral issues. Sorella’s monster 1:50 2/5 win. In the July 18 Del Miller we saw even more as she left strong to make the front, settled down nice in the three- hole and had plenty left in the stretch when driver Dexter Dunn got her straightened out (she appeared to be running in a touch). Her final time was 1:50 4/5 and I came away thinking that the Diamond Creek racing- owned and Nancy Takter-trained daughter of Father Patrick has more gas in the tank for the . The one winner I’d like to shine the spotlight on is Gimpanzee. The composure of this 4-year-old is just so remarkable. Starting from the second tier didn’t faze him one bit. Getting parked every step of the 1 1/8 distance was no issue. Driver placed the son of Chapter Seven in a reasonable spot behind Forbidden Trade, pulled the plugs in the stretch, and Gimpanzee took off like a rocket, leaving his compe- tition more than three lengths behind at the wire. In the short term, trainer Marcus Melander will skip the $250,000 Spirit Of Massachu- setts on Sunday (July 26) at Plainridge Park and aim for the $300,000 (estimated) John Cashman Memorial on August 8 at The Meadowlands for his first try against older horses. As a horse that has the looks of a potential star for years to come, we tried to pin down Anders Strom (Courant Inc.), who shares ownership with SRF Stable, on what the more distant future holds for Gimpan- zee. Could we see the horse on the track in 2021 and beyond? Would a campaign in Europe be in the cards? Is the breeding shed in his future for 2021? “Nothing is set in stone,” said Strom. “The horse will decide his own future and I doubt we (Courant and SRF) will start to think about next year until later this season. The situation with COVID-19 makes racing internationally, like in Europe, difficult. Even racing in Canada is challenging at the moment.” One piece of good news for Gimpanzee, and perhaps why he is Derick Giwner Maesteraemon was a deceptively sharp fifth in his Stanley aiming for the Cashman instead of the stakes race on Sunday, is that Dancer division on Saturday at The Meadowlands. Manchego is not eligible to the former. The biggest aged players in the Cashman are Atlanta and Guardian Angel As. It is certainly easier to beat two stars than three. The second notable horse is Maesteraemon, who finished fifth behind Getting back to Meadowlands Pace night, from top to bottom, the Back of The Neck in the other Dancer split. Sitting ninth throughout the team - from security to on-air talent to management - at the track did mile, few people were paying attention to the son of Andover Hall during a great job of putting on the show. The bettors did their part by send- the race. What those with eyes on the leaders missed was a 27 2/5 final ing over $5 million into the pools. It was a wonderful experience, and quarter (fastest of the race) where the colt gained more than five lengths, despite making some wagering mistakes that lingered with me on the an amount that would have been greater if not for running into late ride home, I walked away with more in my pocket than when I arrived. stretch congestion. The Marcus Melander trainee is worth watching. Of course, I hit traffic on the George Washington Bridge at midnight Last up on the 3-year-old trotting front is the filly Panem. She finished on the way home because someone decided that closing two lanes was second behind an impressive two-move win by Ramona Hill. Watching a great idea. Some things, even in the pandemic environment, never Panem’s first start of the year she seemed like a filly that would take a change.

DRF Harness Weekend | 3 | July 23, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Captain Corey bringing Googoo Gaagaa back to the spotlight

jaywalking By Jay Bergman BergmanJay

“If there was more on the page, I don’t know what he would have sold for,” said Corey Callahan, whose namesake Captain Corey debuted with a sensational performance at The Meadows this past Monday, opening eyes and perhaps resetting the values people look for when inspecting a yearling. Callahan has a good deal to do with the very fact that Carter Duer decided to breed his mare to a stallion that many had either avoided or found too difficult to go to in the years prior. Googoo Gaagaa was an incredibly talented sophomore in 2012 and Corey Callahan was his regular driver. His own rise to trotting fame had to be an affront to many as his sire Cams Rocket was in fact a pacer, though his dam’s side had trotting blood. To some, pacers and trotters shouldn’t be mixed in races or in the breeding shed, but that’s kind of irrelevant at this moment, as it was in 2012. Googoo Gaagaa was simply a great trotter that met and defeated the best of his generation. “I remember when we took him to the Meadowlands and he raced in the Simpson,” said Callahan. “I was in a field that Noel Daley had a few horses that he was pointing towards the Hambletonian. After the race he asked me if that horse was eligible to the Hambo and was relieved when I told him no,” said Callahan. While not Hambletonian eligible, Googoo Gaagaa clearly made his mark with a pair of miles on consecutive weeks at Pocono where he captured the Beal elimination in a track record 1:51 3/5 mile and then shattered that mark a week later with an eye-popping 1:50 4/5 mile. “He was just phenomenal,” said Callahan, recalling those epic perfor- mances and track records that lasted. Whatever Googoo Gaagaa did on the racetrack would not translate into a lucrative stallion deal at the time. Owner and trainer Rich- ard Hans kept the horse in Maryland where he was bred and raised. There was no real effort to make him into a commercial stallion and from limited numbers he had just 31 registered foals in his first three seasons at stud. Callahan was helpful in convincing owner Richard Hans to move Dawnelle Mock the horse to Pennsylvania to stand in 2018, with the explicit idea of Captain Corey set a track record in his career debut at being eligible to race in both overnights and on the lucrative Sire The Meadows on Monday afternoon (July 20). Stakes program. Still, Googoo Gaagaa struggled to gain wide accep- tance at the time. “I’m good friends with John Duer,” said Callahan. “I kept telling his dad (Carter) that he had to find a mare he could breed capable of. While Googoo Gaagaa was sold and exported to Sweden to Googoo Gaagaa.” Callahan’s persistence paid off and Duer sent one late last year, breeders in Europe had been utilizing the stallion for mare, albeit a daughter of Angus Hall that made her first career start years through shipped semen. “He’s done great in Europe,” said at age 5 and made but three starts with $384 in lifetime earnings. Callahan. “I think a lot of breeders over there really believe in the Callahan saw the foal from time to time and last fall in Lexington horse.” when Captain Corey was up for auction, he took a closer look. “He was While one race does not determine a racing career, it was rather just a magnificent-looking horse,” Callahan said, recalling an incred- clear well before the race that Captain Corey has the look of a cham- ible presence. “They were definitely expecting six figures. It would pion on the racetrack. He appeared more of an aged horse that Svanst- have been a lot more if there was something on the page.” edt was able to use with ease and let him go at his own speed. Captain Therein lies the most fascinating part of the breeding and buying Corey trotted a final half of 55 4/5 in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divi- business in trotting world - wild. There are some that pore through sion on a perfect day at The Meadows, stopping the clock in 1:54 1/5, the yearling catalog and simply won’t look at a horse with a pedigree a track and stakes record, While many in North America have seen like Captain Corey’s. You need to go back five or six generations to Svanstedt get a horse ready for a debut in the past, we’ve never seen find some sleepers, which in some ways Captain Corey’s pedigree him show up with a freshman with such advanced skills. reminds me faintly of Nuncio’s. Still, you have to have a tremendous It is hard to put an actual value on race times these days. It is more belief in bloodlines to trust a dormant family will reawaken. Needless important to evaluate competition. In the case of Captain Corey’s to say it’s quite possible that Googoo Gaagaa just didn’t have many rivals on Monday, there was already a stakes winner in Bidensky, mares as highly qualified as Luv U All in his first three years as a who tried in vain to attack in the third quarter and eventually lost stallion and thus had no chance to produce a physical specimen with his footing. Tart Tongue, who was stakes-placed for the Bongiornos, extreme potential. couldn’t match strides when it counted. Second-place finisher Plum- Ake Svanstedt’s owners paid $150,000 for Captain Corey, who ville Prince looks like a nice horse, but he crossed the wire more than according to Callahan was the second name choice after Captain four lengths behind Captain Corey. Callahan was refused. SRF Stable, Knuttson Trotting Inc. and Midnight Sun Partners Inc. The purchase price may have been a result of what Captain Corey share ownership in Captain Corey, a colt that didn’t require breaking looked like while at the same time an indication that there were many the bank to acquire and right now, may be the bargain purchase of people in Sweden that had already noticed what Googoo Gaagaa was the 2019 auctions.

DRF Harness Weekend | 4 | July 23, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness

Harris hoping for best against Taylor seeks ‘Groovy’ times in Adios

Manchego, Atlanta in Sunday’s By Ken Weingartner

Howard Taylor’s horses are keeping him up at night, but only for Spirit of Massachusetts the best of reasons. Taylor, a longtime owner who has experienced his share of success over the years, is enjoying a month to remem- By Jay Bergman ber and hoping the good times continue as the calendar advances. Among Taylor’s July highlights: Trotting mare Atlanta winning Trainer Andrew Harris has two horses entered in Sunday’s $250,000 the Arthur J. Cutler Memorial over rival Manchego, 3-year-old Spirit of Massachusetts at Plainridge Park, theoretically giving him pacing colt Tall Dark Stranger capturing the Meadowlands Pace twice the chance of winning the prestigious event for older trotters. after a dramatic stretch duel with rival Papi Rob Hanover, 3-year- “I guess you can see we’ll be racing for third at best,” said Harris, old trotting colt Back Of The Neck winning consecutive stakes to half-joking and perhaps more serious. “Manchego and Atlanta are stamp himself a prime contender for the Hambletonian, and a spar- just in another league.” kling debut from 2-year-old female pacer Somethingbeautiful, who Harris has two very solid trotters for the event in Joey Bats (post 1) is a half-sister to Taylor’s stakes-winner Shnitzledosomethin. and a recent addition to his stable, Run Director (post 5), in the field “I can’t even believe it, it’s like everywhere I look,” said Taylor, of seven. who this year is third in purses among North American owners. Of the two, Run Director appears to be entering the race in peak “It’s almost an embarrassment of riches; I’m on Cloud Nine. condition. “Ben Baillargeon deserves all the credit for bringing him “I don’t want to go to sleep at night because I’m afraid that when along,” said Harris about the son of Kadabra that has been a mainstay I get up it will be a dream.” north of the border for the accomplished trainer. This weekend, Taylor will watch Captain Groovy compete in the Since arriving in Harris’ stable, Run Director has steadily first of three seven-horse eliminations for the Delvin Miller Adios progressed, albeit racing at a level a little below the type of horses for 3-year-old pacers at The Meadows. The top-three finishers in he’ll be up against on Sunday. In his first start over the five-eighths each elim advance to the Aug. 1 final. mile at Harrah’s Philadelphia he was a very solid second in a Winners Captain Groovy, trained by and driven by Mark Over affair on July 5. “He should have no trouble getting around the MacDonald, will start from post six in his elimination. The race turns at Plainridge,” said Harris. “He trotted in 1:51 and change at includes The Greek Freak, who brings a three-race win streak to Harrah’s and had no issues on the turns.” the event, and Meadowlands Pace finalist Roll With JR. Stretched out a bit last Friday night at The Meadowlands, David Miller Last year, Captain Groovy started his campaign with four sent Run Director on a speed mission and the 5-year-old overcame an consecutive wins - three in divisions of the Pennsylvania Stallion outside draw on his way to a 1:51 4/5 score with a solid 27-second kicker to Series and the other in a division of the Pennsylvania All-Stars. He boot. “That was a big mile at The Meadowlands the other night,” Harris was winless in his remaining five races, with three coming on the said, confirming the visually impressive performance. Grand Circuit, but was third in a division of the International Stal- Run Director defeated two other Spirit Of Massachusetts perform- lion Stakes at Lexington’s Red Mile. ers in his Meadowlands victory in Lindy The Great (post 6) and his Captain Groovy opened this season with consecutive victories in stablemate Joey Bats. conditioned races, including a 1:48 score over older horses on June “Joey Bats really got jammed up at the back and that’s not his kind 20 at The Meadowlands. That time is tied for second fastest among of race,” said Harris, hoping for better circumstances this week. all 3-year-old pacers this year. He then finished second in a divi- “He’s really got high speed and can go as fast as any for a piece. sion of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Harrah’s Philadelphia and With the rail I think you can expect him to fire out,” said Harris, who fourth in a PASS split last week at The Meadows. hoped that Joey Bats might get a big chunk of the purse if he can be “Last year, he started out like some sort of a monster,” Taylor positioned behind the likely favorites. said. “Ray did the right thing, he put him in the Stallion Series to The Spirit Of Massachusetts pits Manchego (post 4) and Atlanta get him some education and not stretch him out expecting he would (post 7) against each other in what figures to be another incredible be real good at the end of the year. Then he sort of flattened out, but clash. The two have met twice this year, with Manchego earning a when he went to Lexington he raced real well. nose victory in 1:50 flat on June 19 at The Meadowlands, and a few “We turned him out sort of fresh, and when we brought him back weeks later, Atlanta was the stronger of the two rolling past her rival this year, I couldn’t believe how good he was. The second start, he late in the Arthur Cutler in a 1:50 1/5 clocking. came first up against some good older horses and blew them away. In the Cutler Atlanta drew inside of Manchego, but the positions I was in shock. I’m just hoping it’s not a repeat of last year. I don’t are reversed this Sunday. Driver once again will get know what to think about that horse. He’s made me a liar every day, to navigate the race for Atlanta while Dexter Dunn once again steers both ways.” Manchego. Captain Groovy is a son of Captaintreacherous and first foal out Eurobond, a 1:51 2/5 winner at Harrah’s Philadelphia when he of Lets Groove Tonite. He sold for $90,000 at the 2018 Lexington defeated Run Director, landed post 2 in the field, giving trainer Nancy Selected Sale and in addition to Taylor is owned by Schnittker, Ted Takter a two-pronged attack along with Manchego. Muscle M Up Gewertz, and Mary Kinsey Arnold. (post 3) and Lindy The Great (post 6) round out the select field in race Taylor has never owned an Adios winner, with his best finish 6 of the 10 at Plainridge on Sunday with first post listed at 2:00 p.m.. of second coming in 2010 with Versado. Captain Groovy’s driver, The $100,000 Clara Barton for pacing mares will go one race earlier MacDonald, won the Adios in 2012 with Bolt The Duer. on the card and features the 2019 Horse of the Year Shartin N. On “(Captain Groovy) has got the speed to go with anyone,” Taylor her way to that memorable season, Shartin N came to Plainridge said. “I’m hoping for the best. When he’s on, he’s as good as any. I’m and captured the Clara Barton in 1:49 1/5 for driver and hoping this is a good week.” trainer Jim King Jr. The pair returns from post 2 in a field of just six. The second elimination of the Adios features Meadowlands Shartin N will be looking to bounce back from a rare defeat in the Pace runner-up Papi Rob Hanover as well as Pace finalist Captain Dorothy Haughton at The Meadowlands last Saturday. Barbossa and recent PASS division winners Sea Of Life and No Lou Though a short field in number, the Clara Barton is indeed loaded Zing, who has won three consecutive starts since a second-place with talent, especially with the presence of Kissin In The Sand. The finish in his seasonal debut. -sired mare has already won in 1:47 4/5 this In the third elim, 2019 Ohio Sire Stakes champion and world- year at The Meadowlands and may be perfectly suited for a sizzling record-holder Elver Hanover will look to rebound from his first loss mile on Sunday. Yannick Gingras will guide her from post 4. in 11 career races against a field that includes 2020 New Jersey Sire Rounding out the stellar field for the Clara Barton are Philly Stakes champ Rockin The Aces and Meadowlands Pace finalists Hanover (post 1), Soho Burning Love A (post 3), Trillions Hanover Capt Midnight and Catch The Fire. (post 5) and Kimberlee (post 6). Racing begins at 12:45 p.m. (EDT) Saturday at The Meadows.

DRF Harness Weekend | 6 | July 23, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness The amazing Southwind Amazon and other random musings

CONFESSIONS By Keith Gisser

Man it is great to be back racing again nearly everywhere. The situa- tion in New York is a bit worrisome, but it seems like more of a negotiat- ing tool then a real threat. The Meadowlands Pace card was awesome Saturday night. With those thoughts, a few observations on other “stuff.” With the belated start of the harness racing Top 10 poll last week, it was really interesting to see the number of horses listed that were also named in the final 2019 poll. When the poll starts in spring, it makes sense to see a lot of carryovers, but with the mid-July start, I figured we JJ Zamaiko would see more 3-year-olds and fewer veterans. Five of the top 10 horses Southwind Amazon has won 97 races in his career. in the first week were among the top 11 to end 2019. There were four 3-year-olds and no freshmen on the list. Gimpanzee topped the group 1989-2000, earning $57,650, or less than $300 per start! He won in Canada, and Tall Dark Stranger was third, sandwiching Atlanta. Gimpanzee North Dakota, Michigan and Wisconsin, to name a few. I never saw him ended 2019 in the sixth spot overall, second (behind Greenshoe) among race, but I have seen Southwind Amazon. The COVID-19 crisis cost him sophomore trotting colts. Tall Dark Stranger ended 2019 in the tenth a chance to compete against top Free-For-Allers in Northfield’s Battle of spot. Atlanta and Manchego were ranked third and fifth, respectively, Lake Erie this year, but do yourself a favor, watch this horse race at least in the initial poll, with their only losses coming to each other. I hope once, whether at Northfield, Scioto or The Meadows. He is worth tuning we get to see these two great trotting mares race against each often in to see. this year (they are both entered in Sunday’s Spirit of Massachusetts at Bestdealintown made his living at the county fairs and although I did Plainridge Park). not find any Ohio county fair lines in his stats, the Buckeye State domi- I know the poll means little except as conversation over adult bever- nates the county fair racing scene with over 60 fairs featuring racing. ages, but I still find it interesting discussion fodder. It is also intriguing to With the coronavirus creating uncertainty, many of these fairs are being see how many horses get mentioned early in the year. Forty-seven horses canceled, delayed or having their formats altered, but to paraphrase got votes last week, while the final 2019 poll mentions just 21 horses. James Earl Jones, the one constant is harness racing. With small or no One of the most interesting horses mentioned in the first poll got just crowds at the county fair races, the Ohio Harness Horseman’s Associa- five points, including a mention from me. Southwind Amazon was nine- tion is doing the next best thing . . . bringing the county fair races to the for-14 when I voted last week, and he added another win, the 97th of his fans. career, in a 1:48 3/5 lifetime best at Scioto Downs on July 11. Now 10, the Using a Facebook Live platform, the OHHA is broadcasting select millionaire Paul Holtzman-trainee is driven by Ronnie Wrenn Jr, and county fair races through its Facebook page, utilizing Brand Ambas- he has accumulated those 97 wins in just 237 career starts, a career sador Roger Huston and Racing With the Stars rep Thom Pye, along win percentage of 42%! He has clearly gotten better with age. The son of with this writer. Each broadcast includes handicapping tips and other Camluck, from the Artsplace mare Artoonist, won 10 races from ages 2 racing info, as well as phone-in trivia contests, which have seen winners to 4 and added seven more wins as a 5-year-old. Since then, he has aver- from as far away as Colorado. The broadcasts have been watched and aged nearly 18 wins a year. With 10 wins this year, he leads all horses, as commented on by racing fans in Canada, South America and Great Brit- he did in 2018 when he posted 22 victories before “slumping” to a third- ain. place finish in 2019, winning 18 times. Once again, the OHHA has taken a leading position to promote racing, Dave Bianconi, the Executive Vice President of Racing at Northfield and while there have been some technical issues - many of these fair Park, commented, “I have been here 29 years and this is the best horse to tracks are used just a couple days a year, making even reliable electric- race here on a regular basis. He is somewhere around 50 wins at North- ity a potential problem - the broadcasts have been well-received. The field and he has made his money the hard way. He was third in our Batlle OHHA has partnered with Trot and Pace Marketing, which provides the of Lake Erie and got interfered with at Western Fair last year, and those technical expertise for the broadcast, as well as marketing sponsorship races got canceled this year, but he can go with the best of them.” packages. If you are interested in catching a broadcast, I will be doing It is likely that Southwind Amazon will win his 100th race in less the Lake County Fair races at Painesville on Tuesday, July 28 and the than 250 starts, while nearly every other 100-win horse has taken 300 Columbiana County Fair races at Lisbon on August 4. Just go to the or more starts to achieve that record. The exception is a horse named OHHA Facebook page to check it out. Bestdealintown, who won a remarkable 126 of 199 career starts, racing That’s it for this month. Now go cash. Hopefully on Southwind mostly at county fairs in several states, and often double-heating from Amazon. See you next month.

DRF Harness Weekend | 7 | July 23, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Everything for the Harness Player. All in One Place.

TOP FEATURES • Player-centric homepage with everything at your fingertips • Real-time Harness entries, results and live odds • DRF Harness Live! Covering North America’s top stakes action • Harness Eye, Daily Harness Program & TrackMaster PPs • Digital Harness Eye at a low price • Free Harness Eye Past Performances

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 landscape each week to profile a new personality from the sport.

TRAINER TAHNEE CAMILLERI What kind of car do you drive? Ford F250. Nikki Sherman Driver Andrew McCarthy and trainer Tahnee Camilleri were Favorite dinner meal? Snack? all smiles after Dancin Lou won a 2019 Breeders Crown. Mom’s spaghetti; pepperoni. How did you get started in the sport? What is your favorite track to race at? I’ve always liked horses and racing, admittedly more Thor- oughbred racing. My family had to move into state when I was The Meadowlands. Us Australians have this obsession with 15 years old and I had to sell my riding horse. We happened to The Meadowlands, so to just be able to compete there is a dream move about a mile from a harness track called Fairfield Trot- come true. You can’t top winning a race at The Meadowlands. ting Track. As I was quite dejected that I had to sell my riding horse, I went down to the track and the first trainer I ran into, What is your favorite big event in racing? I asked him if I could muck out stalls for free because I was so desperate to be around horses, and the rest is history. If the Breeders Crown wasn’t before it is now. So, if your family didn’t move, you would not be involved How often is racing on your mind? in harness racing? 24/7 - I can’t shut my brain off. It’s a terrible habit I have. I really should be able to go home and not think of the horses for a little I don’t think I would’ve been involved with harness racing. while, but I can’t. I’m definitely obsessed. Maybe I would’ve had something to do with thoroughbreds or riding horses. I’m glad that it happened, though, because this is What is your favorite thing to do outside of racing? definitely my passion. Up until COVID I didn’t get to do it a lot, but I love having a You came to the U.S. in 2009 and started 33 horses as a sleep-in and a lazy Sunday. Up until March of this year that trainer but left. Why? never happened, which is why I really enjoyed them. It was bad to have that much downtime, but it definitely recharged my I was three-quarters of the way through my law degree and that batteries and put the fire back in my belly. Now that we are back year was kind of like a gap year, but I went back to Australia racing, I don’t mind not getting lazy days anymore. and my parents were relieved. I finished my law degree and starting practicing as a lawyer. I would always help other train- What is your favorite sport to watch? Team? ers on the weekends or had a claimer or something myself that I would do on the mornings before going to work. I was always I’m not really a big sports watcher. When the Olympics is on involved in some way. every four years I’ll go on an Olympics-watching marathon. What made you come back to the States in 2018? What is one thing about you most fans/bettors don’t know? I wasn’t really happy with the direction that racing was going in I think I’m out in the open with everything that I do. Maybe that Australia and 2009 was probably the best year of my life. I had I’m an obsessive heart rate and horse weight-taker. They are gone back to training full-time and just decided that the U.S. part of my training program. was my favorite place in the world to race. Probably another Australian thing, we feel like if you make it in the States, you’ve Do you find that knowing the heart rate and weight is a really made history. The prize money is very good here and strong indicator for fitness? there are a lot of opportunities. Things happen in this country. It really is a land of opportunity. I just decided I wanted to give it I feel like if I didn’t do that I would be training blind. It is defi- a go. I was at a turning point in my life where I could continue to nitely a huge part of my training program. be a lawyer or give it a good go and see if I could make this a ca- reer, because it is my passion. I’m really glad that it has turned What is one word that describes harness racing for you? out well so far.

Excitement. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

DRF Harness Weekend | 9 | July 23, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

Has your current experience met or exceeded expectations? Exceeded - by a thousand. I didn’t think I’d be winning stakes races so early on or even win them at all. It’s been an amazing ride and I’m so thankful. Are you in the U.S. for good? I hope so. I won a Green Card in the Green Card lottery. I hope COVID doesn’t bugger that up. I’m here on a trading visa now, which isn’t a permanent visa so I can’t stay here for a long time, but I was hoping that if I became successful enough I could swap for a visa that led to a Green Card and I won one in the lottery. It is my intention to hopefully stay here permanently. I love this country. Do you miss Australia? I miss my family and friends. I guess I love Australia but I don’t re- ally miss it. This is my country. I love it. What was your career like in Australia? I had a lot of cheap horses. I mainly dealt with horses between $2,000 and $12,000 claimers. I had a nice horse here or there, but nothing really stakes quality. I sort of cut my teeth on the cheaper horses. Coming over here I always had 12-15 horses over there and I just felt if I came here and had better quality stock that it would pan out, and so far it has been really good. Can you compare the racing in Australia to North America? It is completely different. As part of my business of importing horses, I can sort of pick the horses that I know that will do good over here, but the racing itself is completely different. They stroll around the turns and go slow second quarters. In a half-decent field here you Derick Giwner don’t get many 30-second quarters. They also have distance races Dancin Lou captured the William Haughton Memorial on July 18 and some stand-start races. I don’t think the races over there take as at The Meadowlands. much out of horses as it does here. I used to race some of my horses there between four and six times a month. I aim here for three times while other horses are. I think that is why he is still able to still a month. You couldn’t race a horse six times a month here. The rac- sprint at the finish because he hasn’t had to go his maximum effort ing is definitely a lot tougher on them. It is not really comparable but earlier in the race. He’s just an amazing athlete. they are both enjoyable in their own ways. What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten about harness What is next for Dancin Lou? racing? Sam McKee on Hambletonian Day. Ross Croghan told me, a healthy, happy and sound horse will do its Would it be an extra-special thrill to win on Hambletonian best. I’m really big into the whole equine psychology of it. It is really important to me that my horses are happy. I think a happy horse is Day? the biggest edge you can get. I’d say so. It is such a great day in harness racing. Just to have a horse in a race that day is special. What was your favorite moment in harness racing? Winning the Breeders Crown (Dancin Lou, 2019). If I would die and How many horses are in your barn? go to heaven, I’d die the happiest girl in the world. That was just At the moment I’m down to six and hoping for more. incredible. The hair on the back of my neck is standing up right now just talking about it. That was the best night of my life for sure. Are you hoping that your success with Dancin Lou leads to a Is it safe to say that Dancin Lou is the best horse you ever bigger stable? trained? I hope so. I don’t think I could ever be someone that has 50 or 60 hors- es. I’m very hands-on. I’m a little bit of a control freak. But I definitely Yes, by leaps and bounds. want more horses. I’m hoping if ‘Lou’ continues on his winning ways that there are owners out there who will give me a shot. I go about do- Dancin Lou seems to be capable of roughing it at any speed ing things differently and I think it might help some horses here. and still finding more in the stretch. Can you talk about his determination and heart? Which horse is/was your favorite? I’ve thought about this a lot because most horses can’t do what he There are two. Back in 2009 I had a horse called Melton Multimax. He can do. In Australia, I traveled a little bit with a world champion came over here to the States. He was a great trier. He wasn’t a super- true miler called Flashing Red. That horse had two world records star. He was just a 40 or 50 claimer. I made so many mistakes with him and five track records. His biggest asset was a low heart rate and and he always put in 100 percent in his races. He’s probably my favor- I haven’t come across a horse with a heart rate like his until ‘Lou’ ite. I have another one now who I have a real soft spot for. He actually came along. I think when they go to the half in 52 or 53 and he does CONTINUED ON PAGE 11 it so comfortably, I don’t think he is at his maximum heart rate yet

DRF Harness Weekend | 10 | July 23, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 At DRF Harness we strive to provide the best handicapping won last week at The Meadowlands and his name is Statement Made. information in the sport. Each week we’ll use this space to bring He’s a beautiful horse and lovely to drive. He’s really fast, too. I just you some of our handicappers’ best bets, value plays and horses to really click with him. I love him. watch. Use this information as one of your tools when wagering or simply click on the link above and head to DRF Bets to wager now. What’s the one race that you really want to win in your career? Happy Handicapping! It was the Breeders Crown but since I have won that now, the next Thursday, july 23 one would be the Little Brown Jug. RACE 10 Do you have any Little Brown Jug prospects? (5) STRAVINSKY came up Not at the moment, but I’m always looking. I actually have a mare against a colt that was ready and she flies around a half. Her mother was a Horse of the Year in to fire a big mile racing off my state as a broodmare, so for Australian standards she is very the shelf and he was game well-bred. If I’m not given a Jug-caliber horse, I’m going to breed in defeat. He should handle one. So I’ve got a back-up plan just in case. this group. If you could choose any horse in history to train, which horse -Garnet Barnsdale would it be and why? Friday, july 24 I reckon it would be a toss-up between Dan Patch and . ACE Those horses were just out and out champions. They were so ahead R 5 of their time. It would be great to be involved with horses like that. (4) LADY CHAOS was spec- tacular in her qualifiers here How has COVID-19 affected your life and business? and took care of business I’ve been fortunate that my owners are in a position to continue to first out at The Meadows. She pay training fees while the horses weren’t racing. Fortunately for should remain undefeated me it wasn’t as bad as other people, but the whole mental aspect had against this group. me down, not knowing when we would be able to race. Being a for- -Derick Giwner eign person, I don’t get any assistance from the government, so the mental stress was making a dent. It didn’t really affect my business, RACE 5 but it was mentally a tough few months, also with being under a lock- down in this country and not knowing if there was an emergency (8) SOLO STORY fits my whether I could go back to Australia. That’s over and done with now. main bet-back criteria: horse I’m glad that we are back racing, even if we have to wear masks. dropping in class after doing considerable work in his last If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what and staying on respectably. -James Witherite would it be? It would be in Australia to allow Lasix. They don’t go quite as fast as Saturday, july 25 here yet, but it will happen. As someone who has raced in both ju- risdictions, northern and southern hemisphere, I think it is a horse RACE 7 welfare thing. I know they are trying to scale it back here, but unless (4) SAMS TRIPLE CROWN they change the style of racing and the drivers aren’t all-out every tends to come up big and race here, it really is needed for their welfare. show early speed when he How do you view the future of harness racing? drops in class. Best of all for his connections is that he can A lot of people are doom and gloom about it, but I don’t think it is as win and stay in this class. bad as people make out, especially here in the states. It has a rich -Giwner history and I think it will continue to be around for a long time. Time for the stretch drive: full-card analysis / past performances

Best Horse Performance You Ever Saw: Probably Blacks A Fake Harrah’s Philly (FRI) Analysis Meadowlands (FRI) Analysis 4th Inter Dominion win. He was a very hard-to-beat Australian horse. Mohawk Park (FRI) Analysis Mohawk Park (SAT) Analysis Best Driver Ever: John Campbell Yonkers (FRI) Analysis Meadowlands (SAT) Analysis Favorite TV Show?: Spartacus

Trotters or Pacers?: Pacers. I don’t know much about trotters. I can DHP PPs harness eye PPs trackmaster PPs free PPs count on one hand how many times I’ve sat behind a trotter. I would like to learn. It will likely be on one I own because I don’t think it is right to have someone pay a training bill as I learn. Want full-card analysis? Visit DRF.com/harness

DRF Harness Weekend | 11 | July 23, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness NEWS FROM AROUND THE HARNESS INDUSTRY

Priceless looks to rebound at home in Nadia Lobell Lou’s Pearlman remains unbeaten after PASS win

The Meadowlands was the center of the Harness Racing world last Lou’s Pearlman charged through the ‘Lightning Lane’ to score in Saturday, but this weekend the spotlight shines throughout the coun- Wednesday’s $217,856 Pennsylvania Sires Stake at The Meadows and try, including on Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Friday (July 24) when extend his career unbeaten streak to three for trainer Ron Burke. seven of the best 3-year-old pacing fillies compete in the $100,000 The event, known as the Albatross, was contested over four divisions, Nadia Lobell. with Burke and Yannick Gingras teaming to take splits with Fulsome The group includes a winner from last Saturday, as Mistletoe and Southwind Gendry. The Legend Hanover, a 37-1 bomb, captured Shalee victor Reflect With Me, along with stablemate Lady Lou, ship the other division. in from New Jersey for trainer Tony Alagna. The former comes with READ MORE regular driver Andrew McCarthy and was installed as the 7-5 morn- ing-line favorite from post 4 after a powerful 1:49 win with a 25 2/5 final quarter. Freshman fillies to spar in Ohio Sire Stakes at Scioto Hoping that home cooking will bring her better racing luck is Indiana-bred Priceless, who returns to the Hoosier state for trainer/ Twenty-two Ohio Sires Stakes eligible freshmen fillies will go post- driver Brandon Bates after facing traffic trouble in the stretch of the ward Friday night (July 24) at Scioto Downs in a trio of battles, each Mistletoe Shalee. sporting a purse of $40,000. This is the second leg of action in the four- “I was thrilled with her effort,” said Bates. “I just wished she round series for the Buckeye State’s top Ohio-breds. could’ve shook free sooner.” Ohio-registered stallions represented by progeny in these three races Despite the bad luck last Saturday, Bates is confident that Priceless, include 10 each by first crop sire Racing Hill and Well Said, with three who starts from post 5, can rebound with a win. by McArdle and two by Nob Hill High. Stallions represented by one “Pudgie (Priceless) handled the race and ship great,” said Bates. foal each include Arthur Blue Chip, Domethatagain, Pet Rock, Rockin “All systems go!” Amadeus, The Panderosa, Western Vintage and Yankee Cruiser. Other hometown hopes looking for the win are Genie Rockwell and READ MORE Odds On Madison. Both fillies have yet to finish worse than second this year. Gai Waterhouse, a 1:50 3/5 winner in 2019, is an interesting wild- Hambo hopefuls to compete this weekend at Pocono card in the field. After a trio of qualifiers, the Kentucky Sire Stakes winner from last year makes her seasonal debut in the Nadia Lobell. The owners and trainers of premium 3-year-old trotters will get one Longshot Ellagator rounds out the field. final piece of information this weekend at The Downs at Mohegan Sun The Nadia Lobell is race seven of 14 on a Hoosier program that Pocono before deciding whether to commit their horses to next Satur- starts at 6:30 PM. day’s eliminations for the prestigious Hambletonian and Oaks. READ MORE NJSS Finals + Hambletonian eligibles featured at Big M Indiana mare registration deadline approaching Meadowlands Pace Night may be in the rearview mirror, but the East Rutherford track still has plenty of stakes action on tap this Breeders wishing to participate in the Indiana Standardbred Breed weekend. Friday features a pair of $160,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Development Program are reminded that the mare registration dead- finals for 2-year-olds and Saturday offers Hambletonian eligibles a line is quickly approaching. last opportunity to prepare for eliminations on August 1 ahead of the The program offers incentives for foals that are registered as Indi- August 8 finals at The Meadowlands. ana Sired and Bred (ISB) with the Indiana Commission Friday’s 2-year-old filly final is a wide-open affair, with three of the (IHRC). In order for a foal to qualify as ISB, the following criteria 10 contestants coming off wins and nearly all of them having hit the must be met: board in at least one of their starts in 2020. Beautiful Game, with a • Mare must be in foal to a registered Indiana stallion; pair of seconds in two starts, is the 3-1 morning-line choice ahead of • Mare must be registered by August 1, 2020 with the IHRC; Presto (7-2) and Material Girl (4-1). • Mare must reside in Indiana from August 1 through 30 days after The colt final is equally as competitive. Locatelli, despite starting foaling; from post 10, is listed as the 3-1 early favorite for the team of trainer • Mare must foal in Indiana; and Nancy Takter and driver Yannick Gingras. He was an easy 1:54 4/5 • Foal must be registered with the IHRC within 30 days of foaling. winner in last week’s second leg. Second choice at 7-2 is the still- Late fees are applicable after 30 days, but all foals must be registered undefeated Mon Amour. The Per Engblom-trained and Dexter Dunn- by December 31st of their foaling year. driven son of Muscle Hill looks for a series sweep. Foals registered as ISB are exclusively eligible for the Indiana Sired The finals go as races 6 and 10 on the track’s 13-race card. Fair Circuit, the Indiana Standardbred Association’s Elite Series On Saturday, three Tompkins Geers divisions - two for fillies and and lucrative breeder’s awards. In addition, they are also eligible to one for colts - head to the post featuring 17 horses eligible to either the the same events as an Indiana Sired horse, such as the Indiana Sire Hambletonian or Hambletonian Oaks. Stakes, Indiana Sired Late Closers and Indiana Sired Overnights, All eyes will be on 2019 Dan Patch winner Real Cool Sam in the held at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing and Casino. $89,100 colt division to see if the combination of trotting hobbles and Registration may be completed online using the Commission’s new driver Jordan Stratton can equate to a miscue-free mile. Making website. Owners can conveniently check to see if their foals are regis- his first start of the year last week, the 3-year-old broke when the gate tered as well. opened in the Stanley Dancer at The Meadowlands. Breeders should be advised that the process to have a registered Next Level Stuff is one of the more interesting entrants in one of ISB foal is a multi-step process. Breeders must remember that just the $42,700 filly divisions. The Jim Campbell trainee, driven by Tim because the mare is registered with the program, the process is only Tetrick, comes in perfect in three starts this year and has won nine complete once residency requirements have been fulfilled and the of 13 races lifetime. resulting foal has been registered with the IHRC. The Tompkins Geers are carded as races 2, 4 and 6 on the 13-race Questions regarding program registration may be directed to Saturday card. Program Coordinator Lorelei Masshardt at317-234-2540. An up-to-date list can be accessed on the Indiana Horse Racing Commission’s website.

DRF Harness Weekend | 12 | July 23, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness