FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020

©2020 HORSEMAN PUBLISHING CO., LEXINGTON, KY USA • FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION CALL (859) 276-4026 Atlanta Vs. Manchego; The Rivalry Resumes ACCEPTING ENTRIES It’s a rivalry as great as any currently in and For The it will get restarted again on Friday night when standout 5- year-old trotting mares Atlanta and Manchego line up be- hind the gate in the $40,000 opening leg of the Miss Versatility Series at the Meadowlands. Scheduled as Race 4 on the marathon 18-race card that gets underway at 6 p.m., Atlanta and driver will start from post 4, while Dexter Dunn will direct AUGUST 25 & 26, 2020 Manchego from post 6 in the seven-horse field. BLACK TYPE YEARLING SESSION - TUESDAY, AUGUST 25 The rivalry arguably began in “The one extra start the 2018 Casual Breeze at Online Bidding Will Be Available (for Manchego) Woodbine Mohawk Park. The BLACK TYPE YEARLING ENTRIES CLOSE JULY 1 definitely doesn’t late August race came three Mixed Sale entries close July 20 or when full. hurt, but I think weeks after Atlanta bested her Atlanta really male peers in the Hambleton- ENTER ONLINE NOW AT doesn’t need any ian and Manchego captured www.bloodedhorse.com starts anyways.” the companion Oaks for fillies –Yannick Gingras at the Meadowlands. In the Ca- sual Breeze, Manchego, who was driven by Gingras, won in 1:51.4, defeating the Scott Zeron-driven Atlanta by 1 3/4 lengths. Last year had a bit of a different look for the two trotters as “There’s No Substitute for Experience” both raced for new trainers. After being sold, Atlanta went JERRY HAWS • P.O. Box 187 • Wilmore, Kentucky 40390 to the barn of Ron Burke, while Nancy Takter took over the Phone: (859) 858-4415 • Fax: (859) 858-8498 • [email protected] conditioning of Manchego following the retirement of her father, Jimmy. Atlanta and Manchego faced each other five times last mutuel win under her belt. That victory came in Race 1 on year, with Atlanta finishing ahead of her rival in each, in- the reopening card at the Meadowlands on June 5, with cluding three victories. The last time the two stars raced Manchego trotting to an impressive 1:50.3 score in the against each other came in the $450,000 Maple Leaf Trot at $22,500 Preferred. Mohawk Park on Aug. 19, 2019, with Atlanta finishing sec- Atlanta won her first qualifier on May 31 by 10 lengths in ond and Manchego seventh (behind Guardian Angel As). 1:54.1, and then on June 8 the daughter of Chapter Seven Manchego then went on a tear, winning six straight, until romped by 14 1/4 lengths in what was likely a track-record finishing second in the TVG Open Trot to Six Pack. Despite 1:51.4. Despite the huge tune-ups, Gingras admits the late-season push, Manchego came up just short in vot- Manchego may have an edge on Friday having already ing for Dan Patch divisional honors, with Atlanta’s early-sea- made a winning Big M appearance. son dominance and head-to-head resume arguably leading “It doesn’t hurt her, that’s for sure, having raced already,” her to garner the trophy by a vote of 74-72. said Gingras. “(Manchego), with the conditioning part of it, While Atlanta comes into the Miss Versatility off a pair of definitely hurts. For this week.” winning qualifiers at Gaitway Farms, Manchego has a pari- Continues on page 2 ››››

WHAT’S INSIDE . . . Full weekend calendar of racing—pg. 2 Zero Tolerance making first 2020 start—pg. 8 Ducharme has high hopes—pg. 4 Donato Hanover recovering from colic—pg. 8 Looks can be deceiving—pg. 5 Faraldo issues statement—pg. 8 First Over: Being black in harness racing—pg. 7 Ones To Watch—pg. 10 HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 2 of 13 June 19, 2020 www.harnessracing.com Dunn said Manchego’s winning return may give her an ad- vantage on Friday, but he admits he’s been keeping an eye FREE THIS WEEKEND’S on Atlanta. Program “Atlanta qualified at Gaitway last week and she looks Pages FEATURED RACES pretty good, but we already have the one race and she went All times listed are local. a big race,” said Dunn. “I’m looking forward to this.” Friday, June 19 Despite Atlanta not having a pari-mutuel start since she finished third last Oct. 26 in the Open Trot, 6:00p M1 NJSS 3FT div. Trackmaster PPs Gingras expects a big effort. 6:20p M2 NJSS 3FT div. Trackmaster PPs “I think Atlanta is a mare that races better fresh,” said Gin- 7:00p M4 Miss Versatility OMT Trackmaster PPs gras. “All the times we’ve raced her off layoffs she’s been 7:20p M5 NJSS 3FP Trackmaster PPs tremendous. The one extra start (for Manchego) definitely 8:20p M8 NJSS 3CT Trackmaster PPs doesn’t hurt, but I think Atlanta really doesn’t need any 9:00p M10 NJSS 3CP Trackmaster PPs starts anyways. I think it will be a good race.” Click here to download all Friday PPs Gingras said the 1:51.4 win at Gaitway was impressive. Saturday, June 20 “I stretched Atlanta out a little bit at Gaitway and let her 6:00p Nfld1 Buckeye Stallion 3FT div. Trackmaster PPs trot a little,” he said. “That was a big mile for sure. It’s a 9:00p M10 Preferred Trot Trackmaster PPs mile track and it’s fast, but it’s not the Meadowlands. I 9:22p Haw7 Violet 3FP Trackmaster PPs would say that it was a mile in 1:50 at the Meadowlands.”— 10:20p M14 Preferred Pace Trackmaster PPs By Gordon Waterstone Click here to download all Saturday PPs

Full Weekend Calendar Of Racing After being shut down for nearly three months due to the covid-19 pandemic, harness racing is back. Make that, harness racing is BACK! Racetracks across the country have reopened, and with hundreds of horses being dropped into the entry box, plus qualifiers and now baby races, there is no shortage of action. A sign of things to come at the Meadowlands came last weekend when 777 horses were entered for the two nights of racing and more than 500 were left out. Thir- teen races each night weren’t enough, so the track, after being rebuffed in its request to the Racing Commission to add Wednesday programs, instead added five more races on Friday and Saturday this HarnessRacing Weekend Preview weekend. With 18 races, the Meadowlands moved post Kathy Parker Heather Kemper time from 7:15 p.m. to 6 p.m. [email protected] [email protected] With 36 races over two nights as well as another 16 Editor/ General Manager Production Manager baby races and qualifiers Saturday morning at the Big Lynne Myers Hannah Reynolds [email protected] [email protected] M, it will be a busy time for horsemen and horsewomen. Advertising Manager Editorial Production Yannick Gingras is one who will be in constant mo- Gordon Waterstone Vanessa Flannery tion. Gingras will race at the Meadowlands on Friday, [email protected] [email protected] Associate Editor Accounting & Circulation and then after baby races on Saturday that get under- For mail sent via U.S. Postal Service, way at 8:30 a.m., he’ll head to The Downs at Mohegan either P.O. Box 8480, Lexington, KY 40533, Sun Pocono for a few drives during the afternoon. or 1910 Harrodsburg Rd., Suite 200, Lexington, KY 40503. (859) 276-4026 He’ll then jump back into the car to return to the Big © Copyright Horseman Publishing Company. M for the night-time races. On Sunday, he’ll be at A product of Horseman Publishing Company, publishers of the website Tioga Downs for the late-afternoon card that features www.harnessracing.com and The Horseman And Fair World magazine. This newspaper may not be reproduced in any form or by any means, the first leg of the Graduate Series for 4-year-old pac- electronic or mechanical, without prior written permission. ers, the Roll With Joe for older pacers, and the first New York Sires Stakes leg for 3-year-old filly trotters.— To sign up for the Weekend Preview please visit By Gordon Waterstone www.harnessracing.com/members_sign_up.php DOUBLE WWOORRLLDD CCHHAAMMPPIIOONN Action Uncle 2,1:54h; 3,1:53.2h-’20 ($256,075) By UNCLE PETER! By Uncle Peter - Action-Broadway - Broadway Hall

JJ Zamaiko Photo

The current 2-year-old World Champion on a half-mile track, Action Uncle is now the current 3-year-old World Champion on a half with his 1:53.2h victory in a $50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes divi- sion at Northfield on June 13! The time is also a new Northfield track record for sophomore trotters.

Last year at 2, Action Uncle set the Hickory Lane is selling two sensational Uncle Peter current World Record for a freshman yearling fillies this fall, both out of top Muscle Hill mares... trotting colt on a half-mile track, winning a division of the OBC at the Delaware I’ll Annie Up (Uncle Peter- Annapolis-Muscle Hill) County Fair in 1:54. a full sister to It’s Academic 3,1:55.1f-’20 ($147,502) You Zig I Zag (Uncle Peter-Hillosophical-Muscle Hill), Action Uncle was bred by Kenneth the first foal out of a stakes-winning mare from the family of Sommer and is owned by Carl Howard, Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills. He is World Champion Fool’s Goal 1:51.3 ($3,057,070) trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. and driven Plus a yearling colt out of a full sister to World Champion by Brett Miller. Congratulations to all! Define The World 1:51.4 ($1,654,115) Giuseppe (Uncle Peter-Venetian-Muscles Yankee)

UNCLE PETER stands in Ohio at

14346 Township Road 205 Findlay, Ohio 45840 Phone: (419) 422-3004 • Fax: (419) 425-2999 www.hickorylanefarm.com HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 4 of 13 June 19, 2020 www.harnessracing.com Ducharme Has High Hopes Michael Lisa/Lisa Photo For Fortune Starlet, Media Mogul Although summer will be officially here on Saturday, the summer stakes season got underway last weekend with Ohio Sires Stakes. New Jersey follows suit on Friday night at the Meadowlands with events for 3 year olds. Race 1 on Friday night, a $25,000 New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS) for fillies, features a very competitive field—at least on paper. Three of the seven fillies in the race will be mak- ing their first starts, and one of them is the Trixton-sired For- tune Starlet, who is listed as the 8-5 morning-line favorite. Dexter Dunn will drive from post 2. Fortune Starlet Fortune Starlet won last summer’s $200,000 NJSS final by a handy five lengths in 1:54.3. That turned out to be her last Ducharme is based at Vernon Downs with 40 horses and in start of the season, however. addition to Fortune Starlet and Dramata, he’ll be taking his “She had a chip in a knee and we had it taken out and we best 2 year olds to the Meadowlands. He is training 10 fresh- quit with her,” said Ducharme of the filly’s short, three-start man trotting colts and says the best one so far is Media season. “She showed me she was getting sore right before Mogul, a son of Muscle Hill and Kathy Parker, beaten on the the (NJSS) final but we didn’t x-ray her until after the final wire by Broadway Donna in the 2015 Doherty Memorial. and it worked out OK.” “I wouldn’t haul him all the way to the Meadowlands if I Fortune Starlet will go into this Friday’s race off a 1:54.3 didn’t think he has the chance to be one of the elite,” said qualifying victory on June 5 at Vernon Downs. Ducharme of the $180,000 yearling purchase by Bill Donovan “She was pretty nice in the qualifier and trotted that much and partners Joe Sbrocco, Purnel & Libby and Tom Dillon. last year too, so I think she has speed,” said Ducharme. “I’m Ducharme said Media Mogul had trained a couple of times pretty high on her because she has the right attitude. She in 2:01, and the colt only wears a head pole and a set of really wants to do everything you ask on the track.” trotting boots. Ducharme will also start Dramatra in the second NJSS di- Because he is based at Vernon, Ducharme often has On- vision (Race 2), but noted that this filly, a Trixton half sister tario-sired youngsters in his stable. With the Canadian bor- to Ducharme’s Hambletonian winner Royalty For Life, still der shut down to non-Canadians through July 20, has plenty to prove. Ducharme has already sent three Ontario-sired 3 year olds “She’ll be OK for Jersey, but if she will have to step up big to trainers in Ontario and expects he will send his two On- to race in the top open stakes,” he said. tario-sired 2 year olds there as well.—By Kathy Parker

ACCEPTING ENTRIES For Foals Of 2019 Tuesday, October 13

www.buckeyeclassicsale.com 574-825-4610 • Email [email protected] Consign today! Entry deadline extended! HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 5 of 13 June 19, 2020 www.harnessracing.com In Jogging Ms Lucy’s Case, Jogging Ms Lucy had two wins, two seconds and two thirds Looks Can Be Deceiving in her first seven starts last year at two, with her victories coming in a pair of Ohio State Fair contests. Her only off-the- Trainer Marty Wollam said it might be easy for someone to board finishes came in her final two starts of the year. dismiss his 3-year-old filly trotter Jogging Ms Lucy on her “I’m sure she wasn’t healthy but we really couldn’t find looks, but it would be a big mistake. Wollam said Jogging anything the matter with her,” said Wollam, who trained and Ms Lucy may not be the prettiest trotter ever seen, but “she drove the Sweets-owned Neely’s Messenger to a win in the wants to trot…is good-gaited, and has a lot of desire to go.” 2014 Ohio Sires Stakes championship for 2-year-old colt Jogging Ms Lucy, who trotted to a career-best 1:58.4 win trotters. “She did have an infection of some type, and yes, in an overnight on June 10 at Northfield Park, will attempt she was probably tired at the same time.” to make it two in row when she starts from post 6 in the The Buckeye Stallion Series for sophomore filly trotters first of five $40,000 divisions (Race 1) of the Buckeye Stal- was scheduled to get underway on April 30 at Miami Valley, lion Series on Saturday night at but the shutdown as a result of Northfield. Kurt Sugg will drive Who’s Hot At Northfield (May 26-June 17) the covid-19 pandemic caused a Jogging Ms Lucy, who is listed as delay. Wollam said Jogging Ms Driver Starts Wins Earnings the 5-2 morning-line choice in the Lucy missed that start and proba- seven-horse field. 1. Ronnie Wrenn Jr. 299 65 $339,932 bly another due to the shutdown. Wollam bred and owns Jogging 2. Kurt Sugg 204 43 256,666 “We may have missed a couple, Ms Lucy in partnership with Dale but this really didn’t set us back 3. Aaron Merriman 176 32 198,410 Sweet and his daughter, Julie at all,” he said. “The only bad part Sweet. A daughter of Dejarmbro, 4. Ryan Stahl 151 13 124,781 is that we didn’t have any Jogging Ms Lucy is out of the Tom 5. Chris Lems 185 12 106,282 timetable to go by. We were Ridge mare Jogging Home, a win- ready to qualify when we went ner on the Sires Stakes circuit. Wollam said into the shutdown, so we had to bide our time. It worked the Jogging Ms Lucy he sent to Marvin Raber’s farm in Sug- out all right; everybody was in the same boat.” arcreek, Ohio, in preparation of her racing career wasn’t the After a fifth-place finish in a May 21 qualifier at Northfield, same Jogging Ms Lucy that was returned to him. Jogging Ms Lucy finished a late-closing second after start- “She had gone to an Amish guy to break, and Marvin ing from the trailing post 9 in her May 29 debut at that half- called me when it was time to bring her in,” Wollam remem- mile racetrack. Sugg then sent Jogging Ms Lucy fast off the bered. “He said when he brought her in he didn’t know gate in her June 10 contest, leading at every call to easily what happened but she looked awful. She had a big hump win by six lengths. in the middle of her back and she’s swayed back. He didn’t A heart attack and bypass surgery a couple of years ago know if she went through a growth stage, or whatever hap- has prompted Wollam, who turned 71 on June 12, into pened, but she was just awful looking. And she still is. semi-retirement. He and his partner, Toni Dean, spent the “But she wants to trot. She still has a big hump in her back past winter in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., and he returned in and she’s swayed back, but she’s good gaited and has a lot March to his farm near Warren, Ohio. Wollam said he en- of desire to go.” listed the help of 23-year-old Matt Burkholder to take care of his 13 horses. “Matt did a great job,” said Wollam. “After the heart attack and surgery it was time for me to slow down a bit. I just turned 71 and I figured I better start enjoying it. Our place was about 10 miles from Daytona, not too far from Spring Garden Ranch and Southern Oaks, so we went over there a few J.J. Zamaiko Photo times.”—By Gordon Wa- terstone

Jogging Ms Lucy

HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 7 of 13 June 19, 2020 www.harnessracing.com

horses and had some decent owners, but they don’t stay as long as they would with a white trainer. If you don’t produce right away, they’ll pull out.” Dewayne told me one story about racing at a Michigan fair in the late 1970s. “I went into the bathroom and back then they had black porters, and the black porter asked me, ‘Do you have horses?’ I told him yes, we had horses, and he said, ‘You better get rid of the horses because the white people don’t like blacks to have horses.’ I thought he was kidding, but he was serious. That hadn’t even struck my mind until then.” Being Black In Harness Racing Dewayne and I reminisced about the good old days in In the aftermath of the recent deaths of several African- Michigan and how there were many black people on the Americans after incidents with police, including George backstretch. “We’ve seen a lot of great, black grooms in this Floyd, Rayshard Brooks and Breonna Taylor, protests for business and you don’t even see that anymore because they racial equality—most peaceful and some violent—continue can’t get any advancement,” Dewayne said to me. “You don’t to take place not only in the U.S. but across the world. see owners giving them a shot to train for a year or two. The I grew up in Detroit and although I was just 13 at the time, I way this sport is now, you might as well not even try.” still vividly remember the riot in 1967 that started that early George Teague was a little more harsh with his words to me Sunday morning after the police raided a blind pig (illegal than Dewayne regarding the racial imbalance in harness racing. bar) filled with black people. Sadly, as I watched the TV cov- Teague, who is arguably the most prominent black person in erage of the current protests and see buildings the business now with his success with Horses being burned down, it’s hard for me to come to I wanted to reach of the Year Wiggle It Jiggleit and Rainbow Blue grips that maybe nothing has changed over the out to some black and other stars such as Lather Up, told me he’s past 50-plus years. members of the even had the “N” word thrown at him in recent Many black sports stars have begun to speak harness racing years. George said it happened shortly after he publicly about the racial divide, most notably to community, but became a board member of the Delaware Stan- me Lebron James and Tiger Woods. Living in I realized it is a dardbred Owners Association (DSOA). George Lexington I am privy to University of Kentucky short list. said he heard three fellow members say “they basketball coach John Calipari’s online “Coffee needed to get the n****r off the board.” He re- With Cal,” which began as a mission for covid-19 relief but members going to a DSOA meeting and talking about how has morphed into having discussions about the Black Lives much he has invested in the sport, and that he heard one Matter movement. member telling another that his color was an issue. Calipari, whose recent guests included Charles Barkley “This wasn’t 30 or 40 years ago, it was three or four years and Marvin Lewis, acknowledged last week how much black ago,” laughed George. players have impacted his success. “Where I am now is George lamented that while his son Montrell has had great based on African American families trusting me with their success on the track as a driver, he believes the color of his child,” he said. skin has limited his opportunities. I wanted to reach out to some black members of the harness “Montrell will never get a chance and I told him that when racing community, but I realized it is a short list. I couldn’t he got started,” said George. “If he was a blonde-haired boy think of any owners, nor any breeders. Three names stood out with pretty blue eyes, he would have had a shot. If you to me: the late Lew Williams, George Teague Jr. and Dewayne don’t get the opportunity, then how can you get it done? Minor. Since I know George and Dewayne well, I made phone “There are only a handful of guys that did what Montrell calls to them. has done, winning the North America Cup, Little Brown Jug I’ve known Dewayne and his family since the day I started and .” working at Hazel Park Raceway in 1979. The Minor family Both George and Dewayne told me they don’t have the raced at all the Detroit-area tracks and had success, but back answers, and neither do I. Neither came off to me as bitter, then it was with cheap claimers and conditioned horses. One just disappointed that their legacy—and that of their fami- of my all-time favorite moments since coming to this publica- lies—will likely be coming to an end. tion in 1998 was interviewing Dewayne after his trainee, Wish- “I care about this, but I don’t see where this is going to ing Stone, won the 2010 at The Red Mile. end well with color,” concluded George. “I don’t see the The first question I asked Dewayne was if he thought he next generation of blacks (in harness racing). Maybe it’s not got a fair shake in this business being black. His response a sport for African-Americans since it’s such a white game. was: “As far as driving and training, I don’t think we really This game has a long way to go, or shortly it’s going to be do get a fair shake with things. I’ve produced some nice an all-white game.” HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 8 of 13 June 19, 2020 www.harnessracing.com Zero Tolerance Making First Start Of Season Vs. Tough Field Donato Hanover Recovering So you’ve got a really, really nice horse, and you’re start- Following Surgery For Colic ing back racing. Just don’t think you’re going to find a soft, According to a Face- easy first start. Trainer Joe Holloway does the thinking for book post by Broline his mare Zero Tolerance, and he came to that conclusion Stud in Sweden, Donato and has prepared himself for the way things are today. Hanover is recovering Zero Tolerance, a winner of “The first few starts after suffering a bout of 14 of 27 career starts and she has we’re going colic that required sur- $980,736 for owners Val D’Or to have to go to the gery. The post read: Farms and Ted Gewertz, will fence and just hope “As most probably al- make her first start of the to advance.” ready understood, we season in Race 14 on Friday were close to losing Do- night at the Meadowlands. –Joe Holloway nato in colic (the) night And on paper at least, it’s a tough race. between Monday and Donato Hanover The conditioned race for non-winners of $22,500 in last Tuesday.” got some fresh air five starts, with a few also eligible condition lines, including as he recovers Donato Hanover, now from colic surgery. an “AE” for 4 year olds who are “N/W $1 in 2020” attracted 16 years old, underwent a field of 10. Zero Tolerance is one of 4-year-old mares who surgery at the Helsingborg veterinary hospital where it will be facing two notable and powerful older gals—Soho became apparent the horse needed surgery to have any Burning Love A, who finished fourth from post 10 on June chance at surviving. So far his recovery has been smooth. 5, and paced her own mile in 1:48.2, and Apple Bottom Donato Hanover was exported to Sweden last October Jeans, a fifth-place finisher in the June 5 Preferred for fillies following the purchase the horse by Sweden’s Global and mares, also authoring a personal time of 1:48.2. Farm. Before he left the U.S., Donato was bred to 52 “There are no easy spots to find,” noted Holloway just before mares at Hanover Shoe Farms, where he was retired to a golf game with Mark Harder, Andy Miller and George Bren- stud duty following his racing career. nan. “Pocono and Chester (Harrah’s Philadelphia) didn’t write a Donato Hanover has made his biggest mark as a filly race for 4-year-old pacing mares either. I would have to go all sire with his top offspring the fillies Shake It Cerry, the way to Hoosier Park to get her in a 4-year-old mare open.” Check Me Out, Broadway Donna, D’One and Designed David Miller, the regular driver of Zero Tolerance, will be To Be, the dam of Greenshoe. driving the mare again on Friday night. Holloway says he is realistic about what will happen. “The first few starts she has we’re going to have to go to Hanover p,3 1:50, who is making her second start after the fence and just hope to advance,” he said. going up against the top mares at the Meadowlands on The other 4-year-old mares competing in Race 14 at the June 5, and A Beach Cowgirl, a 1:51.3 winner at Dover back Meadowlands on Friday are the 1:49.2 mare Philly Hanover, in February, who will have another handicap in starting a Pennsylvania Sires Stakes winner last season, Trillions from post 9.—By Kathy Parker

Faraldo Issues Statement Re: Yonkers’ Antibody Requirement Owners Association of the Governor’s allowance of racing to the trainers or their employees did not New York president Joe Faraldo has is- continue on June 1, NYS licensees are have the necessary positive antibodies sued the following statement regard- being denied their right to work. to gain access to the paddock. This ing Yonkers Raceway’s requirement of “We have engaged many many shows the devastating effect this posi- a positive antibody test in order to race. friends, as well as professionals, for tive antibody requirement is currently “The SOA of NY is working very hard some time to help us effectuate a sen- having on Yonkers’ ability to conduct to get resolved the “positive antibody“ sible change like that okayed, at all racing and that will be more and more requirement which is not imposed on other NYS tracks. evident as the PA. tracks open soon." other NYS harness tracks. We have “Finally, I attended the qualifiers and Later, Faraldo advised that a confer- done much research on the CDC guide- my observation from the post draw ence call has been set up for noon Fri- lines that state that a positive antibody sheets indicated that only 49 percent of day between himself, a representative test, itself of questionable validity, is those intending to qualify at Yonkers of MGM Empire City (Yonkers) and not to be used to prevent a person were able to use the rights inherent in Robert Williams from the New York from returning to the workplace. With their licenses and qualify either because Gaming Commission. (SOANY)

HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 10 of 13 June 19, 2020 www.harnessracing.com

Racing is in full swing, with many of the 2019 racing stars old mare PHAETOSIVE has the rail and she’ll need it back competing or prepping for upcoming events, and the against LINDY THE GREAT, GUARDIAN ANGEL AS, JL training of 2 year olds also stepped up with baby races. CRUZE, OBRIGADO, DAYSON and CRYSTAL FASH- Here’s a look at entries for the weekend. ION. In the pace feature, one notable contender is SIN- Baby races are at Mohawk Friday morning; then wagering TRA, usually based at Woodbine Mohawk. Sintra has picks up early with the Meadowlands starting its card at 6 been a member of Dave Menary’s barn in Canada but he’s p.m. In Race 3 at the Big M, the 3-year-old Muscle Hill colt with Ron Burke in the US. HOLLYWOOD STORY leads an overnight restricted to Moving to Mohawk Saturday, that track’s card also fea- sophomores. Two-for-two last year, Hollywood Story won tures several notable 3 year olds: Race 8—TATTOO ARTIST last Friday in 1:53.4 for trainer Marcus Melander. Also in the (last year’s Ontario Super Final champ); Race 9—SPORTS race is HILLEXOTIC, unraced at two but with a 1:54.4 quali- OBSESSION (third in last year’s Super Final), EXAMINER fying win under his girth. Another overnight for 3-year-old HANOVER (second in the Super Final) and BEAUMOND trotting colts is scheduled for Race 6, with the field includ- HANOVER, a five-length winner in 1:49.1 in his 2020 debut ing KING ALPHONSO 2, 1:52.2, CHESTNUT HILL, third in for trainer Jack Darling. last year’s Breeders Crown, Valley Victory and Kindergarten On Sunday, Harrah’s Philadelphia will be racing with a finals, and SWEET SHIRLEY MAE, a half sister to world 12:40 p.m. first post while Pocono has the night slot, with a champion Snow White, and with scheduled to 7 p.m. start. In Philly, two freshman filly stakes winners are drive the filly trained by Domenico Cecere. making their 2020 debuts in Race 8—MADAME SHERRY 2, On Friday night at Mohawk, the 3-year-old Kadabra son 1:55.1 and DIP ME HANOVER 2, 1:55.1. In Race 4 at PORT PERRY, second in last year’s Ontario Sires Stakes Pocono, the 3-year-old filly trotter CRUCIAL 2, 1:54.3 starts Super final, will be in action in Race 2. from post 9 and in Race 5, the 3-year-old filly pacer On Saturday morning, the Meadowlands has 11 baby SHOULDABEENATD p,2, 1:52.2f starts from post 8. Crucial races and five qualifiers, and Mohawk has more baby races and Shouldabeenatd are both trained by Burke. as well. The first of the Meadowlands qualifiers—for the older horses—is Race 12 and it is a must see—REAL COOL SAM (post 1), EL TITAN (post 6) and AMIGO VOLO (post 7) will be making their first appearances behind the gate this season. Then in Race 15, TALL DARK STRANGER will get in a second qualifier (after finishing second in 1:51, with a :25.4 last quarter, on June 13) and in Race 16 the 3-year- old filly ROCKNIFICENT will be getting in a tightener in a field that includes the top older mare CAVIART ALLY. On Saturday afternoon, The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono has a 12:30 p.m. post time and Race 2 features one of the top 2-year-old pacing colts from the 2019 season— CATTLEWASH. The third-place finisher in the Breeders Crown, Cattlewash will start from post 9 for driver Marcus Miller and trainer Ron Burke. The Meadowlands Saturday pari-mutuel card starts at 6 p.m. and race secretary Scott Warren has a line-up of overnights for 3 year olds and Preferreds for the older horses. In Race 3, the sophomore pacing colt CAPTAIN GROOVY will be making his first start since a 1:49.3, 6 ¾- length jogburger on June 6 at the Big M. In Race 4, CAP- TAIN BARBOSSA p,2, 1:51.2, is making his first appearance after a 1:50.4 qualifier, and he’ll be facing 4 year olds in his first start. In Race 8, a non-winners of two condi- tion, the field includes the 3 year olds LOTTERY WINNER p,2, 1:51.3, CAPTAIN KIRK p,2, 1:51.2 and SAILBOAT HANOVER p,2, 1:53.4. The Meadowlands Preferreds are scheduled as Race 10 (trot) and Race 14 (pace). In the trot feature, the 5-year- HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 11 of 13 June 19, 2020 www.harnessracing.com Hambletonian-eligible Preferred Trots Added At Meadowlands Tattersalls Still Working To Hold Summer Meadowlands Sale In the wake of the sports and events scheduling havoc wreaked by the covid-19 shutdown, the road to the $1 million Tattersalls Sales Co. has announced that the date for its 2020 Hambletonian has turned into more of a “guideline.” annual Summer Mixed Sale at the Meadowlands will be In an attempt to close some of the gaps on the calendar, announced “as soon as we get clearance from the state of the Meadowlands and Hambletonian Society are sponsor- New Jersey,” according to sales manager David Reid. ing $25,000 overnight events for 3-year-old filly and colt “We’re working with the Meadowlands and we’re both trotters, Hambletonian-eligible preferred. Fillies will draw in ‘wait and see’ mode right now,” Reid said. “As soon as the inside if entered. Gov. Murphy announces the next phase of reopening, we The races will be slated for Saturday, June 27 and Satur- plan to move ahead with the sale as quickly as possible.” day, July 4 on the Meadowlands’ condition sheet. Reid said everyone understands the challenges posed With the rescheduling of many Grand Circuit Stakes north by the pandemic, and added that both he and the race- and south of the border, from the Currier & Ives Trot at The track are working diligently to ensure a safe yet practical Meadows to the prestigious Goodtimes at Woodbine Mo- marketplace for consignors, buyers and sale horses, with hawk Park, and the cancellation of such important races like all the necessary precautions in place. the Earl Beal Memorial, trainers are scrambling to remap the “The industry hasn’t had a significant auction since last path to the Hambletonian winner’s circle, which has held winter, and owners and trainers have told me they’re firm to the date of Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Meadowlands. looking forward to having an in-person sale, whether “We are trying to do everything we can to get all the vari- they’re buying or selling,” Reid said. ous sire stakes, Grand Circuit stake, closers and overnight “By the time the Summer Mixed gets underway, I expect horses raced,” said Jason Settlemoir, COO and general all the tracks will be open and racing... which means there manager of the Meadowlands. “We appreciate the Hamble- will be the usual high demand for racehorses. We look for- tonian Society partnering with us on creating this additional ward to having this marketplace to create some much- opportunity for Hambletonian-bound trotters.” needed trade.” (Tattersalls) The 3-year-old trotters resume a schedule in July that in- cludes the Currier & Ives (July 4 at The Meadows), Reynolds The $1 million Hambletonian is the first leg of trotting’s (July 11 at the Meadowlands), Stanley Dancer & Del Miller Triple Crown. The $500,000 MGM (Sep. 5 at Memorial (July 18 Meadowlands) and the Tompkins-Geers Yonkers Raceway) and the $500,000 Kentucky Futurity (July 25 Meadowlands) prior to Hambletonian and Oaks (Oct. 11 at The Red Mile) comprise the remaining legs. eliminations on Saturday, Aug. 1. (Hambletonian Society)

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Among the sport’s most popular internet destinations providing EXCLUSIVE news and data for the Standardbred industry. HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 12 of 13 June 19, 2020 www.harnessracing.com

Bettor’s Wish to debut Sunday Scioto’s 17-card handle tops in Roll With Joe Open Pace its 90-card handle in ‘19 Bypassing the same-day opening leg of the Graduate Se- Wagering records continue to be set at Eldorado Scioto ries for 4-year-old pacers, Bettor’s Wish will instead take on Downs since the Ohio racetrack opened on May 22, three nine older horses in the $164,000 Roll With Joe Open Pace weeks later than scheduled, and Sunday night was no differ- Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs. With 13 wins and six sec- ent. Total handle on the 15-race card was $1,023,004, the onds in nine starts last year, Bettor’s Wish was easily voted 14th time in 17 cards wagering topped the $1-million mark honors as the 3-Year-Old Colt Pacer of the Year. more (including one record $2-million night). In addition, Sun- Shartin N sharp in 1:51 qualifier win day’s handle brought the total for the first 17 programs to $20,019,103, surpassing the total of $19,586,375 wagered on The 2019 Horse of the Year Shartin N stuck to her recent Scioto’s 90-day race meet in 2019. more off-the-pace tactics in a Thursday morning qualifier at Har- rah’s Philadelphia, but she still devastated her field in a Action Uncle’s 1:53.2 OSS win snappy 1:51 over a “good +1” oval. more sets new world record Northfield Park opens to spectators on June 19 Action Uncle posted the second North American race MGM Northfield Park is pleased to announce the official record of his career this past Saturday night, June 13, at reopening of wagering on live and simulcast Northfield Park in the second $50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes di- on Friday, June 19 at 11:30 a.m. more vision for 3-year-old colt trotters. Action Uncle crossed the wire in 1:53.2, the fastest time ever for a sophomore trotting Big M’s Breakfast With The Babies returns colt on a half-mile track. more The Meadowlands will kick off the 2020 edition of the popular Breakfast With The Babies racing program on Saturday, June Lather Up’s book full and closed 20. The New Jersey SBOA will generously sponsor the bagels, World champion Lather Up p,4, 1:46 ($1,735,623) has com- muffins and refreshments provided for the those who enjoy pleted his rookie breeding season and has bred a full book watching the freshman pacers and trotters get their early les- of 140 mares. Lather Up is a son of I’m Gorgeous (by Bet- sons. Baby race proofs will be provided to all guests. more tor’s Delight) and stands at stud at Sugar Valley Farm in Ohio for owners Gary and Barbara Iles, George Teague Jr. Big M goes back-to-back 18-race cards and Taylor Made Stallions. more Horsemen sent up a signal. They needed some help. And management at the Meadowlands answered the call. more The Meadows moves Currier & Ives trots to July 4 The Meadows Racetrack will be re-scheduling the Currier Plainridge Park gets OK to open July 6 & Ives 3-Year-Old Filly Trot originally scheduled for May 22, During a special meeting of the Racing Division of the 2020, and the Currier & Ives 3-Year-Old Open Trot originally Massachusetts Gaming Commission held on Tuesday, the scheduled for June 20, 2020 to Saturday, July 4, 2020. more commissioners of that board unanimously voted to allow live racing to begin at Plainridge Park on Monday, July 6, in Buckeye Classic entries still open accordance with the governor’s phased reopening program, The entry deadline for the Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale assuming Phase-3 begins as scheduled. more has been extended. According to sale manager Steve Cross, Batavia stall apps available; meet opens July 25 “to accommodate those missing the June 15 deadline, ‘the box’ will remain open until further notice.” more Horsemen wishing to race at Batavia Downs for the up- coming 2020 annual summer/fall meet should note that stall Monticello horsemen thank the MHHA applications are now available on the track’s website Since March 12, when live racing was halted at Monticello www.bataviadownsgaming.com. more Raceway due to the covid-19 outbreak, the horsemen have Meadowlands, Hamb. Society been without purse checks. more announce policy re: indicted trainers Hippodrome 3R to open June 24 for live racing The Meadowlands and Hambletonian Society are an- The Quebec Jockey Club has received approval from the nouncing a joint policy addressing the March indictments Quebec Racing Commission to begin spectator-less harness and arrests resulting from the current FBI investigation into racing at Hippodrome 3R on Wednesday, June 24, which is illegal drug use. more National Quebec Day in the province. more HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 13 of 13 June 19, 2020 www.harnessracing.com

Harness Racing Leaders Leading Breeders Compiled by the USTA—through June 16, 2020 (week difference June 11-16). Breeder Starters Winners Wins Earnings Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. 765 235 351 $3,816,294 Leading North American-Based Money-Winning Horses Winbak Farm 695 240 369 2,952,062 Sts. W P S Earnings Brittany Farms LLC 160 58 96 1,079,730 Tookadiveoffdipper (6pg) 9 4 1 2 $89,950 Seelster Farms Inc. 156 63 119 1,076,269 So Much More (4pm) 11 5 2 1 82,241 Steve Stewart 172 58 99 825,979 Windsong Leo (8pg) 9 6 2 1 80,420 Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. 145 62 107 763,515 Midland Acres Inc. 127 40 64 706,671 Backstreet Shadow (5pg) 6 4 0 0 77,950 Diamond Creek Farm LLC 108 32 50 561,771 Swansea (5tg) 5 3 1 1 74,800 Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. 97 39 65 535,525 Sicily (8pg) 11 2 3 1 73,920 Frederick Hertrich III 86 30 49 525,400 My Hero Ron (8pg) 15 4 1 7 72,120 Spring Haven Farm 100 31 54 514,341 Majestic Player A (6tg) 7 6 1 0 71,750 Robert J. Key 119 31 54 500,077 Elysium Lindy (7tg) 9 4 1 1 70,800 White Birch Farm 110 33 44 472,782 Bettor Memories (7pg) 8 3 1 1 69,990 Vieux Carre Farms 84 26 42 426,708 P L Jill (7tm) 10 5 1 1 69,721 Victory Hill Farm Inc. 77 33 54 422,789 Moments Of Joy (6pm) 10 3 1 2 69,710 On The Ropes (5tg) 12 4 2 2 68,675 Leading Money-Winning Sires I’m Some Graduate (7pg) 8 4 1 0 67,975 USTA statistics through June 16, 2020 Trente Deo (4pr) 7 5 0 0 67,860 All Age Pacers Sire Name Foals Starters Earnings Leading Money-Winning Drivers BETTOR'S DELIGHT ...... 1648 ...... 524 ...... $3,804,167 SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE ..1059 ...... 390 ...... 2,840,494 Sts. W-P-S UDR Earnings MACH THREE ...... 1224 ...... 371 ...... 2,455,619 Aaron Merriman 1,152 276-198-157 .380 $1,823,434 ($105,985) AMERICAN IDEAL ...... 1144 ...... 357 ...... 2,169,855 Jason Bartlett 481 107-89-58 .365 1,590,545 (30,322) ART MAJOR ...... 1359 ...... 302 ...... 1,718,046 Chris Page 870 137-116-103 .271 1,450,913 (144,030) ROCK N ROLL HEAVEN ...... 513 ...... 183 ...... 1,302,923 Tim Tetrick 548 141-78-78 .384 1,408,095 (65,257) SHADOW PLAY ...... 699 ...... 197 ...... 1,298,705 SPORTSWRITER ...... 853 ...... 311 ...... 1,268,416 Brett Miller 919 137-90-119 .247 1,358,835 (142,230) ALWAYS A VIRGIN ...... 793 ...... 213 ...... 1,266,207 George Brennan 479 90-68-42 .296 1,357,234 (4,500) WELL SAID ...... 754 ...... 248 ...... 1,250,685 Corey Callahan 670 108-80-86 .270 1,313,509 (26,315) DRAGON AGAIN ...... 1143 ...... 206 ...... 1,183,491 Dexter Dunn 407 89-73-57 .365 1,123,854 (65,118) ROCKIN IMAGE ...... 673 ...... 205 ...... 1,001,221 WESTERN TERROR ...... 1075 ...... 167 ...... 987,661 Trace Tetrick 780 103-82-87 .228 1,120,545 (66,515) BIG JIM ...... 340 ...... 136 ...... 952,825 Tyler Smith 789 88-95-104 .222 1,076,072 (103,555) PET ROCK ...... 350 ...... 156 ...... 946,139 Jim Marohn Jr. 466 64-61-59 .252 1,074,040 (8,214) MCARDLE ...... 775 ...... 182 ...... 945,932 Joe Bongiorno 465 72-62-79 .286 1,067,593 (4,275) WESTERN IDEAL ...... 919 ...... 169 ...... 915,690 Matt Kakaley 511 65-74-77 .258 1,050,879 (23,367) BIG BAD JOHN ...... 406 ...... 132 ...... 866,689 ROCKNROLL HANOVER ...... 1047 ...... 111 ...... 859,468 Ronnie Wrenn Jr. 632 157-129-82 .405 1,041,198 (146,735) BETTERTHANCHEDDAR ...... 286 ...... 128 ...... 769,036 Jordan Stratton 460 45-64-61 .219 985,969 (14,937) All Age Trotters Leading Money-Winning Trainers Sire Name Foals Starters Earnings KADABRA ...... 1099 ...... 158 .....$1,051,843 Sts. W-P-S UTR Earnings CANTAB HALL ...... 1178 ...... 158 ...... 866,428 Ron Burke 941 230-144-108 .368 $2,727,334 ($127,622) EXPLOSIVE MATTER ...... 620 ...... 151 ...... 700,638 Rene Allard 289 66-56-37 .379 960,477 (0) MUSCLE MASS ...... 732 ...... 177 ...... 695,257 Richard Moreau 488 74-76-62 .281 879,564 (62,870) MUSCLE HILL ...... 775 ...... 135 ...... 640,028 CHAPTER SEVEN ...... 365 ...... 129 ...... 612,299 Carmen Auciello 469 57-63-63 .241 830,960 (71,688) DONATO HANOVER ...... 997 ...... 136 ...... 583,678 Andrew Harris 248 54-32-36 .338 762,504 (25,987) SWAN FOR ALL ...... 636 ...... 134 ...... 576,848 Richard Banca 190 42-40-21 .375 705,167 (0) CREDIT WINNER ...... 984 ...... 119 ...... 539,609 Virgil Morgan Jr. 281 68-30-32 .339 616,233 (56,815) YANKEE GLIDE ...... 919 ...... 93 ...... 488,314 Nick Surick 401 76-58-61 .321 577,742 (0) MUSCLE MASSIVE ...... 462 ...... 91 ...... 469,769 CRAZED ...... 524 ...... 79 ...... 456,752 Scott Di Domenico 228 41-22-26 .271 537,788 (3,785) ANGUS HALL ...... 1099 ...... 80 ...... 411,909 William Rhoades 320 91-55-51 .433 521,706 (14,245) MANOFMANYMISSIONS ...... 281 ...... 81 ...... 386,126 Jim King Jr. 139 36-28-17 .412 509,409 (24,775) UNCLE PETER ...... 269 ...... 109 ...... 381,671 Jennifer Bongiorno 162 24-29-29 .307 463,334 (2,400) CONWAY HALL ...... 993 ...... 89 ...... 345,045 ANDOVER HALL ...... 951 ...... 86 ...... 340,923 Joseph Columbo 310 31-33-51 .214 436,762 (4,755) CASH HALL ...... 481 ...... 62 ...... 321,858 Benoit Baillargeon 140 34-25-16 .380 415,778 (49,077) TRIUMPHANT CAVIAR ...... 226 ...... 58 ...... 305,178 Jeff Cullipher 190 20-27-23 .225 407,792 (16,890) MAJESTIC SON ...... 292 ...... 37 ...... 278,705