DRF HARNESS HOME DIGITAL HARNESS EYE HARNESS PPS DRF BETS ENTRIES ARCHIVE THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2021 Somebeachsomewhere may have no equal Whether it was on the track or through his progeny, Jay Bergman writes about the grit and determination of the Somebeachsomewhere line Inside this issue ‘Majestic’ a major ‘Player’ in Thursday’s Charlie Hill at Scioto, Page 4 Power-packed Miss Versatility fields at Meadowlands Saturday, Page 6 Bob Marks: Once-thinning stallion lines are thickening over time, Page 8 American Courage headlines Friday’s Reynolds at Yonkers, Page 9 NIGEL SOULT On The Backstretch: Profile of driver Somebeachsomewhere only suffered one loss in his 21-race career. Troy Beyer, Page 11 especially when canvasing decades of races, but Hall of Fame trainer Ron Gurfein dies, By Jay Bergman it will be difficult for anyone to claim that Some- Page 13 beachsomewhere’s work on and off the track Headlines: Meadowlands adds Mohawk In my lifetime follow- hasn’t separated him from all others. ing this sport there has While there will be a small group of 2-year- stakes + new races for 3YOs, Page 14 only been one truly great olds from technically the last crop of Some- Comments? Questions? pacer that followed his beachsomewhere that make the races this impact on the racetrack year, the sophomore class of 2021 should Email the Editor [email protected] with a similar stream of have the most impact on the sport in regional success in the stallion department. The late Sire Stakes competition as well as the Grand TO ENSURE PROPER delivery Somebeachsomewhere eclipsed the enormous Circuit. While new sires come and go, Some- OF THE NEWSLETTER VIA racing accomplishments of Niatross in a stel- beachsomewhere has endured not just because lar career and then went on to become an he’s had horses of championship caliber, but EMAIL, ADD [email protected]. unmatched stallion in my book. BHSCo.-Springcom Entries-PTA_Layout to your contact LIST 1 5/4/2021 9:13There AM will Page certainly 1 be differences of opinion, CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 Racehorses, breeding stock, and more Including 3 nice pacing DON’T MISS IT! bred weanlings from Madeline Farm and racehorses from Burke Racing Stable. Online catalog available now at www.bloodedhorse.com JERRY HAWS P.O. Box 187 Wilmore, Kentucky 40390 Phone: (859) 858-4415 MAY 11, 2021 Fax: (859) 858-8498 “There’s No Substitute for Experience” © 2021 Daily Racing Form, LLC - 10 Grand Central, 3rd Floor, NY, NY 10017 PAYMENTS DUE MAY 15 One list and one check keeps your horses eligible to these top events. *per USTA rule 12.02 all payments must be postmarked by midnight Monday, May 17 2-year-old Events Breeders Crown® The Elevation Fox Stake Hoosier Stake Kentuckiana St. Mgmt. Pace Kentuckiana St. Mgmt. Trot Keystone Classic Landmark Stake Liberty Bell Madison County Matron Series Pennsylvania All Stars Ralph Wilfong W. N. 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Shakespeare finished second in an overnight at the track on April The “rugged” racehorse is celebrated by those who watch and 28, but Pelling didn’t seem concerned. “I think he’ll bounce back wager on races on a nightly basis. The hard-hitting horses that make from that effort. He’s a very fast horse,” said Pelling of Shakespeare, up overnights and featured races throughout North America are who figures to have a much better second and third act ahead. the ones that have a lasting impact. Back in the late 1970’s and early Komodo Beach finished fourth behind Pennsylvania Sire Stakes 1980’s the stallion Most Happy Fella would see his sons and daughters winners Southwind Gendry and Literl Lad Hanover at The Mead- become “weekend warriors” at major racetracks because they would owlands on April 17. He then followed that mile up with a solid pari- show up and give their all. mutuel Get a 5% REBATE on ALL WAGERSdebut behind the 4-year- While there may be some who question whether a stallion is only old Captain Barbossa and a 1:52 3/5 victory at Harrah’s Philadelphia as good as the superstars he can manufacture, in the standardbred on April 30. Komodo Beach will get his first stakes action on Saturday business it is perhaps more valuable to spread the wealth around and at Pocono in one of four $30,000 PA All-Stars races. let many owners and trainers benefit from a long-lasting campaigner that shows up and excels. Perhaps there is no more fitting example for Somebeachsomewhere of his reach when it comes to production than the 2021 MGM Borgata champion This Is The Plan. A gelding, as many of the Somebeachsomewheres that last turn out to be, This Is The Plan figuratively laughed at the degree of difficulty that six- straight week series imposes and won the rich final when his driver Yannick Gingras showed the absolute confidence in the horse. For it took more than Gingras’ courage to go four-wide in the first turn at Yonkers with big money riding, it took a horse of equal character to rise to the occasion and take the adversity and keeping going on. To me that’s the Somebeachsomewhere within This Is The Plan, a horse that doesn’t have his feelings hurt by a little rough stuff. Some horses will shy away from battle after getting their feelings bruised but most of the “Beaches” find a reserve and appear to ask for more. Trainer Brett Pelling may have been a little late to the Somebeach- somewhere party, returning to North America after the stallion had already clearly established himself. For Pelling, 2020 saw him campaign Papi Rob Hanover to early-season success and then help catapult the career of Alexa Skye late in her 3-year-old campaign. In 2021 Pelling’s stable may not have a Sombeachsomewhere with the GRACE ZIMMERS ability of Papi Rob Hanover, but with eight sophomores sired by that Whichwaytothebeach won his first start of 2021 and takes on champion there’s certainly the ability to spread some of that wealth stakes foes in Friday’s Reynolds at Yonkers Raceway. around. Pelling’s 3-year-olds have shown up at Harrah’s Philadelphia and The Meadowlands. They will also get their stakes season roll- ing this weekend with a pair entered in the Reynolds at Yonkers on The loss of Somebeachsomewhere as a stallion himself was severe Friday and more in store Saturday afternoon at Pocono in the Penn- to the sport and while his son Captaintreacherous is already off to a sylvania All Stars. solid career at stud, and others like Huntsville and Downbytheseaside “They’re the type of horses you can swing on and they don’t get their will have their chance to shine this year, it’s going to be a tough act feelings hurt,” said Pelling collectively of the Somebeachsomewhere’s for any to follow. More than likely none will reach the plateau that he’s had the good fortune to train. “I think Staycation Hanover has a Somebeachsomewhere did during his brief but exceptional career as chance to be a very good filly. She’s got extreme speed.” a stallion. While Staycation Hanover was just caught in her last pari-mutuel “I think you just have to look back to Mach Three,” said Pelling, race at The Meadowlands on April 30, Pelling expects her to rebound reflecting on the sire of Somebeachsomewhere who was outshined in with an off-the-pace trip. the breeding business at the time by Western Hanover and Artsplace. On the male side there may not be a superstar but there is definitely “I think that’s where the toughness comes from. Just look at that an emergence of some serious power if you consider the progress horse in Ohio, Heart of Chewbacca. He’s by a full brother to Some- we’ve already seen this year from South Beach Star, the gelded full beachsomewhere (Bring On The Beach). Did you see that mile he went brother to Highalator who has won his last two starts at The Meadow- at Miami Valley?” Pelling said in regard to the James Hackett Memo- lands with last quarters of 25 3/5 and 26. He’ll stay in New Jersey this rial on April 17 where Heart Of Chewbacca took air during a 25 2/5 week and face a tougher test at The Meadowlands on Saturday night. third quarter and simply blew away the competition winning in 1:51 “I think Whichwaytothebeach is the best of them right now,” said 1/5. Pelling of the 3-year-old that came to his stable in January after With summer around the corner, let’s hope we can enjoy some great spending a 2-year-old season with trainer Roland Mallar.