Sunday, April 6, 2014

worst sort betting races you can possibly imagine. It has to be fixed. The most obvious solution is for the New York Gaming Commission to do away with the rule that forces the Burke The Levy Series: A Bettor's Nightmare horses to be coupled. In this day and age, and especially By Bill Finley in races with purses of $50,000 or more, the coupling rule The Levy series at Yonkers features big money, terrific is about the dumbest thing going in racing. This is not 1974 horses, many of the best drivers in the sport and the weekly anymore. The purses are so big and the betting pools are feel-good saga of Foiled Again. For those who don't bet, so small that no one in their right mind would ever fool around in a race to cash a bet. You’re protecting a betting there's a lot to like about the Levy. For those who do, this public that doesn’t need to be protected. year's series has been, well, painful. The Gaming Commission is either not paying attention, Through the first stubborn or too lazy to change a rule that has to go. The two legs of the Levy, mere act of uncoupling the Burke horses would at least five of the nine break up the monotony of all these 1-5 and 1-9 entries. winners paid $3.10 Uncouple them and you might get one Burke horses at 4-5 or less, The common and another one at 9-5, which at least makes for a race a denominator, of bettor can have some interest in. course, was trainer It would also do away with the need to limit a trainer to Ron Burke. He two starters in the final. The rule is unfair to Burke and his stormed into the owners. If he has the best eight horses in the series let the Levy with final be eight Burke horses facing one another. As long as tremendous quantity they are uncoupled that would actually make for a terrific and quality and in betting race. most Levy races he (continued on next page) has an entry that is the odds-on favorite. Ron Burke...you can’t fault a guy for That's bad betting being good fare. The Levy got off to a bad start and then proceeded to get that much worse last night. The Burke show was nothing short of ridiculous. In all four of last night's Levy races he had an entry and every entry was the odds-on favorite. In the first Levy, there were five betting interest and Burke was 1-5. That was followed by another race with five betting interests and a 1-9 entry. Burke had a "long shot" in the third Levy, and his 1-2 entry of Itrustyou and Clear Vision actually lost. Again, there were five betting interests. Burke returned to the winner's circle as the great Foiled Again won the final Levy of the night. Another 1-9 shot. Another race with five betting interests. Can you say "brutal." Who's fault is it? Don't blame Burke. He's playing by the rules, trying to do his the best by his owners and his horses. You can't fault a guy for being good, for being dominant. Don't blame Yonkers. What are they supposed to do? Ban Burke because he's got far more fire power than everyone else? With the handle so pathetically low on these unplayable Levy races, they're not a culprit but a victim. But as long as Ron Burke is Ron Burke and as long as the Levy system stays the way it is this is going to remain the HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 4/6/14 PAGE 2 of 12

Then there's the matter of spreading the Burke horses out evenly among the various legs. Why do that? Let Burke be at the mercy fo the draw. If five of his horse wind up in the same race, so be it. Again, as long as the Burke horses are uncoupled, five Burkes in one race would make for an entertaining race the bettors would probably really like. Harness racing's single biggest problem is that there are not nearly enough customers. It's bad enough as it is. The New York Gaming Commission, as well as anyone else in power, should be working to fix the problems not creating them.

Burke Hat Trick in Levy Round 3 By Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway YONKERS, NY, Saturday, April 5, 2014—The Ron Burke Stable ATM, officially named Yonkers Raceway’s George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series, continued with Round 3 Saturday night. Burke trained the winners in all but one of the evening’s four, $50,000 divisions. Since the last (grouping) shall be first, let us begin where we usually do, with Foiled Again. He and driver Yannick Gingras went the distance, though not without having to work for it. Drawing outside his six rivals, Foiled Again quickly negated that nuisance. He went around pole-sitting P H Supercam (Jason Bartlett) before a 27-second opening quarter-mile. From there, the match race was on. After a :55.4 half, these two separated themselves from the overmatched quintet. Foiled Again found three-quarters in 1:24, taking a length-and-a-half lead into the lane. Then, P H Supercam took his shot. He dove inside and close ground, but could not reach. Foiled Again prevailed by a head in 1:52. Rock on Moe (Eric Carlson) was a best-of-the-rest third as the 66-1 rank outsider. Foiled Again (photo by Mike Lizzi) For Foiled Again, a 10-year-old Dragon Again gelding, the $25,000 payday increased his lifetime loot to $6,105,968 (79-for-201). Burke co-owns (as Burke Racing) with Weaver Bruscemi and JJK Stables. Foiled Again, now 3-for-3 in this series and the season, returned the legal-minimum $2.10, with the exacta (two wagering choices) paid a season-low $3.10. Triple wagering was a no-no in all divisions due to limited wagering interests. (continued on next page) HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 4/6/14 PAGE 3 of 12

“The first two weeks, he didn’t have any pressure,” Gingras “It’s always a challenge for a 4-year-old in this series. All said. “(Tonight), I wanted to air it out a bit. the credit goes to Ben (Wallace). He managed him very “Even so, he was loafing around until he heard (P H well (in Canada). He wasn’t getting tested up there, and Supercam) coming. Then, he picked it up and he dug in. was racing every other week. Going into this series, I There was no way the other horse was going by me.” wanted to make him work harder, because I knew he’d be Getting in the way of a Burke blitz was Apprentice Hanover taking on top horses.” (Jody Jamieson). After a pair of seconds (one in a dead-heat) in this series, the Ontario contingent broke Saturday night’s other Levy winners were: through. --Easy Again,r,5 (by Dragon Again); co-owners (as Leaving from post No. 3 in the third division, Apprentice Burke Racing, trainer) Burke,Weaver Bruscemi,M1 and Hanover was away third as Itrustyou (Gingras)—part of Panhellenic Stbs/driver Brennan; 1:53.1/$2.40 (POE). Burke’s 1-2 favored entry—set sail through intervals of :26.4 --Bettor’s Edge,g,5 (by Bettor’s Delight); co-owners (as and 56.3. Burke Racing, trainer) Burke,Weaver Bruscemi,M1 Apprentice Hanover then moved to the leader, who offered Stb/driver Gingras; 1:52.2/$2.20 (POE). just passive resistance. It was Apprentice Hanover grabbing the lead before a 1:23.3 three-quarters, leaving two-leg As with Foiled Again, Bettor’s Edge is 3-for-3 in this winner Mach it So (Tim Tetrick) first-up. series. The Raceway's five-night-per-week live schedule The lead was two lengths turning for home, and Apprentice continues, with first post every Monday, Tuesday, Hanover needed all of it. Mach it So moved to him but Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 PM. Evening missed a neck in 1:52.4. Third went to rallying Clear Vision simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon (George Brennan), part of the favored twosome. simulcasting available daily. For Apprentice Hanover, a 4-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere owned by Brad Grant and trained by Great 10-Year-Olds. Foiled Again Isn't The First Ben Wallace, he returned $7.50 (third choice) for his sixth By Lucas Marquardt win in eight seasonal starts. The exacta paid $22.40. Horses aren't reincarnated. Or are they? There are so “He was a little funny in the first turn, same as he was in many similarities between Su Mac Lad and Foiled Again the last turn in the opening round,” Jamieson said. “I thought that it makes you wonder. Did Su Mac Lad turn into a it may have cost me early position. (continued on next page) HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 4/6/14 PAGE 4 of 12 pacer and come back as Foiled Again? did not start to hit his peak until age seven, when he made Su Mac Lad last raced on September 30, 1965 as an $1,405,747, to this day his best year ever. Su Mac Lad 11-year-old, winning the Trader Horn Trot at Roosevelt also had his best earnings year as a 7-year-old. Raceway, ending one of the more remarkable careers the Now 10, Foiled Again looks as good as ever and is sport had ever seen. His career earnings were $885,095, at already 2 for 2 on the year with wins in the Levy Series. the time the most ever for a North American-based He's racing at the highest level of the sport. Su Mac Lad standardbred. also competed against the best in the world as a 10-year, But it's how he finishing second in the Roosevelt International. got there that is so Su Mac Lad finished in the money in 78.1 percent of his remarkable. starts. Thus far, Foiled Again has finished in the money in Racing for 77 percent of his starts. As 10-year-olds, both became the horseman John richest North American-based horses ever. Peat, Su Mac Lad Adjusting for inflation, Su Mac Lad's career earnings of was an ordinary $885,095 are worth $6,596,936 in 2014 dollars. Foiled horse through his Again has earned $6,080,968 and counting. 5-year-old year, Is Foiled Again the greatest 10-year-old ever. That’s hard earnings just to say, but he definitely has some competition for the title. $50,019. He (Bob Heyden, the most knowledgeable man in harness missed his entire racing, contributed to this report.) The great Su Mac Lad (photo courtesy of 3-year-old year due to a broken left foot the USTA) Pierce: Chester Track Better, Not Great and he made just $7,300 at four. His career did not turn around until he was By Bill Finley bought by owner Irving Berkemeyer for $35,000 during his Driver Ron Pierce, who has been a vocal critic of the 5-year-old campaign. Berkemeyer turned the gelding over to racing surface at Harrah's Philadelphia, said the track has Stanley Dancer. improved at this year's meet, but he says he's not "I was looking for a middle class trotter," Dancer said."I convinced that it won't be a problem at some point this had heard a lot about him in my travels to Chicago where he year. was based." "There is no new track. What they did was add a new According to a story written by Mike Paradise it was Stan (continued on next page) Bergstein, then a racing secretary at the Chicago tracks, who suggested to Dancer that he should buy Su Mac Lad. Dancer brought out the best in Su Mac Lad and by 1961 he was among the best trotters in the world. He won the International Trot in 1961, becoming the first American horse to win the race, He was named Trotter of the Year in 1961 while winning 14 of 18 starts. In 1962 he was Horse of the Year. In 1963, at age 9, he again won the International and was again named Trotter of the Year. He was still going strong at age 10, winning 4 of 15 starts for earnings of $107,150. He won the Rodney Trot and Goldsmith Maid, both at Roosevelt, and the Speedster Trot at Yonkers. (In the those-were-the-days-department, the attendances for those three races were 36,343, 39,514 and 37,280). He also finished second in the International Trot behind Speedy Scot. In 1965, age and a series of quarter cracks finally caught up with Su Mac Lad and he was retired. He died at age 28 in 1982 at Dancer's New Jersey farm. Fast forward 24 years and the modern day Su Mac Lad begins his career as a 2-year-old, winning three of five starts for trainer Hermann Heitmann and owner Patrick Lacey. Following a June 29, 2008 race at Chester, his record stood at 8 for 46 and his career earnings were less than $80,000. But like Stanley Dancer, Ron Burke is always looking for horses he thinks he can improve. He approached Lacey and offered him $62,500 for the then 4-year-old gelding. Lacey said yes and Burke took control, changing the course of Foiled Again's career. After the purchase by Burke, Foiled Again improved but HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 4/6/14 PAGE 5 of 12 and different kind of material to the racetrack," Pierce said. beaten a half-length by the good older male trotter Uncle "Hopefully, it knit and sets up better than the old material. Peter. The winner’s time was 1:56.1. She is expected to Hopefully, the track crew will keep enough water on there. If make her first pari-mutuel start of the year on May 4 at the track crew does a good job we'll be alright. If the track Miami Valley. wants to screw around and not get there until 10 minutes Another qualifier to keep an eye on from yesterday was before post like they did last year to get the track ready for Archangel. An earner of $906,579 in his career he is back us then we're going to be in trouble again. after spending a year at stud duty and is now trained by "We have had a lot of rain and so far it seems like it's Ron Burke. With Gingras driving he won his qualifier in going to be all right. We'll know more when it warms up and 1:56.3. Archangel won the 2012 Yonkers Trot. we don't get rain for a week or two. Right now, it's hard to As expected, top pacing mare Shebestingin was also a say what's going to happen.." winner. She went in 1:54.3 and won by 5 3/4 lengths. The track surface at Chester became a particularly controversial Meadowlands Opening Rooftop Terrace April 25 issue last year when a spill led to an Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment is racing into accident that left driver Anthony spring with the opening of Victory Terrace, the sprawling Coletta in critical condition. Several outdoor rooftop lounge on top of the $100 million dollar drivers, Pierce among them, have race track and entertainment complex. Opening on April said they complained to Chester 25, Victory Terrace will offer table service, happy hour management repeatedly, alleging specials, and amazing city views. the track was dangerous and Designed with quality in mind, customers can enjoy the predicting it was just a matter of time finest in dining with table service, an extensive sushi before someone got seriously hurt. menu, as well as happy hour and late night entertainment. Harrah's management has On Fridays, enjoy "Friday Nights: Under the Lights” declined to reveal what, if anything, beginning at 5pm, with a Top 40 music Happy Hour it has done to the racing surface running until 9pm, then let the party go late into the Harrah’s Barry Brown evening with Vocal House Anthems from 9pm to 2am. declined to...oh, never since the Coletta accident. Getting drivers to comment on the Beginning April 12th, Saturdays Revived at Victory mind presented by Funbars.com, Chris & Albie Manzo and track surface has bene difficult. Two drivers refused to comment on the record to HRU because, (continued on next page) they said, they feared reprisals by Harrah's. "There are several drivers who are afraid to say anything about the racetrack," Pierce said. "I guess they have been threatened or harassed in one way or another to keep their mouth shut and not say anything about it. In fact, know they have. They are scared to say anything." Did anyone there threaten Pierce? "One person did, but I prefer not to tell you who it was," Pierce said. "I am not going to shut up. I am going to speak my mind. I am going to be the one to stick up for these guys because if nobody sticks up for them it's just a matter of time before they'll be back racing on a racetrack like they had and someone else gets hurt real bad." Should Harrah's in any way try to strong arm Pierce they could perhaps set themselves up for another lawsuit and, of course, be in violation of laws protecting whistle blowers. Pierce said he is sure many major media outlets would be interested in that story. "If I have to I'll call every newspaper, every TV station, every reporter out there," he said. Harness Racing Update didn't bother to seek comment from Harrah's boss Barry Brown because he never bothers to return phone calls or emails.

Maven a Good Second in Qualifier Warming up for a possible start in the Elitlopp in Sweden, Maven finished second in a qualifier yesterday morning at the Meadowlands. With Yannick Gingras driving, she was HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 4/6/14 PAGE 6 of 12

Erock Entertainment Group will add a new dimension of Whata Baron Underway At The Meadowlands Saturday night entertainment to Victory Sports Bar, the The Whata Baron series for pacing horses and geldings facility's "Vegas-style” sport bar. Club nights will kick off with opened with a pair of $22,500 divisions of the first leg on DJ Chachi providing guests with an experience unlike any Saturday night. other in New Jersey. Saturdays never looked so good with The track was fast and temperature seasonal when the an impressive list of renowned DJs set to take center stage first split went away as race six with Wake Up Peter including PS 1 and Chris Moody. Additional weekly redeeming himself and his backers after a pair of losses as entertainment will include stilt walkers, dancers, violinists, the 3/5 favorite. Starting from the rail, for driver Scott percussionists, robots, body paint specialists and much Zeron, Wake Up Peter protected his position through the more. Club Nights will take place every Saturday from 10pm first turn then responded to Zeron’s guidance to take the to 3am. lead past the half in 55.3. Facing no challenges around the Victory Sports Bar & Club has proven to be an ideal setting final bend, Wake Up Peter sprinted clear in early stretch for partygoers as the venue triples as a "Vegas-style” sports and held safe for the 1:51- win. bar with access to betting on live and simulcast races, an The winner is trained by the Remmen stable for owner event space suitable for private parties and family affairs and Bradley Grant of Ontario. a high-end nightclub that features electrifying DJs, graphical In division two (race seven) favored Captive Audience was presentations and special events throughout the year. The an impressive 1:49- winner, leading all the way for Andy bar and club distinguishes itself by bringing contemporary Miller. Sent through a quick 26.3 opening split, Miller did nightlife into a gaming environment and providing 100 foot not welcome the early move from highly-regarded ceilings, an enormous L.E.D. wall, eleven 12x20 foot TVs Pompano invader Prairie Jaguar passing the three eighths, and two oversized chandeliers, each holding three 60” flat a move that was quickly aborted by his pilot Jim Morrill, Jr. screen TVs, in addition to numerous others throughout. The Captive Audience continued through honest fractions of space allows racing enthusiasts and non-racing fans alike to 55- and 1:22.2 before a sparkling 26.3 into the wind closed enjoy the finest hospitality, watch live games, and take in it out. Scott Rocks sat the pocket throughout and held second with Summer Smackdown third. epic entertainment. Corey Johnson trains the winner for Debbie Element and To make reservations or book your private event, call (201) Mac Nichol of Ontario. 843-2446 or email [email protected] Driver Scott Zeron is loving life at The Meadowlands.

For the third consecutive week, Zeron led the Phenoms San Pail Wins Qualifier at Woodbine Making his first appearance on the racetrack this year, now (continued on next page) 10-year-old San Pail won a qualifier yesterday morning at Woodbine. With Randy Waples driving the 2011 Horse of the Year, San Pail won by eight lengths in 1:58.3. Since 2011, trainer and co-owner Rod Hughes has had to deal with several issues with the classy trotter. He started just San Pail is back on track four times in 2012 and (Photo by New Image Media) just twice last year. He last raced Oct. 7 at Mohawk, winning in the preferred ranks. Hughes said one of the reasons San Pail has been away so long is because the preferred and open races in Canada for trotters have not been filling. “I thought he looked alright this morning, especially when you take into account there was a pretty bad headwind out there,” Hughes said. “It was a good starting point for him. We’re not pointing for anything in particular right now. We’ll qualify him once more and then see if they can keep that open and preferred at Woodbine going for us. Hopefully, they can fill that race.” Can he return to his form of 2011? “I wouldn’t count him out,” Hughes said. “He still feels good and he still wants to do it.” HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 4/6/14 PAGE 7 of 12 with three wins and 80 points, bringing his total for the He Loves Dean Hoffman’s Articles Drivers Challenge to 243. Mike Wilder tallied 49 points in his Thanks to Dean Hoffman for the article, "The Short Life first try in the challenge and Joe Bongiorno had 48, bringing and Long Death of Phoenix Trotting Park." I have been a his overall total to 138. Steve Smith (73), Jim Marohn Jr. lifelong fan of harness racing. I moved out to Phoenix four (72) and Vicent Ginsburg (70) are battling it out for the 4th years ago. I love driving by the old track. It looks like a and 5th place spots which qualify for the Final. piece of artistry from Frank Lloyd Wright. Do you know in The Legends fought all the way to the wire with Corey Arizona you can't bet legally on a harness race? This is the Callahan coming out on top this week with 92 points, state that is home to Harness Tracks of America. What followed by Morrill Jr. (88), Campbell (87), Andy Miller (79) irony!! Do you know that in Arizona there is no Internet and Dave Miller (61). Overall, Jim Morrill Jr. leads The wagering? You have to go to a racetrack or to an OTB to Legends with 246 points going into the fourth week. make a wager. The OTBs which are owned by the tracks Racing resumes on Friday with first post time at 7:15 P.M. are located within restaurants. I've gone to several of them and they make the old New York City OTB storefronts seem like palaces. Mark Landau

He Doesn’t Love the Ads on Ustrotting.com How can we outcry against people using drugs to enhance performance when the USTA advertises it on the website? Look at the red ad in the middle section. So the USTA is ENTER NOW - SPRING MIXED SALE saying it is ok the give drugs as long as they are legal to Preferred Equine Marketing is now accepting entries enhance performance? of racehorses and 2-year-olds in training for the Steve Mosley Meadowlands Spring Mixed Sale. Online entry form. P.O. Box 2200 • Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510 • www.preferredequine.com We Need a Harness Drug Czar How many times will these so-called trainers feign He Loves Free Programs ignorance when they are caught knowingly giving illegal Mr. Gural has been smart by placing program pages online substances to their horses, and their owners back them to for the Meadowlands card. There are many people who boot? During the era of Stanley Dancer, William don't want to spend money buying expensive programs Haughton, Delvin Miler, and Joe O'Brien, trainers spoke of which have 200 pages of useless information. It seems that improving a racehorse's performance with equipment this might be a partial explanation why the online handle has changes, sulky changes, training methods, etc. In the been so great at the Meadowlands. Perhaps, Freehold, 21st century, the hypodermic syringe has eclipsed a Yonkers, Saratoga Harness, et al should post a few races horse's gear as the major focus of getting a horse into the past performances online as well. Maybe large bettors don't winner's circle. The same trainers are known nationwide for what they are doing yet they win awards at tracks after mind spending $4 each for the flats and harness editions of compiling the most wins. It's time for a harness drug czar past performances, small to medium bettors certainly cannot to be appointed by the USTA with the backing of every afford both. In the information age, sometimes you have to single racetrack in this country, to ferret out and eliminate give some information away for free if you want the public to repeat offenders once and for all, instead of the rampant buy your product. complacency that exists now, save for one track in New Alan Gatto Jersey, that is actually attempting to tackle the problem. Barry Mandell On 2-Year-Old Sales Down Under This type of harness racing sale has been operating for years (from about 2002 to 2011) in New Zealand and now in Menangle in Australia, after the NZ "ready to run" sales were stopped due to lack of entries and the cost of organising them. They started in NZ as being quite a mix of horses of any age that were up and going, but increasingly focused on 2 year olds Pinhooking, especially from weanling or mixed sales for preparing for yearling sales, is also quite common in harness racing, and some like trainer Greg Payne have specialised in finding young horses and developing them to sell as "ready to run" 2 year olds The prices received for "ready to run" 2 year olds varied a lot, but it did give some of the lesser bred but highly talented youngsters a chance to get a good price, certainly (continued on next page) HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 4/6/14 PAGE 8 of 12 more than they would have got at yearling sales. However in some cases it seemed the horses were pushed quite a bit to get up to the "showy" times required to catch buyers' eyes at a ready to run sale, and the horses were consequently needing a decent break. Not so much ready to run but ready to spell! The last one here in 2011 - you can see from the results (http://www.standardbred.co.nz/Sales/Results - look in Past sales drop down list for the Ready to Runs) a lot didn't make their reserve and in some cases the reserves were set quite high. Prices were at the extremes (a few very good ones, many very low ones, and a weak middle market (here regarded as $20,000 - $40,000 range. There were over 60 entries but only just over 50% sold. I'm not sure if the concept will surface again here, or how the Menangle one will develop. Bee Pears

Identifying Bad Favorites in Harness Racing By Garnet Barnsdale (story reprinted courtesy of Horseplayer Monthly) One of the dynamics that sets expert handicappers apart from their not-so-expert opponents at the windows is the ability to identify a bad favorite and either to avoid wagering on it, or hopefully go one further and capitalize by betting against it and cashing. Here's a couple of recent examples of bad favorites and why they should have been avoided at the windows. Exhibit "A"- Missevil - raced on Friday, March 7 in a NW2 pace at Woodbine Racetrack. Certainly in this nondescript be, and here are two big reasons why. field the undefeated daughter of Armbro Deuce's form stood First, Missevil had missed 35 days of action between out. Winner of her only two lifetime starts, she broke her starts. She was a judges' scratch on February 14th due to maiden at first a stable error and again on February 21st due to weather, asking in 1:55.1 on and second, on March 7th she also drew the dreaded January 20. Missevil 10-hole. drove to the top in So while you're looking at this filly's obviously superior the third quarter and past performance lines, and before you head to the cruised home a two windows to get some of what appears to be "free money," and three-quarter you need to consider these very important factors. First; length winner in how fit will this filly be having missed five weeks with nary good time, a qualifier on her card? Second; considering she drew the considering that on 10-hole and hasn't shown much gate speed in her previous that night the starts, where will she be positioned early and how will it mercury dipped to a affect her chances – in more basic terms: what kind of a "trip" can we expect her Garnet Barnsdale says bettors frigid -15 degrees to get? must avoid bad chalk Celsius. My thought process was thus: This filly obviously Missevil's return possesses a great deal of natural talent, but she's missed race 11 days later was even more impressive than the first five weeks of racing. While it's entirely likely that she has as she blasted off cover coming off the home turn and no physical ailments, nothing keeps a racehorse fitter than parlayed an impressive :27.3 kicker into a stellar 1:53.4 racing. She might be a bit short tonight, but even more clocking while pacing away from her overmatched rivals by likely, she may not be asked for her absolute best effort five and a half lengths. having missed so much racing and drawn poorly. The On March 7 Missevil was facing a similar group to the one connections know they have a really nice filly in their barn; she had destroyed in her last start and had by far the fastest would it make a lot of sense to blast her off the gate from winning mark of the group. Are you convinced yet that at 6/5 the 10-hole in only her third lifetime start considering a you were basically stealing money by just walking up to the 35-day gap between starts, or, is it more likely that a window and calling out Miss Evil's number? You shouldn't (continued on next page) HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 4/6/14 PAGE 9 of 12 patient approach would be taken for this start? mile and finally finishing fourth, 10 lengths behind the These are the questions seasoned handicappers ask prior runaway winner, which would suggest he indeed "needed" to making a wagering decision in a case like this. As you the start. may have guessed by now, I avoided wagering on the over Epilogue: Six Bax returned a week after the March 15 bet Missevil, who missed the board. As expected, she was start we dissected above in the same class and not asked for her best, immediately dropping to the back and demolished his foes by moving first-over and drawing off to trailing the field by 17 and three-quarter lengths at the half. win by more than four lengths at a very generous price of She did display her abundant talent in the back half of the 5/1. It seems those that entrusted him with their wagering mile, closing 15 of those lengths and pacing home in :54.4, dollars the week previous under far flimsier circumstances including a sparkling :26.4 final quarter. had abandoned him when it was much more likely that he It is quite possible that when Missevil returns in a week 6/5 would be competitive with the "tightener" under his belt. would be an absolute gift of a price; but on this night it From a wagering standpoint, Six Bax had gone from a certainly wasn't. In fact, the way she raced was quite poor prospect "underlay" one week to a possible "overlay" predictable considering the handicapping factors mentioned the next; or at the very least, the 5/1 offered on March 22 above. was fair value considering his merits and current fitness Exhibit "B" also races at Woodbine and is an almost level. Miss Evil also returned a week later on a seven-day identical study. On March 15, the five-year-old son of rotation and easily dispatched her foes off an equally Kadabra named Six Bax moved (dropped?) from a NW3 powerful first-over display of dominance, winning as the class - where he had been facing some pretty good trotters 2/5 chalk. like Rockin With Dewey and Photo Mass repeatedly – into a What's the moral to all this? As in any other walk of life, NW $6000 L5. It seemed many punters were viewing this before going to the window to make a bet we should be move as a "drop" in class, as Six Bax was taking plenty of using the information in a horse's past performances as a tote action. The gelding had a productive year in 2013, sort of "caveat emptor" exercise, or in simpler terms, never winning seven times, but had only one third to show from accept a short price on a horse that may end up five 2014 races. Still, he had shown a likely return to form shorter…from a conditioning standpoint that is. with some much better efforts in his two most recent starts and the wagering public was onto him, sending him off at 7/2 Want to Subscribe for FREE? when the wings of the gate folded open. Visit www.harnessracingupdate.com/websignup.cfm Here's the problem from my perspective: again, this is a and fill out the free subscription form. racehorse that missed almost a month of racing, having last been behind the gate vs. opponents on February 17. The questions I ask myself as a bettor are this: 1) If this horse is getting closer to his best effort, why miss 26 days of racing? 2) Am I prepared to accept the price being offered under the premise that he is fit enough to win this race? 3) How do I know for sure this race is the connections' 6, BR, $22,750, P, MICHAEL SCORES KNOCKOUT "target"; by that I mean with the time off will this horse be CLAIMING SERIES FINAL *1 & 1A MULLET ENTRY*, expected to offer up 100% effort or will he "need" a start to 28.2, 58.3, 1:28.0, 1:57.4, FT get just that much fitter – in "race shape" as they say? 1-Auditorial (g, 8, Artsplace--Special Addition, by The My answers shook out something like this: Panderosa), $37,000 2007 SHS-HBG O-Daniel R Mullet. 1) I don't really care why he missed three and a half weeks B-Perretti Farms. T-Daniel Mullet. D-Drew Monti, $11,375, of racing. These days, especially considering the shrinkage Lifetime Record: 178-17-31-29, $164,860 of both purses and dates in Ontario, I expect a fit and ready horse to race frequently – if not every week most weeks. For To view the replay click here me to consider a horse that was off that period of time they'd have to be a top echelon stakes horse, even then I'd be looking to try to beat them likely. 2) Heck No! 7/2 on a horse that missed almost a month is a terrible proposition, especially one that hadn't even won a race this year up to that point. 3) We don't know one way or the other, but, as stated in 10, HoP, $22,000, P, **THE JARROD DUNCAN response #2 as bettors when the subject horse is a low price MEMORIAL** Invitational PP`S drawn by groups we are far better off in the long run assuming that the horse (3-7)/remainder assigned, 26.3, 56.1, 1:24.4, 1:52.3, FT will "need" this start and avoiding him at the windows. 1-Royal Outlook (g, 6, Royal Mattjesty--Fresh Outlook, As things turned out, Six Bax left the gate quickly and by Cam's Card Shark), $9,000 2009 CAN-OPEN O-David tucked into the two-hole behind a "down the road" winner Richard Hudson. B-Winbak Farm. T-Terry Deters. D-Peter named I'll Be There. Six Bax got no closer than two and a Wrenn, $11,000, Lifetime Record: 94-28-25-12, $303,311 half lengths from the leader, gapping the pocket the entire Replay unavailable HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 4/6/14 PAGE 10 of 12

11, HoP, $22,000, T, Invitational PP`S drawn by groups 1-Valentino (h, 7, Rocknroll Hanover - (3-8)/remainder assigned, 27.2, 57.4, 1:27.2, 1:55.3, FT Schoolofcardknocks, by Cam's Card Shark), $80,000 1-Summer Indian (g, 5, Majestic Son--A Touch Of Frost, 2008 SHS-HBG O-Kdm Stables Corp. & J L Benson by Balanced Image), $10,000 2010 CAN-YS O-Burke Stables Inc. B-David A Meirs III & Hill View Enterprises. Racing Stable LLC & Jack B Piatt III & Weaver Bruscemi T-Nick Surick. D-Andy Miller, $15,000, Lifetime Record: LLC & Rtc Stables Inc. B-Scott R Aimers, CA & Brian L 126-23-17-16, $738,407 Wong, CA. T-Ron Burke. D-Ricky Macomber Jr, $11,000, 2-I'm Banksy (g, 4, Art Major--Delightfully Yours, by Lifetime Record: 59-23-7-4, $377,636 Bettor's Delight), $20,000 2011 SHS-HBG O-Seth Replay unavailable Rosenfeld. B-Birnam Wood Farms. T-Larry Remmen. D-John Campbell, $7,500 Missed an Edition of the HRU? 3-Verdad (h, 5, Western Ideal--Jennie Fanetta, by Check out our archive at www.harnessracingupdate.com Dragon's Lair) O-Howard A & Judith S Taylor. B-Howard A Taylor. T-Ron Burke. D-Mike Wilder, $3,600 Calls: 1T, 1H, 1H, 1H, H - Finish Order: Up Up And Out, Mighty Young Joe, Quik Magic, High Octane N, The Pan Poobah, Bolero Andrew, Bettor B To view the replay click here

6, M, $22,500, P, WHATA BARON Horses & Geldings N/W 4 Extended PM Races or $100,000 Lifetime Up to & Including 2/15/2014 1st Leg, 28.1, 55.3, 1:23.1, 1:51.0, FT 1-Wake Up Peter (h, 4, Rocknroll Hanover--Lovely Lady, by Die Laughing), $20,000 2011 LEX-SEL O-Bradley J Grant, CA. B-White Birch Farm. T-Larry Remmen. D-Scott 10, PcD, $25,000, P, Preferred, 27.1, 55.2, 1:23.0, 1:50.4, FT Zeron, $11,250, Lifetime Record: 35-7-4-9, $652,781 1-Dovuto Hanover (g, 4, Dragon Again - 2-Sky Is The Limit (g, 4, Western Ideal--Savannah Sky, by Daughterofortune, by Jenna's Beach Boy), $40,000 Artiscape), $90,000 2011 SHS-HBG O-Darius P Oshidar. 2011 SHS-HBG O-Martin Scharf. B-Hanover Shoe Farms B-Mathias Meinzinger & Fair Winds Farm Inc. T-Doug Inc. T-Darran Cassar. D-Tyler Buter, $12,500, Lifetime Dilloian Jr. D-Vincent Ginsburg, $5,625 Record: 26-10-3-4, $280,010 3-Ima Giggity Fool (g, 4, Cam's Card Shark--Touch Of To view the replay click here Class, by Artsplace) O-Brian P Bennett. B-Laura Anne Raimondo. T-Taylor Gower. D-Andy Miller, $2,700 11, PcD, $15,000, P, "Bobby Weiss Series" L.C. No. 1 - Calls: 2H, 1Q, 1H, 2, 2Q - Finish Order: Dew N Doughnuts, 3rd Leg 3 & 4 Year Old Colts, Stallions & Geldings NW 3 Alexa's Jackpot, River Run For Ryan, Santanna One, Fateful Ext. PM Races or $40,000 Lifetime as of & including Choice, Americhi 1/1/14 2nd Division of 3, 27.4, 55.2, 1:23.4, 1:51.4, FT To view the replay click here 1-City Hall (g, 4, Metropolitan--Halle Hall, by Cambest) O-Michel Allard, CA. B-John P Hurtgen. T-Rene Allard. 7, M, $22,500, P, WHATA BARON Horses & Geldings N/W D-Simon Allard, $7,500, Lifetime Record: 33-8-5-5, 4 Extended PM Races or $100,000 Lifetime Up to & $66,126 Including 2/15/2014 1st Leg, 26.3, 55.0, 1:22.2, 1:49.0, FT To view the replay click here 1-Captive Audience (h, 4, Art Major--Captiva Island, by Western Hanover), $95,000 2011 SHS-HBG O-Debbie 13, PcD, $15,000, P, "Bobby Weiss Series" L.C. No. 1 - Element, CA & Mac T Nichol, CA. B-Perretti Farms. T-Corey 3rd Leg 3 & 4 Year Old Colts, Stallions & Geldings NW 3 Johnson. D-Andy Miller, $11,250, Lifetime Record: 28-5-8-8, Ext. PM Races or $40,000 Lifetime as of & including $355,699 1/1/14 3rd Division of 3, 27.0, 56.2, 1:23.3, 1:52.0, FT 2-Scott Rocks (g, 4, Rocknroll Hanover--Plant A Kiss, by 1-Somewhere With You (g, 4, Somebeachsomewhere - Blissfull Hall), $15,000 2011 SHS-HBG O-Susan M Oakes & Della Ware, by Western Hanover), $70,000 2011 Chuck Pompey. B-Perretti Farms. T-Chris Oakes. D-David LEX-SEL O-Anatolia Racing Stb Inc & Allard Racing Inc, Miller, $5,625 CA. B-Ervin E Byler. T-Rene Allard. D-Simon Allard, 3-Summer Smackdown (g, 4, Western Terror--Miraculous $7,500, Lifetime Record: 35-9-3-9, $68,044 Muffy, by Artsplace), $55,000 2011 LEX-SEL O-Shannon J To view the replay click here Murphy & Kris M Hinchcliff. B-Kentuckiana Farms Gen Par. T-Ron Burke. D-Corey Callahan, $2,700 Calls: 1T, 1H, 1T, 1H, 2Q - Finish Order: Burkentine Hanover, Prairie Jaguar, Mindset, Kg Dragonator, Jeremes General, He Rocks The Moon, K-lees Shakenbake 10, WDB. $34,000, P, PREFERRED, 26.3, 55.3, 1:23.4, 1:51.4 To view the replay click here 1-Cougar Hall (gr,h,4 - Somebeachsomewhere-Cirque De Soleil-Laag) O-J Gillis G Stay, Mac Nichol, Thomas Kyron, 11, M, $30,000, P, C-1 Horses & Geldings - DASH FOR Carl Jamieson B-Walnut Hall T-Jeffrey Gillis D-Jack THE "C" NOTES - FINAL Highest Money Earners From the 4 Moiseyev $17,000 Lifetime Record: 28-13-4-5 Divisions on March 29, 27.1, 55.2, 1:23.1, 1:51.2, FT To view the replay click here HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 4/6/14 PAGE 11 of 12

3-Fat Mans Alley (g, 6, Rocknroll Hanover--Roller Cam, by Cambest), $110,000 2009 SHS-HBG O-Bamond Racing LLC. B-David Goodrow Stable, CA. T-Pj Fraley. D-Jason Bartlett, $6,000 Calls: 1H, 1T, 1H, 1H, 1 - Finish Order: Aracache Hanover, 2, YR, $20,000, P, NON-WINNERS OF $18,000 IN LAST 6 Word Power, Malak Uswaad N STARTS, 26.4, 56.3, 1:24.3, 1:53.2, FT To view the replay click here 1-Bj's Guy (g, 5, Towner's Big Guy--B J's Sunrise, by No Nukes), $23,000 2010 HOOSIER O-Blindswitch Racing 6, YR, $28,000, P, PREFERRED HANDICAP POST Stable & David J Sebolsky & Stanley J Yoskowitz. POSITION 1 ASSIGNED POST POSITIONS 2-5 DRAWN B-Genesis Trotters. T-Jose Godinez. D-Jordan Stratton, POST POSITIONS 6-8 ASSIGNED, 27.4, 57.0, 1:24.4, $10,000, Lifetime Record: 87-20-14-12, $277,257 1:53.0, FT To view the replay click here 1-Eighteen (h, 6, Cam's Card Shark--Dream Of Mimi, by Dream Away), $27,000 2009 SHS-HBG O-James F 3, YR, $23,000, P, NON-WINNERS OF $25,000 IN LAST 6 Snyder. B-Winbak Farm. T-Mark Ford. D-Yannick Gingras, STARTS, 27.2, 57.0, 1:24.4, 1:54.0, FT $14,000, Lifetime Record: 109-24-15-12, $566,984 1-Espen De Vie (g, 5, Mach Three--Eicarls Olvidar, by To view the replay click here Artsplace), $22,000 2010 SHS-HBG O-Alycon Stable & Jules L Toch & Jim Winske & Stephen G Michaels. 7, YR, $23,000, P, NON-WINNERS OF $25,000 IN LAST B-Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. T-Kevin Mc Dermott. D-Brian 6 STARTS, 27.0, 56.3, 1:24.4, 1:53.3, FT Sears, $11,500, Lifetime Record: 88-18-10-13, $265,979 1-Annieswesterncard (g, 8, Western Hanover--Annie To view the replay click here Your A Card, by Cam's Card Shark) O-Burke Racing Stable LLC & Weaver Bruscemi LLC & M1 Stable LLC & 4, YR, $50,000, P, GEORGE MORTON LEVY SERIES The Panhellenic Stb Corp. B-James W Jesk & Ledford C,H&G FREE FOR ALL 3RD LEG 1ST DIVISION, 28.1, Racing Inc & Clucas Trading Co. T-Ron Burke. D-George 57.3, 1:25.0, 1:53.1, FT Brennan, $11,500, Lifetime Record: 138-32-29-14, 1-Easy Again (r, 5, Dragon Again--Kuklapanandollie, by $1,381,796 Artsplace), $25,000 2010 SHS-HBG O-Burke Racing Stable To view the replay click here LLC & Weaver Bruscemi LLC & M1 Stable LLC & The Panhellenic Stb Corp. B-Vieux Carre Farms. T-Ron Burke. 8, YR, $20,000, P, NON-WINNERS OF $18,000 IN LAST D-George Brennan, $25,000, Lifetime Record: 56-16-10-8, 6 STARTS, 27.4, 57.0, 1:25.3, 1:55.1, FT $560,381 1-Casimir Jitterbug (g, 7, Sir Luck--Undividedattention, 2-Dancin Yankee (h, 6, Yankee Cruiser - Dancewiththebest, by Island Fantasy) O-F Bellino & Sons LLC. B-Casimir by Cambest), $17,000 2009 OH-SEL Stables, CA. T-Tony Osullivan. D-Brian Sears, $10,000, O-Baron Racing Stable & Richard M Lombardo. B-Elizabeth Lifetime Record: 121-30-25-24, $522,646 C Wagner. T-Josh Green. D-Ron Pierce, $12,500 To view the replay click here 3-Hillbilly Hanover (g, 5, Dragon Again--Hattie, by Abercrombie), $105,000 2010 SHS-HBG O-Burke Racing 9, YR, $50,000, P, GEORGE MORTON LEVY SERIES Stable LLC & Weaver Bruscemi LLC & Frank D Baldachino C,H&G FREE FOR ALL 3RD LEG 3RD DIVISION, 26.4, & Lawrence R Karr. B-Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. T-Ron 56.3, 1:23.3, 1:52.4, FT Burke. D-Yannick Gingras, $6,000 1-Apprentice Hanover (h, 4, Somebeachsomewhere - Calls: 1H, 2, 1H, 2T, 2Q - Finish Order: Mr Hasani N, Allamerican Nadia, by Dragon's Lair), $90,000 2011 Texican N, Flem N Em N LEX-SEL O-Bradley J Grant, CA. B-Hanover Shoe Farms To view the replay click here Inc. T-Benjamin Wallace. D-Jody Jamieson, $25,000, Lifetime Record: 37-17-4-5, $634,605 5, YR, $50,000, P, GEORGE MORTON LEVY SERIES 2-Mach It So (g, 4, Mach Three--Beach Dancer, by Beach C,H&G FREE FOR ALL 3RD LEG 2ND DIVISION, 27.1, Towel) O-Bamond Racing LLC. B-Enviro Stables LTD. 56.3, 1:24.3, 1:52.2, FT T-Pj Fraley. D-Tim Tetrick, $12,500 1-Bettor's Edge (g, 5, Bettor's Delight--Spring Wind, by 3-Clear Vision (g, 8, Western Hanover--Artistic Vision, by Life Sign) O-Burke Racing Stable LLC & Weaver Bruscemi Artsplace), $180,000 2007 LEX-SEL O-Burke Racing LLC & M1 Stable LLC. B-Brittany Farms & Val D'Or Farms. Stable LLC & Weaver Bruscemi LLC & The Panhellenic T-Ron Burke. D-Yannick Gingras, $25,000, Lifetime Record: Stb Corp & James A Koran. B-Steve H Stewart & Charles 64-18-11-11, $870,466 & Julie R & Francene Nash. T-Ron Burke. D-George 2-Sapphire City (g, 6, Metropolitan--Spectre Almahurst, by Brennan, $6,000 Justin Passing), $27,000 2009 BRDS-SEL O-Centaur Stable Calls: 5Q, H, 2, 2, NK - Finish Order: Keystone Velocity, & Jordon M Sklut. B-John P Hurtgen. T-Paul Blumenfeld. China Grill, Here We Go Again, Itrustyou D-Eric Carlson, $12,500 To view the replay click here HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 4/6/14 PAGE 12 of 12

10, YR, $20,000, P, NON-WINNERS OF $18,000 IN LAST 6 © Copyright Harness Racing Update. STARTS, 27.2, 56.4, 1:25.1, 1:53.4, FT This newspaper may not be reproduced in any form or by 1-Ethan Hanover (g, 5, Dragon Again--Early Start, by Life any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior written Sign), $17,000 2010 SHS-HBG O-Lightning 5 Racing Stable permission of the copyright owner, MB Publishing Inc. & Irving Bork. B-Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. T-Scott Blackler. Information as to the races, race results and earnings was D-Brian Sears, $10,000, Lifetime Record: 74-17-7-9, obtained from results charts published by the United States $205,426 Trotting Association and utilized here with the permission of To view the replay click here the copyright owner.

11, YR, $50,000, P, GEORGE MORTON LEVY SERIES C,H&G FREE FOR ALL 3RD LEG 4TH DIVISION, 27.0, HAVE SOMETHING TO GET OFF YOUR 55.4, 1:24.0, 1:52.0, FT 1-Foiled Again (g, 10, Dragon Again--In A Safe Place, by CHEST? Artsplace), $20,000 2005 SHS-HBG O-Burke Racing Stable Send a Letter to the Editor of Harness Racing Update at: LLC & Weaver Bruscemi LLC & Jjk Stables LLC. B-Barbara [email protected] L Matthews. T-Ron Burke. D-Yannick Gingras, $25,000, Lifetime Record: 201-79-49-27, $6,105,968 2-P H Supercam (g, 7, Million Dollar Cam--Callwood Ivy, by HARNESS RACING UPDATE IS: Run The Table) O-Bamond Racing LLC. B-Dr R James Bill Finley, Publisher Shive, CA. T-Pj Fraley. D-Jason Bartlett, $12,500 Dean Towers, Columnist 3-Rock On Moe (g, 6, Rocknroll Hanover--Armbro Maureen, Sue Finley, Advertising Director by Cam Fella), $82,000 2009 LEX-SEL O-Jlrl LLC. Lisa Bihuniak, Asst. Advertising Director Dean Hoffman, Contributor B-Emerald Highlands Farm. T-Rosemary Smutz. D-Eric Lucas Marquardt, Contributor Carlson, $6,000 Perry Lefko, Canadian Editor Calls: 1H, 1T, 1H, 1H, HD - Finish Order: Versado, Special Robert Williams, IT Forces, Bet On The Law, Validus Deo Lia Kusch, Graphic Design To view the replay click here Brian Fuller, Results, Layout & Distribution Visit us on the web at www.harnessracingupdate.com. 12, YR, $23,000, P, NON-WINNERS OF $25,000 IN LAST 6 STARTS, 27.4, 57.1, 1:25.1, 1:53.4, FT 1-Lightning Raider N (g, 9, Christian Cullen--Talent Interested in Thoroughbreds Hanover, by Albatross) O-Shaun F Vallee. B-D J Bennett, NZ & Ms L A Joyce, NZ. T-Anita Vallee. D-Yannick Gingras, as well? Click here to sign up for $11,500, Lifetime Record: 137-26-24-12, $456,954 our sister publication... To view the replay click here