Holloway Hopes to 'Sting' Foes in Pace Final

DRF HARNESS HOME DIGITAL HARNESS EYE HARNESS PPS DRF BETS ENTRIES ARCHIVE THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021 Holloway hopes to ‘Sting’ foes in Pace Final

Far removed from his perfect 2020 campaign, Perfect Sting looms as one of the favorites in Saturday’s $700,000 Meadowlands Pace

By Jay Bergman

Returning to the races as a 3-year-old after a perfect juvenile season ramps up expectations in all corners. For Hall of Fame trainer Joe Holloway, his job has never been about making certain the son of Always B Miki would win all of his races this year but more 2021 meadowlands pace about winning the ones that matter most. While Holloway has been responsible for july 17 - RACE 9 - 9:46 ET many of the sport’s superstars throughout his Inside this issue illustrious career, he has yet to send out his 1-PERFECT STING (D. MILLER) 7-2 first Meadowlands Pace winner. “It’s definitely on my bucket list,” Holloway 2-HELLABALOU (S. Zeron) 8-1 Derick Giwner: Track conditions a clear said on Monday. “I came up from Brandywine factor in Pace elims, Page 4 to see the first Meadowlands Pace (1977) and 3-CHASE H HANOVER (B. Sears) 15-1 I’ve probably seen them all.” New Jersey Sire Stakes to get purse Yet for Holloway, there have been countless 4-SOUTHWIND GENDRY (Y. GINGRAS) 3-1 boost in 2022, Page 6 attempts that have not worked out to date. “I would say that Red Bow Tie (1997) was my 5-LAWLESS SHADOW (M. MACDONALD) 10-1 Meadowlands Pace Night Insider biggest disappointment,” Holloway said. “He Selections & Analysis, Page 8 won his elimination but had a pus pocket that 6-ROCKYROAD HANOVER (D. DUNN) 15-1 Keith Gisser: Promoting the sport - he was dealing with and just didn’t fire in the final.” 7-ONE EIGHT HUNDRED (T. TETRICK) 9-2 Tetrick v. Oliveria + counterpoint, Page 11 There were other years where Holloway had Melander using Dancer/Del Miller as contenders in the race where things didn’t go 8-ABUCKABETT HANOVER (A. MCCARTHY) 15-1 well from the outset. Seven years ago, Always Hambletonian/Oaks prep; Southwind B Miki was a fast-closing second in his Mead- 9-CHARLIE MAY (B. Miller) 5-1 Tyrion to miss rest of 2021, Page 13 owlands Pace trial only to draw post nine for Ramona Hill leads dozen in E.T. Gerry Jr the final. 10-AMERICAN COURAGE (M. KAKALEY) 10-1 “It’s really tough when you draw outside Hambletonian Maturity, Page 15 in this race,” Holloway said. “I feel for the On The Backstretch: Profile of trainer/ owners of Charlie May and American Cour- drew the pole position. “I know you can get age.” into trouble from the rail,” Holloway said, “I’ll driver Eddie Dennis, Page 17 In 2014 Always B Miki paid dearly for his leave that to David [Miller] to work out. Still, Best bets & Analysis, Page 20 dismal draw in the Meadowlands Pace. it’s a lot better than some of the others.” “He was three wide most of the way,” said Following Saturday’s third-place finish Headlines: Ohio Sire Stakes in full Holloway. “It was unbelievable he was able to in his Meadowlands Pace trials some were swing; Reader Comments, Page 21 get second.” For those who don’t remember squawking as if Perfect Sting had given a sub- that charted line for Always B Miki shows par performance while losing by just a half- Comments? Questions? him being three wide at every call. length to Southwind Gendry and Lawless Email the Editor [email protected] For Holloway, he’ll enter Saturday’s Mead- Shadow. owlands Pace with the relief that Perfect Sting CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

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Pick 5 (Races 1-5 & 9-13) / $400,000 Hambletonian Maturity Pick 6 (Races 4-9) PLUS 7 more stakes worth $947,900! Survivor Pick 7 (Races 7-13) CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “I have to think the two, four and five will all be leaving.” Holloway was referring to surprise elimination winner Hellabalou “Southwind Gendry as well as fellow elim victor Southwind Gendry, and Lawless Shadow. came up with a very big “If there’s one horse I’m most concerned with it’s Southwind mile,” said Holloway. “He Gendry. That horse raced the hardest in the Breeders Crown and raced much better than Summa Cum Laude was able to sit and make one run late,” said Hollo- he did in the Sire Stakes way. “He’s a tough horse.” [The Meadows on June 26]. Ironically Southwind Gendry and Perfect Sting may both have the I really don’t know what same thing in mind and that is winning the Meadowlands Pace for people expect. He came his their first-crop sire Always B Miki, who may have deserved it in 2014 last quarter in 25 1/5 and but couldn’t overcome multiple obstacles. that’s about as much as Regardless of how well Southwind Gendry performs, Holloway is any horse can go.” focused on his horse and he’s expecting him to show up in the early going. Holloway talked to David “There’s no question he can step out of the gate at the start and go Miller following the effort a 25 quarter,” said Holloway, likely hoping that last year’s undefeated and revealed that his colt will still get some respect in the early stages of this critical race. driver was happy getting Last year’s Meadowlands Pace turned into a two-horse race, with away in the third spot. Yannick Gingras and Tall Dark Stranger getting the better of Papi “When he pulled past the Rob Hanover in a prolonged stretch duel. In that mile Gingras was on half Mark [MacDonald, Ken Weingartner/USTA the front end and Miller the pursuer without cover. The tables may be Lawless Shadow] came out Perfect Sting will start from post 1 switched this year given Perfect Sting’s post position and his penchant briefly, so he ducked back in Saturday’s Meadowlands Pace. for racing on or very near the lead. What gives Holloway some confi- in,” said Holloway. dence coming into the race is not just that Perfect Sting is battle tested. Perfect Sting again moved to the outside with Miller not wanting to “He gives it his all every time,” said Holloway. go wide on the turn unnecessarily. That decision didn’t give Perfect Fans need to look no further than Perfect Sting’s Breeders Crown Sting much momentum and when horses are sprinting sub-26 quarters victory last fall at Hoosier Park or his June 19 overnight win at The it’s incredibly hard to make up much ground. Meadowlands to witness how the colt responds to pressure. While it was the first third-place finish in Perfect Sting’s career, it Holloway has had more than his share of bad luck before and during was hardly a reason for anyone to lose confidence in the colt heading the Meadowlands Pace. In 1995 Jenna’s Beach Boy was the best colt in into richest pacing event for 3-year-olds to date. training but suffered a minor injury right before the North America “I was very happy with the way he came out of the race,” said Hollo- Cup and would miss the Meadowlands Pace that year. Despite miss- way. “As to how fast we’ll train him this week that will depend on him. ing two key races Jenna’s Beach Boy won 14 of 16 starts that year and I’d like to go around 2:15, but if we get to the half in 1:07 it will be faster earned over $1 million. than that. He’ll tell me for sure.” Perhaps this is the right year for Perfect Sting and Holloway. For Holloway, years of experience has given him an edge of sorts Having already lost a few races and descended into second-choice and he’s pretty certain that Saturday’s finale will look nothing like status in the morning-line, expectations on the outside have been last weekend’s elimination races. naturally lowered for the colt. Saturday would be a perfect time to “I think you will see a lot of horses leaving the gate,” Holloway said. make a statement.

The Hambletonian Society & The Meadowlands are proud to honor JOE DeFRANK  A GIANT OF OUR INDUSTRY

2021 Meadowlands Championship Meet

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DRF Harness Digest | 3 | July 15, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Track conditions a clear factor in Meadowlands Pace elims

Chris Tully (Christullytrot.com) There was a clear line drawn about a third of a way down the Meadowlands stretch between heavy rain and light rain.

As the fourth race begun, the track was virtually split into zones of varying rain. At the finish line there was a light rain, on the first turn EDITOR’S EYE it was more like a drizzle and from the half-mile pole until midway down the stretch it was a monsoon. By Derick Giwner @harnesseyeguy “I’ve seen it before but not when we were in the middle of racing,” said Napierala about the uneven amounts of rain over the one-mile track. “I said to Mo in the starting gate to be careful going down the Every handicapper relies, at least in part, on the past performances stretch and he said ‘what are you talking about? The other half of to arrive at a winning combination that will produce a profit. While the track is dry.’ My booth is on the back turn and I couldn’t even see these past performances offer the cold hard facts, as in the case of the other side of the track it was raining so hard. It was just nutty. Meadowlands Pace night, they don’t always reveal an accurate “You see stuff like that in the southern states like Florida a lot. picture of what was happening on that night. When I was a kid down at Spring Garden Ranch, one half would rain Looking back to the July 10 Meadowlands card, there was a freak and the other half wouldn’t.” act of nature which had a clear effect on the conditions of the track, That the skies opened up just before the race and considering the yet all the past performances will show is that the track turned forecast called for only a 5% chance of rain, there was no time for “sloppy” after race 3. Napierala and his team to react. The bad luck meant a much differ- Setting the scene, on a seemingly perfect night for racing, the first ent “sloppy” surface than is typically the norm at The Meadowlands, event on the 13-race card saw “good but not great” 3-year-old pacers which handles water as well as any track in North America and typi- stop the clock in 1:47 4/5. That was followed up with 2-year-old cally plays faster after it rains. On this Saturday the track clearly pacing fillies, specifically Gotthegreenlight, putting up the second- slowed down for a few races as there was visible water on portions of fastest time of the year (1:51 2/5) for the age group. Clearly Meadow- the stretch and backstretch. lands Director of Racing Properties Ryan Napierala had the track in The sudden nature of the downpour meant the track couldn’t be perfect condition for a huge night of stakes racing that included the sealed, which basically means packed down “tight” so it allows for Meadowlands Pace eliminations, two Graduate finals and the Reyn- minimal moisture build-up. On a normal night Napierala will always olds series. wait before sealing the track to give the horses the best surface to race “They were rolling,” said Napierala about the start of the card. “I over as possible. was excited. I was telling one of my workers, ‘you’re going to see some “I try to go as long as I can for the horses’ sake because you don’t times tonight,’ not that we were shooting for records.” want them running on asphalt,” said Napierala, who added there All seemed to be normal in East Rutherford, New Jersey with three are a number of ways to seal the track but even 20 minutes could be races in the books as some dark clouds began to appear over the prop- enough time before it rains to get much of the job done. erty, specifically the east end. Horses and drivers stepped out onto As you drag the wet material to the dry and vice-versa, the result the track from the paddock on the west end totally unaware of what is somewhat soupy conditions which happened to affect both Mead- awaited a quarter-mile and a few minutes away. owlands Pace eliminations (races 6 and 8). That led to slow half When horses post parade and score-down for a race at The Mead- and three-quarter times (56 3/5 and 56 2/5 middle halves) and sub owlands they typically go down the stretch the opposite way (clock- 26-second final quarters in both races. wise) until at least the backstretch. What clearly caught the eye was So, when handicapping the $700,000 final on Saturday (July 17) how Yannick Gingras and Andrew McCarthy going about 100 feet past the toteboard and turning around early after viewing the sky above. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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#Pace21 | playmeadowlands.com CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 much weight do we put into two races where there was a slow pace and Meadowlands Pace Night Schedule virtually no movement? Looking at it in black and white, here are the elimination facts Race # - Conditions off Time Wagering Options along with some added notes for each horse in post order for the final: 1-$142,000 Del Miller 6:10 dd (1-2) - PICK 5 (1-5) 1-PERFECT STING came home in 25 1/5 in a good effort. Nothing occurred that should sway you off his bandwagon. 2-$135,500 Stanley Dancer 6:34 picK 3 (2-4) 2-HELLABALOU proved he is capable of going with the best but 3-$139,500 Del Miller 6:58 picK 3 (3-5) remains a big question in terms of being able to win a 1:47 race or overcome a tough trip. 4-$174,400 Mistletoe Shalee 7:23 picK 6 (4-9) 3-CHASE H HANOVER kept up nicely as usual. He had some 5-$40,000 Ms Versatility 7:48 picK 3 (5-7) stretch traffic which could’ve cost him a position; status quo. 4-SOUTHWIND GENDRY is a tricky read. Driver Yannick Gingras 6-$178,500 Dorothy Haughton 8:17 $125K GTD PICK 4 (6-9) said he “felt” different behind the gate, like he wanted to go forward in his elimination. It was a step in the right direction, but maybe not 7-$265,400 William Haughton 8:44 suRVIVOR 7 (7-13) enough to play him as one of the favorites? 8-$400,000 Hambo Maturity 9:12 picK 3 (8-10) 5-LAWLESS SHADOW raced like a green 2-year-old in the pocket but ultimately turned in a good performance. Driver Mark MacDon- 9-$700,000 Meadowlands Pace 9:46 picK 5 (9-13) - SUPER Hi-5 ald said he “scored him out and got him up on his toes a bit” and that 10-$265,400 William Haughton 10:15 $75K GTD PICK 4 (10-13) the slow quarter didn’t exactly play into those tactics. Ultimately MacDonald added that he was very pleased with the effort. 11-$138,000 Stanley Dancer 10:40 picK 3 (11-13) 6-ROCKYROAD HANOVER aborted a leave attempt and came 12-NW22500 Last 5 11:04 picK 3 (12-14) home in 25 3/5 off dull cover. It is hard to knock the performance but it was also nothing to get excited about. Trainer Tony Alagna 13-NW12500 Last 5 11:26 dd (13-14) summed the eliminations up perfectly: “It was moreso the fact that only two horses had to be eliminated that set it up for slow fractions 14-Winners 5-7 races life 11:48 supeR Hi-5 and a sprint. You add the weather on top of it, where horses might *WPS, Exacta, Trifecta & Superfecta wagering on all races have taken a shot but didn’t because they wanted to be a little more on the conservative side when the rain came. I think those two factors ** Pick 4/5/6 & Survivor 7 offer 15% takeout together is what changed that races quite a bit.” *** Cross Country Pick 5 - Saratoga TB Races 9 & 10 (Legs A & B) with 7-ONE EIGHT HUNDRED went from potential Meadowlands Pace favorite to just potential contender by setting slow fractions and fading Meadowlands races 7-9 (Legs C-E) through the stretch in his elimination. Trainer Nancy Takter relayed that he was wearing aluminum shoes (also wore them in his previous start) and they didn’t agree with the heavy and sticky conditions. 8-ABUCKABETT HANOVER raced basically evenly in an unim- NJ Sire Stakes purse boost in 2022 pressive effort. He did finish in 25 3/5. If you loved him coming into the race it would be hard to hate him now off the performance. According By Derick Giwner to Alagna, both Abuckabett Hanover and Rockyroad Hanover trained well Wednesday morning (July 14) and are ready. At a meeting of the New Jersey Sire Stakes Board of Trustees 9-CHARLIE MAY made a strong move on the final turn but gave on Tuesday (July 13), a 20% boost in purses was approved for the up the lead in deep stretch. It is expected that a change is coming to legs and finals of the NJ-bred Premier series starting in 2022. an open bridle for the final. His elimination effort only helped his The legs for all New Jersey Sire Stakes races will bump from credentials. $25,000 to $30,000, with the finals for 2-year-olds and 3-year-old 10-AMERICAN COURAGE put in the same effort as Perfect Sting. trotters rising to $240,000, eclipsing that of neighboring New York He sat and finished fast in 25 1/5 while easily advancing to the final. at $225,000 and virtually on par with Pennsylvania ($253,000). Connections made some hobble (let-out) and shoeing (aluminum) While the rise for trotters from $200,000 to $240,000 is sizable, changes before the elimination and are going back to his previous the 2-year-old pacers will see the biggest increase, going from setup for the final. $100,000 to $240,000 in 2022. The sizeable jump on the pacing side While some uncertainty remains as to how to handle what comes ahead of the infusion of new blood on the horizon from occurred during the eliminations and the weather is always the great first-crop stallions Lazarus N and Bettor’s Wish, whose 2-year- unknown, one sure thing is that the track will be in good shape olds will hit the track next season. “I won’t take a chance if there is rain in the area. I’ll just keep [the “Much of the credit goes to Governor Phil Murphy and the New track] tight and ready to go for Saturday . . . as long as it doesn’t rain Jersey legislature, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Senate on half the track again, we’ll be fine,” said Napierala laughing. President Stephen M. Sweeney, for increasing the purse appropri- ation in the last fiscal year and extending it to 2022,” said Board of Meadowlands Pace Stats Trustees member and Standardbred Breeders and Owners Asso- ciation Director Michael Gulotta. “With their support New Jersey 1:46 4/5 – Stakes Record (He’s Watching 2014) is once again returning to a position of preeminence in the racing 50% - Winning percentage of favorites in the Pace (22 for 44) industry.” 5 – Winningest post in Pace history with 7 victories The New Jersey Sire Stakes Premier division offers two legs 4 – Number of times horses have won the Pace from posts 1, 2, 4, 7 and a final for both 2- and 3-year-olds. The 2021 sophomore events and 10 took place in May and the finals for 2-year-olds are slated for 1 – Chase H Hanover will attempt to become the first horse since Friday evening (July 16) at The Meadowlands. Holborn Hanover in 2004 to win the Pace with just one win as a 3-year- The Sire Stakes also administers Standardbred Development old entering the race Fund races for late-developing 2- and 3-year-olds at Freehold 7 - If Perfect Sting, Southwind Gendry or Abuckabett Hanover win Raceway, the New Jersey Breeders Maturity and Renaissance the Pace, Always B Miki (PS, SG) or Betting Line (AH) will become Pace. the seventh stallion to win with his first crop For the Sire Stakes Board of Trustees who have worked tire- 3 – If Abuckabett Hanover wins the Pace, it will mark the third lessly for all stallions standing in New Jersey, the purse increases straight year a horse from the Bettor’s Delight family has taken home represent another bonus to prospective breeders to stand and the trophy breed in the state. 15 – Meadowlands Pace winners which have gone on to win Horse of the Year

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(2) DONNA SOPRANO (4) BROOKVIEW BOLT (4) LADY CHAOS gets (5) HOT MESS EXPRESS (5) ATLANTA, but this is trotted a terrific mile in comes into this race on a away from the tough keeps getting faster and literally a coin flip be- defeat here on 7/3 and roll and he is almost sure Beltassima here and she should extend her tween her and the other she seems primed for a to go off second choice. I this looks like a field she 2021 unbeaten streak great mare Manchego, big effort tonight. think there is value with should handle. as the big chalk here. isn’t it? him in this spot. (5) BELTASSIMA (3) DARLENE HANOVER (6) FIRE START HANOVER (3) MANCHEGO (1) DANCINGINTHE- (7) INEFFABLE (7) HOT AS HILL (4) GRACE HILL (1) WHEN DOVESCRY GARNET DARK M BARNSDALE (2) TANGLED LOVE

(2) DONNA SOPRANO (1) DANCINGINTHE- (6) YOU ATO DREAM (5) HOT MESS EXPRESS (3) MANCHEGO can be unrecognized champion DARK M should have should be more dominated the excused for one sub-par from 2020 is back in control in short group. aggressive in shorter contenders in last and performance. should keep her streak form. (5) TAKE ALL COMERS field. (5) ATLANTA alive. (5) BELTASSIMA (3) DELAYED HANOVER (2) ITERATION (1) WHEN DOVESCRY (1) BLUE DIAMOND (7) INEFFABLE (4) LADY CHAOS EYES JAY (4) GRACE HILL BERGMAN

(2) DONNA SOPRANO (1) DANCINGINTHE- (2) ITERATION turned (5) HOT MESS EXPRESS (3) MANCHEGO should put in a big effort on July DARK M was super in in a poor effort at Tioga carries an undefeated be the better price over 3 considering she had the slop last Saturday. last time, but I’ll use that record in 2021 back to Atlanta and I think she’ll missed four weeks of The short field makes as a reason to play her The Meadowlands and be handled aggressively. action. him a no-brainer. tonight since the price appears to be special. (5) ATLANTA will be much higher. (5) BELTASSIMA (4) BROOKVIEW BOLT (6) FIRE START HANOVER (8) WESLYNN QUEST (6) YOU ATO DREAM (4) ALTAR (5) TAKE ALL COMERS (1) BLUE DIAMOND DERICK (3) DARLENE HANOVER EYES GIWNER

(2) DONNA SOPRANO (1) DANCINGINTHE- (6) YOU ATO DREAM (5) HOT MESS EXPRESS (5) ATLANTA might be raced well to finish DARK M rebounded had little chance from has looked like a better now than she’s second to Bella Bellini last after breaking on 6-26 post ten last Saturday monster all year. Unfor- ever been. Her Joie De time out despite a gap in with an impressive win but did finish with tunately we don’t get Vie victory was simply her schedule. in a monsoon last week. interest. to see her against Test vicious. Of Faith. (5) BELTASSIMA (5) TAKE ALL COMERS (3) DARLENE HANOVER (3) MANCHEGO (4) GRACE HILL (6) IMHATRA AM S (4) BROOKVIEW BOLT (4) LADY CHAOS (1) WHEN DOVESCRY GREG (1) BLUE DIAMOND REINHART EYES

(5) BELTASSIMA (4) BROOKVIEW BOLT (2) ITERATION took a (5) HOT MESS EXPRESS (3) MANCHEGO figures powered home to score took a couple of starts step back in NYSS ac- is a perfect 5-for-5 in to have enough of a in the Reynolds and but has hit top gear and tion but is too talented 2021 and she can go on tactical edge on her this Alagna trainee is in Burke sends him from to give up on so quickly. or off the pace from this rival and that makes the spot. difference. career form. Indiana ready to roll. (4) LADY CHAOS (4) GRACE HILL (5) ATLANTA (2) DONNA SOPRANO (1) DANCINGINTHE- (3) DARLENE HANOVER DARK M (7) INEFFABLE (6) FIRE START HANOVER (1) WHEN DOVESCRY MATT (3 DELAYED HANOVER ROSE

(2) DONNA SOPRANO (1) DANCINGINTHE- (6) YOU ATO DREAM (4) GRACE HILL seems (5) ATLANTA – Coin has been better in her DARK M – Aside from had little chance from to be peaking at the flip between her and last two and finished in the break out of post post 10 last time and right time for Nifty and Manchego. Atlanta has front of Beltassima two 10, he has done nothing still came home in 26 isn’t that far off from looked sensational so starts back. wrong this year. 4/5. Talented filly may Hot Mess Express while far this season and she go overlooked in this maintaining a much will probably be the bet- (5) BELTASSIMA (5) TAKE ALL COMERS spot. more appealing price. ter price of the two. (8) FLAWLESS COUNTRY (4) BROOKVIEW BOLT DARIN (4) LADY CHAOS (5) HOT MESS EXPRESS (3) MANCHEGO ZOCCALI (3) DARLENE HANOVER (1) BLUE DIAMOND EYES (1) WHEN DOVESCRY

DRF Harness Digest | 8 | July 15, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness MEADOWLANDS PACE NIGHT STAKES HANDICAPPING Race 6 Race 7 Race 8 Race 9 Race 10 Race 11 $178,500 $265,400 $400,000 $700,000 $265,400 $138,000 Dor. Haughton Wm Haughton Hambo Maturity Mdwlands Pace Wm. Haughton Stanley Dancer

(2) GIA’S SURREAL (4) BACKSTREET (1) NEXT LEVEL (1) PERFECT STING (7) THIS IS THE PLAN (3) VENERATE was gets the nod in a race SHADOW got a brutal STUFF should get kept lots in the tank comes to play every tremendous last that screams upset trip in the Roll With a much better trip for this Pace Final. week and he has week relentlessly with the best mare Joe when the leader tonight starting from It’s his race to lose developed into a ver- progressing on the drawing the worst decided to leave him the rail and she could starting from the rail. satile racehorse. He is rim uncovered. post. parked; big shot. offer some value. (4) SOUTHWIND the one to beat here. (7) SONOFAMISTERY (10) LYONS SENTINEL (2) CENTURY FARROH (3) HYPNOTIC AM GENDRY (4) CATTLEWASH (2) CAPTAIN COREY GARNET (1) PEAKY SNEAKY (1) ANA AFREET N (12) READY FOR (7) ONE EIGHT (1) SHAKE THAT BARNSDALE MONI HUNDRED HOUSE

(10) LYONS SENTINEL (2) CENTURY FARROH (3) HYPNOTIC AM (1) PERFECT STING (5) TATTOO ARTIST (2) CAPTAIN COREY has the power to gets the draw he has sprinting speed should take couldn’t be any has always been our overcome the draw needs for powerful to get a trip in advantage of the sharper following big favorite and now following career best connections. distance affair. draw and put rivals speed mile. gets major driver in line. improvement. effort. (8) RUTHLESS (12) READY FOR (7) THIS IS THE PLAN (2) GIA’S SURREAL HANOVER MONI (10) AMERICAN (4) CATTLEWASH (3) VENERATE COURAGE (1) PEAKY SNEAKY (4) BACKSTREET (1) NEXT LEVEL (5) CUATRO DE JULIO JAY SHADOW STUFF (4) SOUTHWIND BERGMAN GENDRY

It may be time to I’m not a big fan of (6) (4) RAMONA HILL (10) AMERICAN (7) THIS IS THE (2) CAPTAIN COREY start taking (2) GIA’S ALLYWAG HANOVER, was never asked COURAGE came PLAN got right back was an easy winner SURREAL seriously but boy does this look and finished under a home in 25 1/5 in his on track in the Roll in his qualifier and after her monster ef- like a race that will fall death grip approach- elimination. How do With Joe and is the more than any other fort in the Artiscape. into his lap on paper. ing the wire in her you find fault with one horse that I feel horse in the field qualifier. that? Price play! confident about from likely needs a big mile (6) JK FIRST LADY (4) BACKSTREET on or off the pace. to gear up for Hambo. SHADOW (3) HYPNOTIC AM (7) ONE EIGHT (10) LYONS SENTINEL HUNDRED (4) CATTLEWASH (3) VENERATE DERICK (8) RUTHLESS (10) BEADS GIWNER HANOVER (1) PERFECT STING (3) BLLACK HOLE (7) SONOFAMISTERY

(2) GIA’S SURREAL (2) CENTURY FARROH (1) NEXT LEVEL (1) PERFECT STING is (8) WORKIN ONA (2) CAPTAIN COREY finished second closed well after a STUFF returns to an the best horse in the MYSTERY would have qualified strongly and despite an uncovered shuffle in the Roll inside post tonight race, and I think we’ll won the Roll With Joe gets a driver upgrade grind in the Artiscape With Joe. I expect and might get a little see that here. if he’d gotten out a to Gingras and now moves to a change in tactics bit overlooked (8) ABUCKABETT step earlier. Clean trip (3) VENERATE an inside post tonight. tonight. (12) READY FOR HANOVER (5) CUATRO DE JULIO (6) JK FIRST LADY (4) BACKSTREET MONI (4) SOUTHWIND (4) CATTLEWASH SHADOW GREG (10) LYONS SENTI- (3) HYPNOTIC AM GENDRY (7) THIS IS THE PLAN REINHART NEL (5) ANGERS BAYAMA

(6) JK FIRST LADY is (4) BACKSTREET (4) RAMONA HILL (4) SOUTHWIND (7) THIS IS THE PLAN (2) CAPTAIN COREY still shut out on the SHADOW was adds trotting hobbles GENDRY shouldn’t be is clearly the most gets catch-driving season but has had victimized last start and I love that angle. penalized for stealing accomplished and is Gingras tonight for his Pace elim as his a deserving favorite. trainer Svanstedt some excuse trips. and is talented (10) BEADS Smooth sailing can enough to bounce prior resume stacks (4) CATTLEWASH and he should con- get it done. right back. (3) HYPNOTIC AM up well with these. trol the action. (2) LEONIDAS A (10) LYONS SENTINEL (2) CENTURY FARROH (1) PERFECT STING (7) SONOFAMISTERY MATT (2) GIA’S SURREAL (10) CATCH THE FIRE (10) AMERICAN (3) VENERATE ROSE COURAGE

(11) WARRAWEE (2) CENTURY FARROH (3) HYPNOTIC (3) CHASE H HANO- (7) THIS IS THE PLAN (2) CAPTAIN COREY UBEAUT likely had plenty of pace in AM has done little VER saved ground has yet to miss the – At his best, his needed that first race the stretch last time wrong to kick off and was rolling home exacta this year and speed makes him back and she figures and I expect a more her 4-year-old powerfully in the brings versatility to very dangerous in a to be fitter and aggressive steer campaign; tough trip stretch without being the race which gives short field. Svanstedt tighter. and an even better in Graduate. asked; lots of speed Gingras options. hands the lines over performance. to set him up. to Yannick!. (10) LYONS SENTINEL (11) IT’S ACADEMIC (4) CATTLEWASH (6) ALLYWAG HANOVER (1) PERFECT STING (3) VENERATE DARIN (6) JK FIRST LADY (12) READY FOR (8) WORKIN ONA ZOCCALI (5) ANGERS BAYAMA MONI (9) CHARLIE MAY MYSTERY (7) SONOFAMISTERY

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hambletonian.com AUGUST 7 Must be 21+. Please enjoy responsibly. the lead on the inside at the half, which was clocked in 56 2/5. Tetrick snugged up on the leader as they reached three-quarters in 1:27 1/5 CONFESSIONS and made it close as the pair battled down the stretch, but he was By Keith Gisser unable to get by, losing by about a neck in 1:56 4/5. Oliveira clearly has some ability and while he may have been a bit lucky to win, he showed that this was more than a publicity stunt. You can watch here. Though the pre-race coverage was strong, unfortu- Promoting the Sport: Tetrick vs. Oliveira nately, there was no timely post-race coverage or interviews as promised on the USTA page. Hopefully, since we did see multiple cameras on the I love innovative promotions to draw folks to the track. Vince Silves- sulkies of both drivers, more footage and good content is still to come. tro’s “Hot to Trot” fireworks show or bringing pro athletes to the track I admit, I have never watched a mixed martial arts match or a UFC for interviews and autograph signings, maybe a trophy presentation, Pay Per View in my life, even though that sport is far better attended are just some of the great ideas used in the past. Ocean Downs’ recent and followed than ours. But a champ with a harness racing back- camel and ostrich race promotion was hugely successful with thou- ground? I mean, we had George Foreman years ago, but with Olivei- sands in attendance (I recall Northfield doing ostrich races back in ra’s legitimate connection to the sport, I have to tip my hat to Tetrick the 1970’s, so everything old is new again). But a match race between Racing, the US Trotting Association and Yonkers for putting on the a harness Hall of Famer and an Ultimate Fighting Competition cham- event. Also cheers to Blue Chip Farms for sponsoring the race. pion? My first thought was, “Really?” Here is the takeaway. Tuesday night, despite any missteps, cannot Then I saw the video: Charles Oliveira and His Passion for Harness be a one-off. And, due to deadline issues, I can still hope that the Racing - YouTube. It shows Oliveira working with harness horses in replay ends up on ESPN or The Today Show. I am not saying we need Brazil and ends with him going a fast training mile (sans helmet, that a series of races with the champ, but we need to keep Oliveira in the will be a $50 fine, lol) mano a mano with his trainer (Oliveira owns at spotlight and continue to reach out to UFC fans – maybe sponsorships least half of one harness horse currently racing in South America). at a Pay Per View, maybe just more Oliveira involvement. Needless to say, Oliveira wins. This match race cannot be like the Ric Flair situation, where the Suddenly, I was intrigued. I kept looking for more promotional Nature Boy was gifted part ownership of a horse and then pretty information on this race between Tim Tetrick and Oliveira, but press much disappeared from the scene. I am willing to take a wait and releases were surprisingly low on information until just a couple days see approach on Flair due to Covid-19, but our sport certainly did not before the event. Would there be a combative “weigh-in” (there was the take good advantage of Flair’s celebrity or the opportunity to cross obligatory fists up photo and video session ending with both drivers promote as well as we could have. laughing as the champ put Tetrick in a headlock, but it was evening of Track operators need to keep promoting with outside the box ideas instead of beforehand)? Would there be an autograph session? No idea. and while I initially thought this was crazy, I will reserve complete My hopes were not high. Boxing had the Thrilla in Manilla. North- judgement until I see everything this event offers in terms of expo- field Park had the Thriller in the Miller. Was this going to be Yonkers sure and content. I hope future endeavors to reach beyond our circle goes Bonkerz? of fans continue. The event was Tuesday night (July 13) at Yonkers Raceway. Tetrick, Now go cash. Hopefully on Oliveira at UFC 265. See you next month. the Harness Hall of Famer who needs no bio here, faced off against the UFC lightweight champ. Oliveira is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who has been competing professionally since 2008. He EDITOR’S EYE I’m a firm believer began his career in small Brazilian promotions until his move to the that people deserve UFC in 2010. He holds multiple UFC records, notably the most submis- Match Race Counterpoint the opportunity to sion wins in the organization’s history at 14. He has won nine straight By Derick Giwner be heard assuming matches going back to 2017 and is 31-8 lifetime. As of June 14, 2021, he they do so respect- is #10 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings. @DRFHarness fully and represent The USTA and Tetrick pulled out all the stops in the last 48 hours the facts accurately. prior to the event. UFC social media was repeatedly tagged, but if you Every once in a while a columnist writes something that I feel go to any of its Facebook pages, there was little commentary or even requires extra color and the piece by Keith Gisser on this page response. The USTA shared an interview Wendy Ross conducted with falls under that category. Oliveira in June that may have planted the seeds of the challenge. Keith’s main issue with the Tetrick vs. Oliveira coverage The preliminary videos had many comments in Spanish and Portu- relates to the lack of live video. Should live video have been guese, but we have no way to know if these were UFC crossover fans, provided to enhance the event? While it certainly would’ve been or harness fans who spoke those languages. a good compliment, there are two factors to consider: As I sat waiting and waiting for the live feed to begin, I wondered, 1) Was it legally possible for the USTA to stream the race via was it my bad Internet? No – same on my phone. Were there techni- Facebook Live given its current arrangements? Let’s remember, cal issues? Or (hopefully) had UFC Nation turned out in force crash- the rights to streaming races live go through Roberts Communi- ing the USTA feed? Nope. I reread the press release: Tune into the cations and the USTA may not be able to simply do as it pleases U.S. Trotting Association’s Facebook page for live pre- and post-race like any regular “Joe” who shows up at the track. coverage. The race replay will be posted on the USTA’s YouTube page. 2) Was live video necessary to achieve the supposed goal of All this hype and no live coverage? That is a massive fail from my promoting the sport? My first thought here was yes but I quickly perspective. If the Ohio Harness Horseman’s Association can broad- changed my tune after seeing the post-race reaction via social cast live on Facebook after booting a family of raccoons out of the media. While Keith mentioned the Facebook response, that is just press box of a county fair that races two days a year, certainly we one portion of the social media spectrum. About 15 hours after the can do better with such a major opportunity. As Jeff Cumulaj posted event I checked the stats from a Yonkers Raceway Tweet of the race on Facebook, “Awesome way to promote the sport with no live feed.” replay. There were 23 comments, 151 retweets and 539 likes; huge When reached for comment on the lack of live video, Wendy Ross, who numbers for our sport. That same post retweeted by Oliveira to his spearheaded the content for USTA along with a team, said the following: 67,400 followers (5-6x the top North American Harness account) had “The race was never planned for a Live Facebook viewing. It was 50 comments, 104 retweets and more than 1,200 likes. There were advertised to be shown through the Yonkers live feed and then it would also thousands of other likes and retweets of the many posts sent be up on all platforms following the race. It was shown throughout out by the USTA and Oliveira. All of the above doesn’t even include multiple social media outlets, but the plan was to execute as we did.” the numerous pre- and post-race videos/photos (including the race Eventually the replay was posted on YouTube. Oliveira drove Ron recorded on Instagram) by someone with the Oliveira team. Burke-trainee Provacativeprincen while Tetrick piloted the Scott The digital world is a vast expanse of information and those DiDomenico-trained Sumthinboutim. Oliveira had his own colors to that consume that content do so in various ways and at all hours. wear for the event, provided by IRV and VIC Sportwear. Tetrick took Yes, live video seems logical to me and perhaps others who may the lead through a quarter in 28 seconds, but as he approached the read this editorial, but I’m already interested in Harness racing, half, his charge got steppy and ran out allowing Oliveira to sneak to so maybe I wasn’t the intended audience.

DRF Harness Digest | 11 | July 15, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness THE TRUE #1 HARNESS TRACK PERIOD.

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Live Racing Every Fri & Sat 6:20 p.m. | Open Daily | playmeadowlands.com Melander using Dancer/Del Miller as Hambo/Oaks prep

By Jay Bergman “Inhatra AM S raced OK at Yonkers and we want to see how well she does here before deciding on the Oaks,” said Melander of the daughter Trainer Marcus of Muscle Hill that has but one win in eight starts this year. “She may Melander under- be a notch below the top level.” stands the weight Melander’s pair will have to overcome a solid group that includes of each week’s last year’s standout Donna Soprano (post 2) and the New Jersey Sire p e r f o r m a n c e s Stakes champion Beltassima (post 5). leading up to the Iteration (post 2) goes in the second $139,500 Del Miller Memorial Hambletonian division carded as race 3 of 14 on the Saturday program. and Hambletonian “She raced great at Yonkers but was no good last Sunday at Tioga,” Oaks. With the said Melander. “I don’t know if it was the track being hard or not. On stable top-heavy in Monday she was fine and that’s why I put her in.” sophomore trotting Iteration had previously won her first three starts in 2021, all stakes talent, Melander events within the New York state border. The full sister to Gimpanzee Derick Giwner will use Saturday’s Dancinginthedark M splashed home an will face her toughest test of the season against an all-star group that Del Miller Memo- easy winner in the Reynolds on July 10 at includes last year’s Breeders Crown champion Lady Chaos (post 4) rial divisions for The Meadowlands. and the Jim Doherty Memorial winner Darlene Hanover (post 3). 3-year-old filly Melander will also send out his top 4-year-old trotting mare trotters and the Hypnotic AM in the $400,000 E.T. Gerry Jr. Hambletonian Maturity at companion Stanley Dancer Memorial as the necessary hurdles before distance of a mile and one eighth. major decisions are required in a couple of weeks. “She just puts in a big effort every time we race her,” said Melander. Heading Melander’s sophomore stakes into action at The Meadow- Last week Hypnotic AM was a long first-over second in the Gradu- lands on Saturday will be Dancinginthedark M, a vastly more reli- ate series final as the lone mare in the field. The Hambletonian Matu- able son of Readly Express that has emerged in 2021 as a force to be rity drew 12 horses with Hypnotic AM landing post 3 in the eighth- reckoned with. race scene-setter for the $700,000 Meadowlands Pace in race nine. “He’s definitely matured,” said Melander. “Last year he was a bit “Maybe that some of the other horses have to go off Lasix will help,” grabby.” said Melander, understanding that five in the field will be off the With Tim Tetrick as his regular pilot Dancinginthedark M has medication on Saturday. captured three of his four races, all at The Meadowlands, and enters The Meadowlands will start its program at 6:00 P.M. Saturday and the $135,500 first Dancer division (race 2) on Saturday night as the offer a $125,000 guaranteed Pick 4 in race 6 and a $75,000 promised likely odds-on favorite. A winner in the Reynolds last Saturday over pool in race 10. the same track in a career-best 1:51 4/5 clocking, Dancinginthedark M drew the pole in a field of six. The one blemish this year came when Dancinginthedark M misfired before the start of a Meadowlands overnight race on June 26. Southwind Tyrion to miss “He had post 10 that night,” said Melander. “He started looking towards the grandstand where there was a lot going on, including Hambletonian and rest of 2021 balloons.” Dancinginthedark M got sidetracked but obviously not completely off track. “He’s been fine, and I think it’s been to his benefit By Derick Giwner that he’s raced every race at The Meadowlands.” Despite the break in stride, Melander didn’t make any changes and The Hambletonian journey of the fastest 2-year-old trotting colt Dancinginthedark M showed his maturity in the career-best perfor- in history has come to an end after x-rays revealed the beginnings mance, working his way through the race despite a downpour and a of a slight hairline fracture on one of Southwind Tyrion’s knees. rain-soaked surface. The Dancer will be his final tune-up before the “I can now, unfortunately, confirm that Southwind Tyrion will July 31 scheduled Hambletonian eliminations. miss the Hambletonian and the rest of the season with an injury,” In the second Dancer division (race 11) Melander has an uphill said co-owner Tristan Sjoberg of Knutsson Trotting. “The prog- climb with Sonofamistery, a colt that won in 1:51 2/5 on June 11 at The nosis is very good for continued racing as a 4-year-old given suffi- Meadowlands but has since had issues finishing up his miles. cient time and rest.” “He’s been running down,” said Melander, who hopes to change Southwind Tyrion was one of the top rookie trotters in the sport some shoeing to correct the issue. last year, posting a 7-5-1-1 record and earning $280,797. His 1:51 1/5 Sonofamistery has broken stride while on the lead in his last two victory in the International Stallion Stakes at The Red Mile was starts, frustrating his connections. “He’s a very fast horse,” Melander just three-fifths of a second off the filly Mission Brief’s 1:50 3/5 said North American 2-year-old record set in 2014. The son of Muscle Adding to Sonofamistery’s (post 7) issues in his Dancer division is the Hill, bred by Southwind Farms, also captured the $160,000 New presence of Captain Corey (post 2) and Venerate (post 3). Captain Corey Jersey Sire Stakes final and $60,000 Garden State at The Mead- picks up Yannick Gingras off an impressive qualifier for trainer Ake owlands, as well as finishing second in the $406,600 William Well- Svanstedt. Venerate enters the Dancer off a sterling winning perfor- wood Memorial at Woodbine Mohawk Park. mance while racing parked the mile in the Reynolds last Saturday night. For the ownership group of SRF Stable, Knutsson Trotting Inc., Melander will send out three fillies in the Del Miller Memorial, Brittany Farms and Riverview, and Ake Svanstedt, who also with a pair entered in the first division (race 1) worth $142,000. Imha- trained the colt, Southwind Tyrion qualified twice in June of 2021 tra AM S (post 6) and Ineffable (post 7) were handicapped by the draw -- finishing third both times -- but never made a pari-mutuel start. to start but Melander is hoping that Ineffable is on the course he Whether Southwind Tyrion returns to the races has yet to be expected of her as a juvenile in 2020. decided according to Sjoberg. “We really liked her a lot last year,” said Melander of Ineffable, a “Although the prognosis is good, the connections are also inves- daughter of Cantab Hall that commanded a $600,000 price tag at the tigating retiring to stud. As the fastest 2-year-old colt in trotting Lexington Selected sale in 2019. “I was happy with her performance history he would obviously appeal to a lot of breeders looking for at Chester (Harrah’s Philadelphia) the other day. I know it was just an early speed,” said Sjoberg. “No decision has been taken one way overnight but she trotted out of the eight-hole and came a last quarter or the other as we need to let this sad and unexpected news sink in 27 4/5,” said Melander. in for a few days.” The 1:53 3/5 clocking was her career best.

DRF Harness Digest | 13 | July 15, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness WE’RE BACK! NORTHSTANDARDBRED AMERICA’S #1 RACING 5 NIGHTS A WEEK Post Time: 7pm (ET)

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By Ken Weingartner

A little less than a year ago, Ramona Hill became the fourth female trotter to win the Hambletonian Stakes since it moved to The Mead- owlands Racetrack in 1981. On Saturday, she will return to The Big M to try to add the E.T. Gerry Jr. Hambletonian Maturity to her list of accomplishments. Since the modern version of the Hambletonian Maturity was created in 2014, only one horse has won both races -- Marion Marauder. Ramona Hill will face 11 rivals in Saturday’s edition, leaving from post four with driver Andy McCarthy at the lines for trainer Tony Alagna. The event, for 4-year-old trotters, will be contested at 1-1/8 miles. The Hambletonian Maturity is part of a stakes-filled card that includes the $700,000 Meadowlands Pace for 3-year-old pacers. Racing begins at a special time, 6 p.m. (EDT), and the Maturity and Pace will be part of a two-hour broadcast on Fox Sports 2 starting at 8 p.m. Ramona Hill enters the Hambletonian Maturity with a second- place finish among two races this season. She went off stride in her Jason Lisa most recent start, the Joie De Vie Stakes on July 3, which was on a Ramona Hill looks to pull off the Hambletonian/Hambletonian track labeled “good” at The Meadowlands. Maturity double on Saturday at The Meadowlands. “The night she made a break behind the gate, the track was a little sticky and Andy wanted to let her trot out of there a little bit and she just got tangled up,” Alagna said. “We hope that she can regain that form because everybody knows Since then, Ramona Hill qualified with hobbles, winning in 1:53 1/5 when she’s on her game there are not many who can go with her,” at The Meadowlands. Alagna said. “We’re just trying to get her back to that point. Hope- “We decided to qualify her to get a good mile into her,” Alagna said. fully, she will show that Saturday night.” “She’s always had some issues with her back, so we put the hobbles The competition Saturday night includes Nancy Takter-trained on her trying to help her out a little bit. She qualified good and she Ready For Moni, who finished second in the Hambletonian and comes trained good (Wednesday) morning, so hopefully she’s on the right into the Maturity off a 1:50 3/5 triumph in last week’s Graduate Series track. I was very happy with how she trained this morning.” Trot final for 4-year-olds. A Dan Patch Award recipient at ages 2 and 3, Ramona Hill has won Ready For Moni has won two of four races this season and 11 of 23 12 of 19 races, hit the board an additional four times, and earned $1.33 lifetime. The win in the Graduate pushed his career earnings over $1 million. The daughter of Muscle Hill-Lock Down Lindy is owned by million. Brad Grant, Crawford Farms Racing, Robert LeBlanc, and In The “He’s raced super every start this year,” Takter said after the Gradu- Gym Partners. She was bred by Crawford Farms. ate final. “He’s been closing really well. It’s tough sometimes for 4-year- Ramona Hill’s Meadowlands magic last season included a win olds to make the adjustments for their 4-year-old year, especially when from post 10 in the Del Miller Memorial, which served as a precur- they’ve had long 3-year-old seasons. He seems to be handling it pretty sor to memorable performances in her Hambletonian elimination, well and I look forward to racing him the rest of the year.” when she rallied from eighth place at three-quarters to win by a Takter also sends last year’s Hambletonian Oaks winner, Sorella, half-length, and in the Hambletonian final, which she captured in a into the Hambletonian Maturity. She is one of five mares in the race. stakes-record-equaling 1:50 1/5. -Courtesy USTA Communications

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DRF Harness Digest | 15 | July 15, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Watch & wager on Red Shores Charlottetown & Summerside racing!

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Low takeouts, low bet minimums & MORE! For race dates and times visit RedShores.ca Did you ever want to know more about the people involved in the harness industry? Editor Derick Giwner combs the harness land- scape each week to profile a new personality from the sport.

DRIVER/TRAINER EDDIE DENNIS What kind of car do you drive? Ford F150 truck. Karen Dennis Photo Eddie Dennis has 2,480 wins as a driver and 626 as a trainer Favorite dinner meal? Snack? during his career (as of July 11). Steak; Ice cream. What is one thing about you most fans/bettors don’t know? What is your favorite track to race at? Why? I went to school for 13 years because I got left back one year in the Dover Downs – I like racing in the winter there and it is a home track sixth grade. I never got my diploma. The principal called me and for me. said, ‘Eddie, you need one English and two History’ or something like that. I said, ‘I’m sorry, I’m not coming back because I know what What is your favorite big event in racing? I’m going to do.’ After that I never looked back. Little Brown Jug. I sit home each year and watch all of the races What is one word that describes harness racing for you? from the days leading up to the Little Brown Jug. It just seems like a nice time and hopefully one day I’ll be there with a filly or a colt to Exciting, because you never know what is going to happen. Just like race in the Jugette or the Jug. the other night with Hellabalou [winning the Meadowlands Pace elimination]. Things can happen like that. You can still overcome Have you ever visited the Delaware County Fairgrounds the odds to win. during Jug week? How did you get started in the sport? A long time ago when I was little with my parents. I wasn’t even in My family was in it. My brother and I were involved in it our whole the business then. We just stopped by while on vacation and watched lives. My mom [Nellie Ann Dennis] was actually the Marshall at a couple of races. Pocono and a few other tracks when she was pregnant with me, so I always tell people I was involved before I was born. My dad [JD Den- Are any of your best 3-year-old eligible to the Jug in 2021? nis Sr.] was a trainer/driver. They used to give out cards to the top 10 drivers and trainers in the country and he was in that category No. It’s funny, we usually keep our colts and fillies eligible because twice in his life. He was leading driver the first year Pocono opened it doesn’t cost a lot. We kind of messed up there. I would’ve liked to up and he was at Rockingham. have Hellabalou in there as well as he turned out. I’m pretty sure he gets around a half as well as anything else. Was there ever a chance that you wouldn’t be involved in How often is racing on your mind? harness racing? 24/7. My wife [Karen] and I, it’s our stable, we spend all our time Probably not. When I got to the age to where I got the feel of it, it with the horses, other than rest or vacation. really stuck. As I was growing up, when my mom and dad where going around to tracks like Rosecroft, Freestate, Brandywine to race, What is your favorite thing to do outside of racing? back then it was pretty safe in the grandstand and me and my other friends from horsemen families would run all over the place. We I enjoy spending time with my kids. My girls are 21 and 26 now but didn’t care about racing. My brother and I were just tickled that they we get along well. I always told them growing up that if you don’t had to go to the races so we could run around and play. When I got to screw family over it will always be there for you but your best be a little bit older I got the bug and it just stuck. friends can always jump ship. Your family, 9 times out of 10, will always be there for you. It has rung true and that’s what I try to live by. Why do you go by Eddie when your first name is James? What is your favorite sport to watch? Team? I don’t know how that happened. I was just called Eddie all the time growing up and it just stuck. Not that there is anything wrong with Horse racing – I have RTN on all the time. I should’ve seen enough the name James Dennis. racing and have it off my mind at home but It keeps popping up on my TV for some reason. CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

DRF Harness Digest | 17 | July 15, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

You are closing in on 2,500 driving wins but have cut way back on that aspect in the sport. Why? Kids. When I was catch-driving all the time and we had our first kid 26 years ago, I knew how it was when I was growing up with my parents always on the road going here and there. I would play baseball and stuff and they never got to come see me because they were at the track. I just made up my mind that if I ever had kids I would enjoy them because they grow up quick. We enjoyed both of them and I went to doing more training and not worrying about the driving. You’ve averaged about 190 starters a year for the last two decades. Was that number by design? Derick Giwner I’m 53 and I always set a goal of when I got to 55 I Hellabalou gunned to the front from post 7 and found room in the stretch to win would be where I wanted to be in life. I might have to his Meadowlands Pace elim for Andrew McCarthy and trainer Eddie Dennis. race a few horses to keep my insurance in Delaware but I wanted to have everything in place. I have friends whose par- How many horses are in your barn? ents worked in this business until they were 70 or 75 years old and I We just cut back to 14. We had 17 or 18 all winter but cut down be- don’t want to be that person. I enjoy life too much. I want to do things cause there isn’t enough help. We decided to just keep the quality and with my wife and if the girls want to come along that’s fine too. I turned a couple of the 2-year-olds out to get a few months off. never wanted a big stable. The most I ever had was 20 and nowadays as hard as it is to find help, it is even harder. I want to cut back on my stress and have quality, not quantity. Hellabalou shocked everyone in the Meadowlands Pace elimination. Were you surprised that he won? Would you say that over the course of your career that you’ve Not really. He’s just been a good honest racehorse. If you put him made a good living in the sport? in the spot he’ll fight for you. Andy [McCarthy] and I talked about it last Wednesday [July 7] at Chester [Harrah’s Philadelphia] and I Yeah. I’m not overly rich but we’ve been able to put money away said ‘if we get away bad it will be a tough road to hoe to just finish financially. We own two houses. We’ve done ok. It’s been good to us fifth, so if you want to bust him out, I’m all for it.’ He said that I and allowed us to raise two kids and put them through college. had a point and he would take a look left behind the gate, see what is going on and make a decision there. I told him that I trusted Comparing your heights as a driver and trainer, which are him. you better at? It was kind of a shocker to me that I won an elimination of the Mead- It depends on the situation. I love driving, especially the young owlands Pace but not a shocker that he won the race, if that makes horses, getting them going and turning them over to someone. Being sense. There has never been a doubt in my mind that he could win at behind a good trotter that trots nicely and loves to do his work, there that level. is nothing like it. I enjoy both driving and training. Were you excited after the win? What is the best advice you’ve gotten about harness racing? I was excited but I’ve never been one of those people who go over People say things all the time. I don’t know what is the best. I guess the top because after the win I’m already thinking about next most important is to be honest and respectful. week and wondering if we need to do something different. I’m running scenarios about the following week and ready to get back What was your favorite moment in harness racing? to work. Probably winning the North American at Ocean Downs [August 8, What is your confidence level going into the final? 1992] with Stylish Cam for trainer Sean Campbell. It was the biggest thrill. I don’t remember how I got the drive. At that time I was doing I’m confident. I’ve run the race through my mind a few times just very well catch-driving and got the call. Herve Filion, William Bresna- looking at the positions that they have. I can’t see it being a second han, Carl Cito and some other decent drivers were in there and I beat quarter of 29 seconds this week. I feel we’ll be at the half in 53 and them all. I was a no-name but I didn’t cower down. I went right down the change, because we are going for $700,000 and they’ll all be laying road and cut the mile. It was a nice notch in my belt. I still have the tape it out on the line. I don’t have to prove anything to anybody, and I’m of it and every once in a blue moon I’ll pull it out and watch it. not saying I can’t win the race, but I’m one of those guys that don’t want to see my horses tortured. If he is going to win, he is going to Which is the best horse you’ve ever trained or driven? win. As long as I get a fair shot without get brutalized, I think he’ll be ok. I think there will be enough other horses laying it on the line. The best pacer was Melissa’s Fancy. We just connected. She was a That will help us out. Perfect Sting will push away from the rail, I half-sister to Artistic Fella. I broke her, trained her down and she think, Southwind Gendry won’t get away at the back, and Mark Mac- went over $500,000 and took a mark of 1:52. She gave me a lot of Donald [Lawless Shadow] will push away out of there as quick as he thrills. We raced in the Fan Hanover as a 3-year-old. She drew poorly left last week. I don’t know what Brett [Miller, Charlie May] is going both weeks and wasn’t able to do anything. She was one of my special to do with his horse, but he can leave pretty quickly, so I think it will ones. She was the queen of the barn and no one has taken that spot. be a mad dash to the quarter. What happens after that I don’t know. I think my horse will race fine. He feels good and his confidence level What’s the one race that you most want to win in your career? is really high. As a trainer it would have to be the Hambletonian, Meadowlands Pace and Little Brown Jug. CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

DRF Harness Digest | 18 | July 15, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness either farming or construction work running heavy equipment. If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what would it be? Take the odds-board out of the infield so there is no place for the CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 drivers to see it. I’m not blaming them, but we’ve gotten to where some drive by the odds too much and I don’t think it is fair to the If you could only win one Grand Circuit stake this year with trainers and owners to drive by the odds-board. I’m Eddie Dennis, Hellabalou, which would you choose? not Ron Burke or Nancy Takter, so I feel that plays a big part of it. I may think my horse is just as good as others in there, but when you He has the Meadowlands Pace this week, the Adios elims the week draw bad, my name is down on the program and the odds are high, after and he has the Max Hempt. I’ll take any of those. He also has you don’t get as fair a shot. I think it would be a big plus if the drivers the Sire Stakes final. He’s sixth in the standings now and three or would just drive by the program and how the horse feels. I like what four of the big dogs will likely race in the North America Cup elimi- Mike Lachance once said when asked how is knows what he is going nations that weekend, so that will play into our hand. We have to to do when he gets behind a horse. He said something like ‘It depends draw well, but it should make it a little easier. on how it feels. When I get behind the gate I’ll make up my mind.’ Let the public see the odds and let the drivers go by how the horse feels. As a Delaware resident, what has it been like to train/drive in that region? How do you view the future of harness racing? It’s been great. I wouldn’t change a thing because I don’t really know I hope it hangs around. Some things need to improve to keep people what it would be like in Ohio or another state. in it. I think we’ve gotten away from the smaller owners and I think we need to concentrate more on that. It’s the same thing I’ve said If you could choose any horse in history to train or drive, about betting. You want the guy who bets $2,000 a night but you can’t just rely on them. You need the $2 and $5 bettors. We need to which horse would it be and why? concentrate on getting new people involved and make sure they get a Probably Muscle Hill. I don’t think he ever went to his full potential. fair shot. Sears did a great job when he drove him. He only did what he had to do and always had him wrapped up. I think that horse had another Time for the stretch drive: second or so in his belt, at least that is how it always looked to me. Best Horse You Ever Saw: Cam Fella – He was in my barn when he Training that horse would’ve been a great thrill. did his tour. Also Abercrombie. He was a nice-looking horse.

If you weren’t involved in harness racing, what would you be Lasix – Yes or No?: Yes. doing? Favorite TV Show?: Two and a Half Men. Probably something outside. I grew up on my grandparent’s farm Trotters or Pacers?: Trotters. and really enjoy working with machinery and stuff, so it would be

The Hambletonian Society & The Meadowlands are proud to honor EBBY GERRY JR.    A GIANT OF OUR INDUSTRY

DRF Harness Digest | 19 | July 15, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Hambletonian Maturity adds storied Gerry name to race title

The Gerry family name extends so deeply into harness racing history that the generational pedigrees could easily fill their own sales catalog. This year, the Hambletonian Society and Meadowlands Racetrack At DRF Harness we strive to provide the best handicapping will honor E.T. Gerry, Jr., one of the most respected individuals in information in the sport. Each week we’ll use this space to bring racing, by renaming the $400,000 Hambletonian Maturity for 4-year- you some of our handicappers’ best bets, value plays and horses to old trotters in his honor. watch. Use this information as one of your tools when wagering or E.T. “Ebby” Gerry Jr.’s first Hambletonian memory was as a young simply click on the link above and head to DRF Bets to wager now. boy, watching Titan Hanover win in straight heats in 1945 for the family’s Arden Homestead Stable. The Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 Thursday, july 15 caused many long-time Hambletonian attendees to miss the classic event, but few had an attendance record like Gerry Jr., who had not missed a Hambletonian in 50 years. RACE 2 The list of Arden Homestead bred and owned champions is long, and includes horses like 1973 Hambletonian winner Flirth, Gera- (4) TEST OF FAITH is the nium, Florican and Star’s Pride, two-time Breeders Crown winner best sophomore pacing filly Me Maggie, Hambletonian Heat winner Torway, World Trotting you’ll find anywhere, and Derby winner Kick Tail and his dam Victorious Tail, and many barring some sort of unfore- others. Arden Homestead was voted Stable of the Century in 2001 by seen calamity, she’ll win. Hoof Beats magazine as a result of four generations and their achieve- -Greg Reinhart ment in the sport. Ebby began an amateur driving career in 1951 when as an individ- friday, july 16 ual he owned horses, then in partnership with his brother Peter, and sister Marjorie, in the Lake Delaware Stable. Gerry has participated in the Billings Amateur Driving Series since it was established in 1981 RACE 12 up until his last drive in 2005, and is a Director of the Delvin Miller Amateur Driving Association, which operates the Billings competi- (7) IN RANGE raced his tion. Amateur racing clubs thrive today in part due to the origin of eyeballs out to be third from those clubs. post eight in some rainy and Eclipsing the Arden Homestead legacy on the racetrack is the windy conditions at Yonkers service to the industry by Gerry Jr. He was recently elected a director last time. This guy is in emeritus of the Hambletonian Society after actively serving on the better form than it looks and board as treasurer and an officer for more than 50 years. this seems. Gerry Jr. was also president of the Harness Racing Museum & Hall -Derick Giwner of Fame from 1993 to 2014 and continues to serve as a trustee. He was voted a member of the Living Hall of Fame in 1994. RACE 7 He earned the 2007 Proximity Award, for outstanding lifetime contributions to harness racing. (3) CAMEALONGWAY Gerry Jr.’s love of trotters and the traditions of the sport have been was odds-on for good reason of tremendous benefit to racing, and it is fitting that the Hambleton- on July 11th as he delivered ian Society has added his imprint to the richest race for 4-year-old a devastating performance trotters. Gerry Jr. was instrumental in the revival of the Hambleton- winning Gold. His odds will ian Maturity event, which is raced at a mile and 1/8, allows for up to plummet even further here. 16 starters and like the Hambletonian and Oaks does not permit the -Garnet Barnsdale use of the race day medication Lasix. The $400,000 E.T. Gerry Jr. Hambletonian Maturity will be raced Saturday, july 17 Saturday, July 17. It is the eighth race on a stakes-laden, star-filled Meadowlands Pace Night card at The Meadowlands. The E.T. Gerry, Jr. Hambletonian Maturity will also be shown as part of a special RACE 4 broadcast on Fox Sports 2, from 8:00-10:00 p.m. [EDT], showcasing what is being billed as The Greatest Night in Harness Racing.” (5) HOT MESS EXPRESS -release (Hambletonian Society) carries an undefeated record and should keep it intact. -Giwner Follow full card analysis / past performances

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DRF Harness Digest | 20 | July 15, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness NEWS FROM AROUND THE HARNESS INDUSTRY

Ohio Sires Stakes sizzle in summer heat Steve Bateson replaces Dan Ater on USTA Board of Directors

The Ohio Sires Stakes are getting as hot as the summer heat, and The U.S. Trotting Association announced Wednesday (July 14) that this weekend should prove no exception, with divisions on Friday Steve Bateson is replacing Dan Ater as director on the USTA Board of night (July 16) at Scioto Downs and Saturday evening (July 17) at Directors until the next District 1 meeting (date TBD). Northfield Park. READ MORE Scioto Downs plays host to Leg 3 of the four-round series for 3-year- old pacing fillies in races 5 and 10. Squaring off in the second divi- Town Gossip, King James Express shine in NY Sire Stakes sion will be leg two winner Smothastenesewisky (1:52) and Summer Touch, who captured the first (1:53 1/5) and second leg (1:52 3/5) hand- On the day before the Thoroughbred meet begins in Saratoga, the ily. The former is conditioned and owned by Brian Haynes, while the New York Sire Stakes circuit was in town for a pair of divisions for later hails from the Ron Burke Stable for owners Burke Racing, Knox 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers. Services, Slaughter Racing and Weaver Bruscemi. READ MORE READ MORE Four trainers prepare for initial Meadowlands Pace Meadowlands releases Policy on 2021 Breeders Crown entries Eddie Dennis is one of four trainers making their first appearance The Meadowlands is announcing that in order to be eligible to in the Meadowlands Pace. The others are Steve Carter with Charlie participate in 2021 Breeders Crown events, which are owned and May, Scott Cox with Chase H Hanover, and Travis Alexander with sponsored by the Hambletonian Society, a horse is required, by no American Courage. later than September 1, 2021, to be in the stable of a trainer who is READ MORE accepted to participate at The Meadowlands, as determined by The Meadowlands. Elim winners poised for battle in Springfield at Yonkers READ MORE Travis Alexander won the 2020 MGM Springfield Stakes final for Meadowlands Pace Night is one for the ages 2-year-old male pacers with American Courage, who set a stakes record with his 1:53 3/5 effort, and the trainer is back for this year’s The $700,000 Meadowlands Pace is the crown jewel of “The Great- $150,000 renewal on Friday night (July 16) at Yonkers Raceway with est Night In Harness Racing”, a claim substantiated by the fact that Pleaseletmeknow, who captured his elimination one week earlier in over the course of the 14-race extravaganza 130 horses (including 1:54 1/5, the fastest of the trio of elims contested. eight of those ranked in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown READ MORE weekly Top 10 poll) with total earnings well in excess of $50 million will compete for over $2.5 million in purses. Race videos available for Preferred Equine consignment READ MORE For the first time, race videos of horses selling in the Preferred Equine Indiana Sire Stakes begins for rookie trotting fillies Marketing consignment at the upcoming Tattersalls Summer Mixed Sale are available on the company’s website, preferredequine.com. Indiana-sired 2-year-old trotting fillies were the featured attraction READ MORE at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday, July 14, as the evening’s 14-race card was highlighted by three $45,500 Indiana MSOA gives out nearly $20K in scholarships Sires Stakes divisions. READ MORE The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association (MSOA) has awarded nearly $20,000 in scholarships to 10 children of MSOA members. $3,845 Pick 5 carryover at Yonkers Thursday Scholarship winners, along with parent names are: Brandon Myers (Charlie Myers); Elizabeth Williams (Richard The favorite won just once during Wednesday night’s (July 14) Pick Williams) — $4,000; Ty Goodell (Eric Goodell); Lauren Wilder 5 at Yonkers Raceway, and as a result, there were no winning tickets. (Heather and Mike Wilder) — $3,000; Scarlett Wilder (Heather and This means there will be a $3,845.60 carryover and a $15,000 guaran- Mike Wilder) — $1,250; Alexis Zendt (Dawn and Brian Zendt) — teed pool in the sequence on Thursday night (July 15). $1,250; Nathan Bush (Kim and Steve Bush); Kylie Cass-Housley (John READ MORE Sullivan); Brooke Schoeffel (Steve Schoeffel); Emily Williams (Rich- ard Williams) — $850 Bar Hopping’s boys bag PA Sire Stakes wins at The Meadows reader comments - Fixed-odds wagering Keg Stand, the 1-2 favorite, took the lead with a quarter-pole move and made it stand up, capturing his second straight stakes division in Just finished reading Kimberly’s article on fixed odds wagering, Wednesday’s $156,320 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at The Meadows. S I P and wanted to clarify one point. Kimberly incorrectly states that fixed took the other split in the event for freshman colt and gelding trotters odds wagering is known as SP betting here in Australia. known as the Hickory Pride. This is incorrect. Fixed odds wagering is a relatively new concept READ MORE here whereas SP betting goes back over a hundred years and is totally different. Clare Macdonald reaches 1,500 driving wins SP betting is an old bookmaking term. Bookmakers prices fluctuate wildly in the lead up to a race. As more money comes for a horse the Clare MacDonald started 2021 just two driving wins away from the price quoted is wound down and prices on other horses are wound 1,500 mark. Once the Atlantic Sires Stakes got rolling, it didn’t take out. if you make an SP bet you are paid on the final price at race jump her long to make up the difference: North America’s top active female irrespective of the fluctuations in the lead up. Very different from driver sent 3-year-old trotter Mr Finlay Ridge to an early lead in his fixed price betting. Fixed price betting is actually the same as a bet division Tuesday night (July 13) at Truro Raceway and they never with a bookmaker at the displayed price. looked back, winning by more than three open lengths. Hope this clarifies the difference. I enjoy reading your publication READ MORE every week. Keep up the good work. -Cheers, Phil Craike

DRF Harness Digest | 21 | July 15, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness