DRF HARNESS HOME DIGITAL HARNESS EYE HARNESS PPS DRF BETS ENTRIES ARCHIVE THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2021 Ranking the top 3-year-old pacers for 2021 Derick Giwner goes through his Top 10 sophomore pacers for 2021 with added commentary from the connections of each horse EDITOR’S EYE By Derick Giwner @DRFHarness The calendar has turned to March and spring is just a couple of weeks away. The seasonal change is a reminder that we are nearing the return of last year’s 2-year-old superstars. Inside this issue Below we look at our preseason Top 10 from the pacing division. These are the colts, geldings and fillies which impressed us on AMANDA STEPHENS Jay Bergman: Cleary talks Rodeo Rock the track with some combination of speed or Perfect Sting didn’t lose in 10 starts in 2020. and other stable standouts, Page 8 determination that tends to produce winners. Each horse is ranked and where available, for May,” said Holloway to DRF’s Jay Berg- Darin Zoccali: Examining exotic ticket comments from the trainers on current condi- man in early February. “I know the Meadow- construction, Page 10 tion and future plans are included. lands Pace in July and the Hempt in August (Pocono) are on the schedule. Alexander seeks victory in Pocono’s 1 - PERFECT STING “I’d say if all goes well, he’ll start around 20 Game of Claims, Page 12 times this year.” SIRE/DAM: ALWAYS B MIKI / SHEBESTINGIN Perfect Sting is eligible for all the top races, Yonkers: Tritton, Balcerak bringing including the first major dance of 2021, the numbers to Borgata/Matchmaker, MAJOR WINS: BREEDERS CROWN (DEAD-HEAT); North America Cup at Woodbine Mohawk Page 14 INTERNATIONAL STALLION STAKES; BLUEGRASS; Park (eliminations June 12). KENTUCKY SIRE STAKES FINAL On The Backstretch: Profile of driver BEST WIN TIME: 1:49 2/5 (RED MILE) 2 - SOUTHWIND GENDRY Jimmy Marohn Sr., Page 15 2020 RECORD: 10-10-0-0 / $534,300 SIRE/DAM: ALWAYS B MIKI / GAMBLER’S PASSION) Best Bets & Analysis, Page 18 TRAINER/DRIVER: JOE HOLLOWAY / DAVID MILLER TOP WINS: MATRON; ELEVATION; INTERNATIONAL STALLION Industry: Leonidas A wins in return; OWNER: BRITTANY FARMS LLC; VAL D’OR FARMS STAKES; BLUEGRASS; PASS FINAL Pompano to race in 2022, Page 18 BREEDER: BRITTANY FARMS LLC; VAL D’OR FARMS BEST WIN TIME: 1:50 (DOVER) Comments? Questions? It took a pair of dead-heats, but Perfect Sting 2020 RECORD: 13-10-0-1 / $583,069 Email the Editor [email protected] made it through his 2020 campaign without TRAINER/DRIVER: RON BURKE / YANNICK GINGRAS a loss. Not only did he win every race, he TO ENSURE PROPER delivery showed impressive versatility by winning on OWNER: BURKE RACING STABLE LLC; PHILLIP COLLURA; KNOX SERVICES INC; J&T SILVA--PURNEL & LIBBY OF THE NEWSLETTER VIA and off the pace. It is impossible not to place him at the head of the class prior to seeing BREEDER: SOUTHWIND FARMS LLC EMAIL, ADD [email protected]. him race this year. com to your contact LIST “Right now, we’re looking to get him ready CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 Nomination Deadline 2021 Ohio Sires Stakes March 15, 2021 2 & 3-year-old Ohio-bred trotters & pacers *Only foals sired by a stallion registered with the Ohio State Racing Commission are eligible to the Ohio Sires Stakes* Ohio Sires Stakes conditions, schedule Kim Rinker, OSDF Administrator & nomination forms 614-779-0269 available at [email protected] www.racingohio.net © 2021 Daily Racing Form, LLC - 10 Grand Central, 3rd Floor, NY, NY 10017 The Best Trotting Colt of his Generation GREENSHOE KY Futurity Champion, Sub 1:50 trotter, Millionaire AMIGO VOLO 2x Breeders Crown Champion, World-Record Holder Other top earners include Crucial, Sister Sledge, Panem, etc. BY CANTAB HALL OUT OF GALA DREAM REDUCED 2021 FEE: $17,500 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 4 - TEST OF FAITH Gelding finished 2020 winning eight of nine starts, with a head loss SIRE/DAM: ART MAJOR / CANNAE CAMMIE in the Breeders Crown after being used to a 25 3/5 opening quarter his only defeat. With a nose for the wire and a willingness to take air on TOP WINS: KENTUCKIANA, BLUEGRASS, INTERNATIONAL STALLION STAKES; the rim, Southwind Gendry displayed all of the tools to be a superior NEW YORK SIRE STAKES FINAL 3-year-old if he progresses. BEST WIN TIME: 1:48 4/5 (RED MILE) “He’s very game and almost seems to have three lungs. He can stay in the middle of the track and keep coming,” said trainer Ron Burke. 2020 RECORD: 9-8-1-0 / $500,000 “His gait has gotten a little better this year, not that it was a real prob- TRAINER/DRIVER: BRETT PELLING / DAVID MILLER, JIM MAROHN JR lem last year. He was figuring it out by the end of last year and I think he’s taken the next step, so maybe he’ll be even more usable during OWNER: MELVIN SEGAL; KENTUCKIANA RACING STABLE; EDDIE GRAN the race.” BREEDER: FREDERICK HERTRICH III Already a big colt as a 2-year-old according to Burke, Southwind Gendry didn’t grow much. As with his others on the Top 10 list, he’ll Her 1:48 4/5 win at The start out qualifying at The Meadowlands and focus on the big-track Red Mile on October 9 races. In addition to the North America Cup in June, he was supple- was the fastest by any mented to the Meadowlands Pace for $7,500. 2-year-old in 2020, male or female, and just one-fifth 3 - SUMMA CUM LAUDE off the world record set by Warrawee Ubeaut set SIRE/DAM: SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE / WESTERN GRADUATE in 2018. Her quick accel- eration and natural speed TOP WINS: BREEDERS CROWN (DEAD-HEAT); KINDERGARTEN CLASSIC were evident and all that BEST WIN TIME: 1:50 2/5 (HOOSIER) remains is whether she USTA PHOTO can build on those God- Test Of Faith was the fastest 2-year- 2020 RECORD: 15-5-5-1 / $482,275 given attributes. old pacer of 2020. TRAINER/DRIVER: RON BURKE / YANNICK GINGRAS, DEXTER DUNN, BRIAN SEARS “She’s had an extended rest and it has done her nothing but good,” said trainer Brett Pelling. OWNER: BURKE RACING STABLE LLC; PHILLIP COLLURA; “Last year she was nice and leggy, perhaps on the finer side, but she J&T SILVA--PURNEL & LIBBY; WEAVER BRUSCEMI LLC has gone from looking like a 2-year-old to a 4-year-old. She looks great. BREEDER: NICK SURICK STABLE LLC; J L BENSON STABLES INC. “She has the Reynolds at Yonkers on May 7 if I decide to go. Her first ‘must’ race is the (New York) Sire Stakes at Saratoga on June 2, then she has the Fan Hanover in Canada on June 12 and 19, and the Park MGM Pace on June 25 at Yonkers.” One race not on her schedule is the Mistletoe Shalee at The Mead- owlands on July 17 due to a conflict with the New York Sire Stakes. 5 - AMERICAN COURAGE SIRE/DAM: AMERICAN IDEAL / NOTA FOOL BLUECHIP TOP WINS: MGM SPRINGFIELD BEST WIN TIME: 1:51 3/5 (TIOGA) 2020 RECORD: 8-7-0-0 / $180,258 TRAINER/DRIVER: TRAVIS ALEXANDER / MATT KAKALEY OWNER: FIDDLER’S CREEK STABLES LLC BREEDER: FIDDLER’S CREEK STABLES LLC Colt lacks the Grand Circuit LISA PHOTO résumé of the others on this list Summa Cum Laude can go with Perfect Sting and Southwind Gendry according to trainer Ron Burke. due to a mystery illness which caused him to stop badly in the New York Sire Stakes final. It took a little while for this colt to find his best but once he did it was all There simply wasn’t enough systems go, reeling off an 8-4-3-1 record to close out 2020. He was second time to prepare him for the to Perfect Sting by just a head in that one’s 1:49 4/5 win and charged Metro the following week and he home to dead-heat with that foe in the Crown. Most importantly, he was wasn’t eligible to other stakes. quite versatile showing wins on the lead and from behind. Prior to the NYSS final he was “He’s a big-track horse. He struggles around the turns. If you look perfect in seven career starts. at last year, all of his lines on a mile track were great,” said trainer “They don’t know what they Ron Burke on why the light seemed to come on for Summa Cum Laude are in for if he shows up,” said as the year progressed. “Hopefully he’s grown out of it, but I honestly trainer Travis Alexander. don’t care if he hasn’t. We can just start him at The Meadowlands, go With the New York Sire to Canada and come back for the Meadowlands Pace. Stakes getting a late start of “There’s no reason he shouldn’t get around the turns. His mother June 9 for 3-year-old colt and won the Jugette. His brother is one of the better Open horses at gelding pacers, there could be a Yonkers the last couple of years. For some reason he just pulls himself big gap on his stakes calendar up. He’s not showing it to us right now, but we are training on a mile after his expected first start in DERICK GIWNER track so we wouldn’t see it. When he hit the mile track we were able the May 7 Reynolds at Yonkers.