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: / 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: (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 / 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 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: / 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, “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. American Courage saw his to take his hobbles way out and they are even further out now. He has After that he has the Some- season end prematurely in 2020. really stepped up. I don’t think he gives up anything to ‘Gendry’ or beachsomewhere and North Perfect Sting. I think he can go with both of them.” America Cup. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

DRF Harness Digest | 3 | March 4, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness ALWAYS A VIRGIN X ARTSTOPPER | $12,500

Freshman Sire SENSATION

ALWAYS A MIKI Governors Cup Winner 1:50.2 $331,261

SOUTHWIND GENDRY Matron and PA Sire Stake Champion 1:50.0 $583,069

– Limited Bookings Available –

PERFECT STING Undefeated Breeders Crown Champion and 2020 Dan Patch Champion 1:49.2 $534,300 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 8 - EXPLOIT

6 - ALWAYS A MIKI Sire/Dam: Somebeachsomewhere / Time On My Hands

Top wins: Metro Sire/Dam: Always B Miki / Beach Gal Best win time: 1:50 4/5 (Mohawk) Top wins: Governor’s Cup 2020 record: 13-3-1-1 / $389,470 Best win time: 1:50 2/5 (Meadowlands) Trainer/Driver: Tony Alagna / Joe Bongiorno, Andrew McCarthy, Doug McNair 2020 record: 13-5-1-4 / $331,261 Owner: LeBlanc & Kribbs; Joe Sbrocco; In The Gym Partners; Joseph Barbera Trainer/Driver: Nancy Takter / Dexter Dunn Breeder: Michael Robinson; Robert Mondillo; Steve Cheatham; Steve Stewart Owner: Christina Takter; Goran Anderberg; Herb Liverman; Rojan Stables

Breeder: Sergent Stables LLC

Went by far his best race in his final start of the year when winning the Governor’s Cup at The Meadowlands. He was one of those horses that loomed often while failing to deliver the knockout punch. The good news is that he has the needed speed and many times a winter off can change a horse’s attitude. “He didn’t really grow any but has filled out nicely,” said trainer Nancy Takter. “He’s coming back nicely. We’ll probably go to the PASS and then the North America Cup as long as he’s good.” Leg one of the Sire Stakes is on May 1 at The Meadows and leg two is two weeks later at Pocono. 7 - CHARLIE MAY

Sire/Dam: McArdle / Stipple Hanover

Major wins: OHSS final; Ohio Breeders Championship

Best win time: 1:50 2/5 (Scioto)

New Image Media 2020 record: 9-7-2-0 / $328,627 Exploit captured the rich Metro Pace with Doug McNair driving. Trainer/Driver: Steve Carter / Brett Miller, Dan Noble

Owner: Don R. Tiger He won the second richest race of the year in his division (Metro), Breeder: Don R. Tiger but that win came off cover. It took four more races for him to put in a strong mile (second in Governor’s Cup) and again that was from a cover trip. The talent is there if he can learn to do the work in the mile and keep fighting. “He’s grown quite a bit and looks stronger and very athletic,” said co-owner Joe Sbrocco. “He’s staked to everything and has already trained down in 2:20. We (owners) are praying for the best as usual.” 9 - LOU’S PEARLMAN

Sire/Dam: Sweet Lou / Lucy’s Pearl

Major wins: Bluegrass

Best win time: 1:49 1/5 (Red Mile)

2020 record: 11-5-1-1 / $199,294

Trainer/Driver: Ron Burke / Matt Kakaley

Owner: Burke Racing Stable LLC; Weaver Bruscemi LLC; Elizabeth Novak; Howard Taylor

Breeder: Burke Racing Stable LLC; Weaver Bruscemi LLC; Elizabeth Novak

As the fastest 2-year-old colt pacer of 2020 he deserves automatic Conrad Photo consideration for sophomore success. He did get a sweet setup with a The team behind Ohio-bred Charlie May hopes to make a splash 52 4/5 half on that afternoon at The Red Mile. Outside of the Breeders on the Grand Circuit in 2021. Crown elimination he never lost a race by more than three lengths. The question will be whether he adds a bit more stretch determina- Charlie May will try to succeed where fellow Ohio-bred Elver tion after his winter freshening. Hanover failed in 2020 – be a force on the Grand Circuit as a 3-year- “His first few starts were good. We thought he was our best colt, old. His 1:50 2/5 win at Scioto says that he stacks up nicely in terms of but he got sick, raced well at Lexington and just got in a bad spot speed and his owner/breeder is putting his money on the line. in the Breeders Crown. He might have been the one who needed to “We are all in for 2021. He’s in the North America Cup, (Meadow- grow and he did grow a bit. I have a lot of hope for that colt,” said lands) Pace, Breeders Crown, Red Mile stakes and a bunch of things trainer Ron Burke, who hinted that while well-staked, he could be in between,” said Don Tiger, who added that the gelding was doing the horse he aims for smaller-track races like the Little Brown Jug “good” so far in preparation for his 2021 debut. and Adios. The schedule allows for a bid at becoming a two-time Ohio Sire Stakes champion as well. The first leg is on May 3 at Miami Valley. CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

DRF Harness Digest | 5 | March 4, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Breed to a magnificently-bred stallion by a Hambletonian winner out of a winner

PROPULSION – DANAE

· Finished 1st 2020 Elitloppet · 34 Million Swedish Krona ($3.9 Million U.S.) · 1:49.3f (Europe) lifetime mark

Standing at Deo Volente Farms - 2021 Stud Fee: $9,500

www.deovolentefarms.com | 908-782-4848, Fax 908-782-4870 487 Quakertown Road, Flemington, NJ 08822 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

10 - FIRE START HANOVER

Sire/Dam: Somebeachsomewhere / Fit To Frame

Major wins: Breeders Crown: Kindergarten final; Bluegrass; International Stallion Stake

Best win time: 1:50 3/5 (Red Mile)

2020 record: 13-8-2-0 / $592,562

Trainer/Driver: Nifty Norman / Dexter Dunn

Owner: Pinske Stables; David Hoese; Lawrence Means

Breeder: Hanover Shoe Farms Inc.

She was the richest 2-year-old pacer of 2020 and took home divi- sional honors as top filly. With most of her races coming on the front, she proved capable of taking on pressure and fighting hard for victo- ries. That type of grit will serve her well when the pace gets even faster and the competition even tougher in 2021. “She’s still in Florida,” said trainer “Nifty” Norman. “I was down there a couple of weeks ago (mid-February) and she was just training USTA Photo back for the first time. She looked awesome. She filled out nicely. Fire Start Hanover led all 2-year-old pacers in earnings last year. “She’ll probably come back north by the end of March. We are in no rush. The Fan Hanover is probably the first major stake for her.” Abuckabett Hanover: Was the division’s leader at one point in the OTHER BOYS ON THE RADAR summer before losing his game. Highlandbeachsbest: Put up a solid 1:50 2/5 line as a freshman. It always gets tricky beyond the top 10 because if you list 10 more Heart Of Chewbacca: Just behind Charlie May in Ohio and was horses, the 11th owner/trainer down the line will certainly call you never worse than second in seven starts. on it later. We’ll take that risk and throw out some additional colts and Lunar: Fractured his leg at 2 and has yet to race. Qualified March geldings to watch listed in no particular order. 2 for Burke and he’s staked to be good. Simon Says Hanover: Posted one of the fastest miles among colts Chase H Hanover: Was right there with the top PA horses all year. in 2020 at 1:50 1/5. Lawless Shadow: Solid in Ontario and third in the Metro last year. JK Going West: Indiana champion. What’s Your Beef: Plenty to prove but never missed the board in Bulldog Hanover: Strong record, lifetime mark and is the Ontario 10 Indiana starts. champion.

DRF Harness Digest | 7 | March 4, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness ‘Rodeo’ hoping to be ready to ‘Rock’ in Borgata series

JAYWALKING By Jay Bergman @BergmanJay

For Rodeo Rock, who won for the first time in over a year last Saturday at The Meadowlands, there is a hope that history will repeat. Stalled for much of the 2020 season trying to return from a bout with colic, trainer Robert Cleary hopes to be on the right track as he points the now 8-year-old towards the Borgata Pacing Series at Yonkers Raceway. “I was very happy with that mile,” Cleary said. “But he wasn’t racing against the top class. We’ll go in the first leg of the Borgata and see how he does.” Mike Lizzi Rodeo Rock picked up a pair of wins in the 2019 Levy series at Yonkers Raceway. With career earnings near $750K, Rodeo Rock has been the heart of Cleary’s stable for many years and the trainer hopes to be able to was an early-season second-place finish behind eventual Breeders forget last season entirely and that his horse is fully recovered now. Crown champion Summa Cum Laude in a 1:51 4/5 mile at The Mead- “It was a nightmare,” said Cleary, describing his attempts to get owlands in July. Rodeo Rock back in form last year. Following three consecutive years “I don’t think the fast mile bothered him,” said Cleary. “He’d already under Cleary’s care where Rodeo Rock earned roughly $630K with 24 trained in 1:55 prior to racing and had a start at Pocono before.” total victories, the son of Rock N Roll Heaven went winless in 14 starts Make My Deo’s runner-up finish in the fast mile showed Cleary earning just $33,736 while unable to reach the top rung. something he was looking for. “Brian (Sears) didn’t try to keep up “He got sick right around the time of the Levy (Borgata),” Cleary with Summa Cum Laude, he just let Make My Deo fight for second said. and he won that battle,” Cleary said. After some time off Rodeo Rock returned in February with one Make My Deo would take a 1:54 1/5 record at Harrah’s Philadelphia start from off the pace and then last week’s 1:50 blowout front-end in his next start and race just once more in a New York Sire Stakes victory with Andrew McCarthy in the bike. The mile was punctu- race before his first season ended. “He had a slight injury and there ated by a 26 1/5 final quarter, with Rodeo Rock appearing well in hand was no point in pushing him, so we backed off. I think he’ll be a much crossing the wire. better 3-year-old,” said Cleary. Still Cleary is not ready to believe that Rodeo Rock will be able to In Lou Of Money is another 3-year-old that showed plenty of promise march into Yonkers in two weeks and duplicate the feat he did in 2019 as a juvenile and is training back nicely. The daughter of Sweet Lou, as when he won an overnight at The Meadowlands and then captured a dual-eligible in the states of Pennsylvania and Kentucky, captured a the first leg of the Levy Series at Yonkers in his next start. division of the Kentucky Commonwealth at The Red Mile last Septem- “I’m giving him this week off,” said Cleary. “You have to race every ber. “She was very impressive winning in 1:52 2/5,” said Cleary. week at Yonkers.” The trainer confided that the time spent in Kentucky didn’t serve Rodeo Rock is the rightful pillar in the 18-horse Cleary stable, but the filly well at all as she continued to lose weight in the month she the trainer had a string of 2-year-olds race last season that could vault spent in the Bluegrass state and never quite returned to form when into the spotlight in 2021, with the pacing filly Off The Record at the she came north. head of the list. Cleary was very happy with how Sweet Lucy Lou qualified last “She was a very big 2-year-old,” Cleary said of Off The Record, weekend at The Meadowlands and will have her entered at the East who came to life late in her 2-year-old campaign. “She went a big trip Rutherford track. “She’s definitely a big-track horse,” Cleary said as winning a leg of the Kindergarten in 1:52 4/5 and then was second to to why she wasn’t nominated for the Blue Chip Matchmaker scheduled Fire Start Hanover in the final.” Perhaps more impressive than just to commence in the coming weeks. Sweet Lucy Lou, now a 5-year-old, finishing second to the eventual division winner was the fact that Off justified Cleary’s belief in her finishing fourth in last year’s Breeders The Record raced her final half without cover in a 1:51 1/5 mile. Crown Mare Pace at Hoosier Park. A daughter of first-crop sire Always B Miki, Off The Record is the Cleary is also hopeful that his 2-year-olds will emerge in a few second foal and first filly from the $504K winner Southwind Silence, a months from now. With seven babies in training, he suggested that Well Said-sired half-sister to Southwind Ozzi. Southwind Silence was there were two by Captaintreacherous, one by first-crop sire Hunts- the 2-year-old Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion filly in 2013 under ville and another by the reliable Sweet Lou, that are pointing in the the care of Ron Burke. right direction. “She’s definitely a big-track horse,” said Cleary. “We’ll probably go With the Borgata just a few weeks away, Cleary is hoping Rodeo with her in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes over the five-eighths mile Rock brings the one attribute he has in abundance: “Powerful,” said tracks.” Cleary, “Is the one word I would use to describe him.” Off The Record returned to active training on January 15 and is on schedule to race once stakes season gets underway. Sometimes in the harness business you actually have to pay for your own success. That’s why owner William Peshina’s Royal Wire Follow Products Inc. had to plunk down $280,000 at the 2019 Harrisburg auction to come away with Make My Deo, an American Ideal-sired half-brother to his own Rodeo Rock. Despite racing just four times as a 2-year-old, Cleary was more than impressed with Make My Deo’s ability from the outset. Case in point

DRF Harness Digest | 8 | March 4, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness BY YANKEE CRUISER OUT OF SWEET FUTURE 2021 FEE: $12,500 Examining the science of proper exotic ticket construction

at the track By Darin Zoccali AtTheTrack7 NEW PLAYERS The construction of tickets is an important aspect of how to wager on , especially when it comes to vertical and horizontal exotic wagers. By vertical, I am referring to same-race exotics races DOUBLE YOUR (exacta, trifecta, etc.) and by horizontal, I am referring to pick threes, pick fours, etc. The simplest and most common approach to vertical exotics is taking the horse or horses we like the best and putting them towards FIRST DEPOSIT the top of our tickets and then taking the horses that we think can “hit the board” and throwing them in one group on the bottom of our tickets. UP TO That formula is too simple and inefficient. Any ticket should begin with two questions. First, how strong of an opinion do I have in this race? Second, how strong is my opinion $250 regarding the horse or horses I like the best? Once we answer those questions we can begin to understand how much of our budget we should be spending on the race and we can construct an outline as to what our tickets should look like. Join Now Before anything else, I will say, the win wager is a lost art. If we have a very strong opinion about one horse in the race and we deter- mine that the price being offered is considered to be good value, we should bet that horse to win. There are few worse feelings in racing than having a 6-1 horse that we loved win the race and we don’t have a win bet, miss on the exotic wagers, and cash nothing. I like to build vertical exotic tickets around one horse while spread- ing out the further down the ticket I go. Essentially key my top pick television talent tickets that resemble what I mentioned above, one in the top two positions. If I believe a favorite is a vulnerable I do not large ticket that includes all the horses they think can win each race. include them out of fear that they might beat me. That is a mentality If you listen to the analysis you will often hear the television host say that is guaranteed to lose over the long term. If I think a favorite could “I am trying to beat the favorite and going four deep in this race,” but be third for example, but I don’t really like him or her, I leave that they still include the favorite out of fear that favorite will beat them. favorite off the trifecta ticket and I make sure I wager on my exacta I was guilty of this too. When I worked at The Meadowlands and combinations so I still cash tickets if he or she comes in third. during the years I hosted the broadcast on TVG, I was asked to That style of wagering centers around the purpose of eliminating construct tickets that fit this style, even though it was not how I wasteful spending. In , wasteful spending is including wagered on racing. If I am playing a pick four or a pick five, it is a rare combinations in your wagers that do not reflect your actual opinion of occasion where it is just one ticket. If it is, it means I don’t feel I have the race and by spending additional money on the ticket, you cut into a great opinion. I go through all of the races and remove the combina- your margins. I am a huge proponent of eliminating wasteful combi- tions that I really don’t like and I make sure as to not have favorites in nations and increasing the amount I wager on the combinations that all of the legs. The hosts on television would really help the customers I like the most. This is a confident style of wagering that may cost you watching if they constructed their tickets in this same fashion, but some tickets here or there, but when you are right, you really get paid. alas, it doesn’t make for good television. I understand having multiple I take the same approach for multi-race exotic wagers or the “hori- tickets on a screen may not be aesthetically pleasing. zontal exotics.” A poor approach is going through the races, writing I would argue that I would prefer the analysts just talk about the down which horses we think can win in each race and just using all of races and focus on one or two horses they think can win, as opposed those horses on one giant ticket. That ticket is practically guaranteed to putting out tickets that include a great deal of wasteful spending. to include wasteful spending, which will include combinations that I am someone who made these same mistakes with my own wager- you don’t particularly like or combinations that include favorites in ing for a long time. I was afraid to lose to certain favorites. I would go all of the races. five-deep in a race and include the favorite. I would use “All” which is In addition, there are times where television handicappers are always a poor bet, because if you think anyone can beat the favorite, doing a disservice to their customers, albeit unintentionally and you should not have a ticket where a percentage of your combinations through no fault of their own. The fault lies within television produc- include that very same favorite. It really comes down to fear of losing. tion and how simple and neat tickets just make for better television, It is tough to overcome. But when you do overcome it, your tickets will even though they don’t reflect the best approach to wagering. be more efficient and when your opinion is correct, you will hit for a Any racetrack or television production that I have ever seen features lot more money.

DRF Harness Digest | 10 | March 4, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness INTRODUCING TO KENTUCKY IN 2021

World Champion at 2

Multiple stakes-winning son of CRAZED ($1,063,059) out of the stakes-winning mare NO PAN NO GAIN ($415,630)

22-time winner and earner of $2,532,143

Out-cross pedigree; matches with mares from a wide variety of sire lines.

First yearlings this year

CRAZED x NO PAN NO GAIN | 2021 FEE: $3,000

MULTIPLE MARE DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE Alexander looks to claim victory in Pocono’s Game of Claims

By Jay Bergman

The Game of Claims series will come an end this weekend, with The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono offering impressive purses for the finals in four separate divisions. On Saturday the survi- vors of the $15,000 and $25,000 original claiming divisions will go for one huge payout in the finals of each worth $30,000 and $50,000, respectively. On Sunday the nine finalists in the Game of Claims $7,500 and $10,000 claiming events vie for $15,000 and $20,000 purses. As a whole the Game of Claims has been hugely successful in size and scope as each divi- sion attracted a large number of entries, making Pocono’s race secretary Rick Kane’s job much easier in filling his race programs. Not only was the entry box filled with regularity over the last three weeks but the claim box as well saw intense action as owners and trainers did their best to regain horses prior to this week’s finals. Curtis Salonick In Saturday’s pair of rich finales only three of Royal Heart seeks his second straight win for trainer Travis Alexander and driver the 18 horses entered were in the same stable in Matt Kakaley. The 10-year-old starts from post 1 in Saturday’s 11th race. last week’s third preliminary that they will race for in the final. One of those fortunate to find Talkin Satin (post 6), who was a three-time winner in the preliminary two spots in the series-ender and not lose his horse a week too early rounds for three different trainers. Hunter Oakes made the winning was trainer Travis Alexander, who will send out Royal Heart, the 3-1 claim last week and sends him out for the final. second choice in the $30,000 Game of Claims final on Saturday (race Oakes also has the 3-1 second choice on the early line in the $7,500 11). Alexander also has Cash Is King in the field from post three while claiming final (race 11). His R Gauwitz Hanover starts from post 6, one Royal Heart will start from post one. spot outside of 5-2 favorite Luziana. “I thought for sure Royal Heart would get claimed last week,’ said Pocono offers a first-race post-time of 12:30 p.m. on Saturday and Alexander from his Florida training post. Royal Heart has won two 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. of his three starts this year and his trainer is happy with the way he’s coming into the race. “Rey Franco (second trainer) and the rest of my crew up there has done a great job this winter,” Alexander said, noting that Franco has a wealth of experience. Mohawk Million slot owners revealed As to how Alexander was actually able to claim Royal Heart on February 20 sight unseen, he offered others all of the credit. “I’ve Woodbine Entertainment today (3/4) proudly revealed the been good friends with Tyler Stillings and Mark Goldberg from The names of the slot owners for the second edition of the Mohawk Meadows for 20 years,” Alexander said. “They picked him out.” Million for 2-year-old trotters on Saturday, September 25 at Wood- As for Cash Is King, who enters the final off a solid score last Satur- bine Mohawk Park. day as part of a big afternoon for driver Anthony Napolitano, Alexan- A total of nine slots were available for purchase at the cost of der couldn’t take credit either. “That was all Mike (Spaccarelli) who $100,000 (CAD) each for entry in the $1-million (CAD) Mohawk decided to claim him,” said Alexander, who believes Cash Is King is Million. The deadline to purchase a slot passed on February 15 ready for Saturday’s encounter. with all slots sold. The tenth and final slot will be awarded to the The races have been contentious in the Game of Claims series and winner of the William Wellwood Memorial on September 11. for $50,000 one can expect Saturday’s 10th race to be a barn-burner, The slot owners for the 2021 Mohawk Million are listed below: with trainer Jenn Bongiorno fortunate enough to have successfully Brad Grant claimed two of the finalists last week. American Rebel (post 1) won Crawford Farms for Bongiorno in the first leg of the series on February 13 but was Determination (two slots) claimed from her and again the following week. Her other starter is EquineX (two slots) the 11-year-old A Real Miracle (post 4), the richest horse in the race Gino Toscani (two slots) as well as the one with most career wins at 48. American Rebel is a Steve Heimbecker 5-1 choice for driver Joe Bongiorno, with A Real Miracle and Matt The owners of the slots are not required to declare a 2-year- Kakaley the 3-1 second choice on the morning line. old trotter for the race until entry time and the slot is an entity P Drive Hanover drew the pole position in Sunday’s $20,000 finale that may be sold, traded or subject to lease. Each slot owner was in the Game of Claims $10,000 division, race 10 on the 14-race card. required to submit $50,000 per slot by the February 15 deadline. “Marcus (Miller) got the drive and my instructions are go as hard The remaining $50,000 is due by June 1. out of there as you can and hope to stay around,” said Alexander, who The Mohawk Million will take place along with the C$850,000 lost one of the finalists in the field – Myidealson N – in last week’s Metro Pace for 2-year-old pacers on September 25, putting the concluding elimination. sport’s two richest races for freshmen on the same card. “Unfortunately, with all of the horses changing hands every week The C$540,000 Shes A Great Lady for 2-year-old pacing fillies in this series, horses are bound to get sick,” said Alexander. “Myideal- will also take place on the Mohawk Million card, which will son N scoped about 80 percent sick after last week’s race.” feature total purses of more than C$2.6 million. Since the Game Of Claims horses were opened to be claimed by Fans can track the march to the Mohawk Million by follow- anyone in each of the preliminaries, it’s not that surprising to see the ing @WoodbineSB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The aforementioned Mark Goldberg listed as the trainer of Myidealson official hashtag of harness racing’s richest race for 2-year-olds is N (post 9). His Rags To Riches of Pa LLC claimed the 8-year-old last #MohawkMillion. week off of owner Tyler Stillings. -release (Woodbine) The probable favorite in the $10,000 claiming level final is Sweet

DRF Harness Digest | 12 | March 4, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness First-Crop 3YOs in 2021 include: FLAWLESS COUNTRY (pictured) PASS Champion (1:53.0, $430,423)

DELAYED HANOVER Winner of Bluegrass Series (1:53.4, $136,418) Six yearlings sold for $100,000 or more last year TYPE A Winner of Matron Stakes (1:55.0, $164,779)

THE BEST SON OF MUSCLE HILL AT STUD

BY MUSCLE HILL OUT OF FLAWLESS LINDY | 2021 PRIVATE FEE Tritton, Balcerak trainees lead Borgata, Matchmaker nominations

A pair of new names have entered the most horses in the 2021 editions of the MGM Borgata and Blue Chip Matchmaker series to be contested at Yonkers Raceway throughout March and April. Both newcomers to the stakes scene, trainer Shane Tritton has seven horses between the two events and Neil Balcerak has five in the Borgata. A total of 46 horses nominated for the 2021 Borgata (nee Levy) and 20 were made eligible to the Matchmaker. Both events were canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With four in the Borgata and three in the Matchmaker, the Down Under native Tritton is feeling good about his chances and excited about his first stakes action since arriving in the U.S. less than a year ago. “I’m 100% looking forward to the series. It is very close to the Inter Dominion back home where you have to go four runs in a row. It is a war of attrition, but it is good to have something to work through. I’m looking forward to the chal- lenge,” said Tritton. Mike Lizzi Tritton’s male quartet in the Borgata include Western Fame won the 2019 George Morton Levy Memorial and will look to repeat 2019 Borgata champion Western Fame, Pat Stan- in 2021 as part of the Shane Tritton barn. ley N, Bronx Seelster and Yayas Hot Spot N. His mare trio is formed by Lady Dela Renta A, Maczaffair N and My Ruebe Star N. with finals and consolations on Monday, April 19. “This has always been the goal for these horses,” said Tritton. A complete list of the eligible horses can be found here and below: “Western Fame, Bronx Seelster and Pat Stanley are starting to hit their stride at the right time and the mares have been racing at a high 2021 MGM Borgata Eligibles level. Yayas Hot Spot just needs more racing.” American History Jesse Duke N Semi Tough Neil Balcerak has been training horses on a limited basis since 2015 but is getting his first taste of stakes action in a big way. He paid the American Mercury Leonidas A Sheriff N $5,000 nomination fee on five horses, all of which he owns in partner- Ana Afreet N Let it Ride N Shnitzledosomethin ship with another newcomer to the game, Matthew Morrison. Artie’s Ideal Lyons Steel Springsteen “Matt is new to the business. He did well on his first horse and Ashley Locaz N Mach n Cheese Stars Align A wanted to take a shot,” said Balcerak about entering so many horses. Backstreet Shadow Mac’s Jackpot Tellitsabb “He is a fresh owner to the game. He really enjoyed owning his first horse (Jahan Hanover) and now he goes to the track a couple of times Blood Line Micky Gee N The Wall a week. Having a new owner is great for the game. Bronx Seelster No Easy Day This is the Plan “We bought a couple of nice ones over the summer and we had a Caviart Rockland None Bettor A Tookadiveoffdipper few others we just wanted to give a shot to because there wasn’t much Chief Mate Ocean Rock Tyga Hanover available for the horses to race for good money,” continued Balcerak on entering five horses. Esai Hanover Ostro Hanover Western Fame Balcerak, who said he started out small as a trainer with just Fine Diamond Pat Stanley N Western Joe some county fair horses, is hoping for good things from all five of his Hesa Kingslayer N Raukapuka Ruler N Windsun Ricky Borgata entrants. He has the highest hopes for Caviart Rockland and Ideal Jimmy Rockapelo Yayas Hot Spot N The Wall, who was fifth in the 2019 Borgata. The 37-year-old Pennsyl- Indictable Hanover Rodeo Rock vania native also has Indictable Hanover, Jahan Hanover and Esai Hanover in the series. Jahan Hanover San Domino A The Borgata, which begins on March 15 with the first of five legs raced in $40,000 divisions, is loaded with talent. The list includes 2019 2021 Blue Chip Matchmaker Eligibles Breeders Crown winner American History, who is standing at Waln- Alexa Skye Lady Dela Renta A Snobbytown ridge Farm and is expecting to pull double-duty as a stallion and race- horse this year. Three-year-old Ohio standout Ocean Rock makes his Alii Nui Machnhope Soho Burning Love A first journey outside of the Buckeye state and is one of three newcom- Bettors Heart N Maczaffair N The Bandit Queen N ers to the Nancy Takter barn in the series. Blue Ivy Monica Gallagher Trillions Hanover Undoubtedly one of the favorites going into the opening round will Caviart Cherie My Ruebe Star N be overseas import Let It Ride N. The Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman-trained Dbldelitebrigade N Parisian Bluechip 8-year-old has won all six of his starts since coming to America including an impressive 1:52 1/5 win at Yonkers on January 11. Kaitlyn N Seaswift Joy N “He’ll be a handful for anybody,” said Norman about Let It Ride N. Keep On Rocking A Siesta Beach “I’m sure others will be ready, but he proved he gets around the track very well.” Alexa Skye, who joined the Jeff Cullipher barn before a recent second-place finish at Yonkers in the Open Handicap, is certainly one of the favorites going into the March 12 opening leg of the Blue Chip Entries & Results Matchmaker. She has won three of five starts in 2021 and has never DRF Harness has entries and results for all finished worse than second. U.S. tracks and live odds for all North American tracks DRF.COM/HARNESS The Borgata and Matchmaker both feature five legs and culminate

DRF Harness Digest | 14 | March 4, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Is racing still on your mind often? When I got away from the track I would just watch Jimmy (Marohn Jr, son) race; not every day, but most of the times. All of the people I know are racehorse fans. When I worked at the golf course in Eisenhower Park from 2014 to 2019, word got around and the parents of the people who played, the ones that used to go to Roosevelt when they were young would talk to me about the races. So I really never got away from it. Did you ever want to know more about the people involved in the harness industry? Editor Derick Giwner combs the harness land- What is your favorite thing to do outside of the sport? scape each week to profile a new personality from the sport. Play golf.

What is your favorite sport to watch? Team? Other than horse racing, football. I was born and raised in Cleve- land Ohio and I live in New York, so I root for the Jets, Giants and Browns. What is one thing about you most fans/bettors didn’t know? I love to kid around but there is a lot of seriousness behind what I Driver Jimmy Marohn sr. say. What kind of car do you drive? What is one word that describes harness racing for you? People. 2007 Ford Explorer. Favorite dinner meal? Snack? How did you get started in the sport? My father had bought a piece of a horse for $2,500 in 1964. During my A good plate of spaghetti, meatballs and sausage on a Sunday. last year of High School I would go to the barn with them on Saturday Velveeta crackers for snack. to see the horse and the guy there told me to come back during the sum- What was your favorite track to race at? mertime and work around the barn. I loved it and that’s how I started. It had to be Roosevelt. That’s where my barn was. The track was How did you end up as a driver? good. I bought a home there. It was my favorite. I kind of got twisted into it. I was working as a groom for Billy What is your favorite big event in racing? Haughton and I got hooked up with another trainer who wanted to go out on his own and I went with him. I went to Monticello and I like the Breeders Crown and Breeders’ Cup. They both put on a guys like Carmen Carbone and a couple of others kept seeing me good show with the best horses at the end of the year. It is a great jogging and training and thought with my size I’d be good at driving. program. So I went for my license because other people mentioned it. I never thought about it myself. What was it like working for ? It was some of the best times of my life. To me he was fantastic. After you worked for him and got to know him, there was really no one like him, though Stanley (Dancer) was great, too, but I was working for Billy so he was my guy. You retired back in 2014, was the adjustment hard? Not really, because I was up in Monticello and not getting the best of drives. I had just gotten into an ac- cident in 2013. I was driving a trotter and it got caught up in the trotting hobbles and went down. The whole field was scattered. I started thinking, ‘I’m 66, I’m too old for this’.

Geri Schwarz Jimmy Marohn won over 5,000 races in his career, some besting his son Jim Marohn Jr., who is seen in the background finishing second. CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

DRF Harness Digest | 15 | March 4, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness PAYMENTS DUE MARCH 15* One list and one check keeps your horses eligible to these top events.

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The Hambletonian Society | Breeders Crown • 109 South Main Street, Suite 18 • Cranbury, NJ 08512-3174 Phone: 609-371-2211 • Fax: 609-371-8890 • Web: hambletonian.com What about Walter Case Jr? He came and went. He was one of the dominant forces, but he went to The Meadowlands and Ohio. I was talking about the guys who stayed at Yonkers.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 If you could choose any horse in history to drive, which horse would it be and why? Do you still miss driving? It would have to be a trotter because there is nothing like a nice trot- I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t miss it because I’m around it now. ter. Maybe or Muscle Hill. They were just fluid. It would be fun to drive a horse like that. You recently took a job as the Horsemen’s representative for the SOA of NY at Yonkers. How is that going? Your son Jim Marohn Jr is a fairly accomplished driver. Are I love it. I like being around the track and I love to help the horse- you surprised by his accomplishments? men. I’m there every night they race. He surprised me only one time. When he was going for his qualify- ing license, I was listed on two horses in a race and he drove one. His What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten about harness horse made a fumble behind the gate and his horse went flying by me racing? at the end of the race like a force, and my horse was better than his. Right then and there I thought, ‘he’s got something’. There are a couple of trainers and drivers would give me tips on what I was doing wrong, guys like Mike Santamaria and top drivers. If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what When you are out on the track, you are all alone. It is a big difference when you are looking around out there trying to figure things out would it be? and when someone else tells you what you may have done wrong. It For every racetrack to have a really helps you pick it up quickly. barn area. I think horses race better from the barn area. The What was your favorite moment in harness racing? shipping takes a toll on the hors- es and trainers are shipping now One of my biggest moments was winning the 1981 Cane Pace with from one place to the next. It is Wildwood Jeb, but I had so many good moments. For me it was all too much. These horses are very about the people I raced for. Everybody loves a winner and I used to strong animals and they can en- love to come back to see the looks on the people’s faces. dure a lot, but it is too much. One day they are at Pocono, then at Who was the best horse you ever drove? Yonkers, then Dover. People kind Wildwood Jeb was the best 3-year-old. Resonator was very good. He of go against themselves because went on to be a stud in New Zealand. Naturally my favorites were the there is nothing set. The owners ones that I owned. kind of took over instead of the trainers and everyone is chasing Geri Schwarz Who was the fastest horse you ever drove? the money. Jimmy Marohn retired in 2014. Might’ve been Resonator or Secret Service. Paul Vance and his son How do you view the future of harness racing? Joey were very good to me with Secret Service. I don’t think it will die off. I hope it doesn’t get worse in popularity You have 5,358 career driving wins. What does that number than it is now. mean to you? Is harness racing better now or was it better 40 years ago Not much. I never followed that or counted the wins. I was surprised when you started out? I won that many races because it was a short time. I didn’t get my license until I was 27. A lot of guys started when they were 16 or 20, I don’t know if it is better now. There are certain things that are bet- and even when you get your ‘A’ license, it is usually two to three ter now and more things that were better then. years before you start to get drives. I never went on the road or raced at multiple tracks. One is one thing that was better then? What was the most interesting thing to happen to you on the I think we took care of our horses better. track? Hasn’t the breed itself changed a lot over the years? When I went to Italy. There were about 20 of us. The Italian people These horses now, when they are 2-year-olds, they are fluid and you wanted us to bring pacers because all they had are trotters. They can do anything you want with them. treated us like Kings and Queens. I was with my first wife and I won the final of the series. That was one of my best moments. They said Time for the stretch drive: that everyone would go back to the paddock after the race except the winner, so they put an American flag and an Italian flag in my hands Best Horse You Ever Saw: I saw . He was a fantastic horse, and I paraded in front of the stands with the lights out while in a but there are so many horses now that pace like him and they are spotlight. It was one of my most memorable moments. $100,000 claimers. You competed against some of the best drivers the sport has Best Trainer Ever: That’s too tough to answer. seen. Who were some of the toughest to beat? Lasix – Yes or No?: I’m not a big fan of it. The people who like it must be the ones who are racing. There were a lot of good drivers, Herve (Filion), Mike Lachance, even Luc (Ouelette) was a great young force; Carmine (Abbatiello), Favorite TV Show?: Colombo. too. I don’t think I could pick one. My top three would probably be Mike, Herve and Carmine. Trotters or Pacers?: Trotters are my favorite.

DRF Harness Digest | 17 | March 4, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness INDUSTRY NEWS

Live racing will continue at Pompano Park into 2022

On February 28 it became official that Pompano Park would race in the fall of 2021 and through May 2022 when track management At DRF Harness we strive to provide the best handicapping applied for 126 harness racing dates for the fiscal year starting July 1, information in the sport. Each week we’ll use this space to bring 2021 and ending June 30, 2022. you some of our handicappers’ best bets, value plays and horses to Negotiations between the Florida Breeders and watch. Use this information as one of your tools when wagering or Owners Association and Caesars Entertainment, which owns the simply click on the link above and head to DRF Bets to wager now. facility, will continue with the hopes of determining the future of Happy Handicapping! racing in Florida past May 2022. Thursday, MARCH 4 Potomac winner Leonidas A takes Yonkers Open in return RaCe 8 Leonidas A, who scored a Grand Circuit win in the Potomac Pace at Rosecroft last year, kicked off his 2021 campaign with a 1:55 4/5 victory (5) BETTER TAKE IT in the $30,000 Open Pace on Monday night at Yonkers Raceway. qualified faster than most Driven by Austin Siegelman, Leonidas A got away in the sixth spot of these race. He should be and watched as Moonshine Kisses (Mark MacDonald) carved out very tough in this spot. fractions of 27 4/5 and 57 2/5 for the opening half. On the third turn, -Garnet Barnsdale driver Joe Bongiorno tipped out first-over from fourth with Rollwith- papajoe, giving Carlisimo (Scott Zeron) a second-over journey and friday, MARCH 5 Leonidas A the third-over ride. READ MORE RaCe 2

M Life series kicks off at Yonkers (2) SHEZAFREAKLIKEME impressed me in her career Dragon Said and Retour Au Jeu picked up new lifetime marks in debut on 2-19, making multiple winning their respective $15,000 splits in the first leg of the M Life moves in the mile and finish- Rewards Gents Pacing Series on Wednesday night (March 3) at ing third. I think she should Yonkers Raceway. benefit from that experience, READ MORE and I will put on top. The M Life Rewards Ladies Pacing Series kicked off on Tuesday -Greg Reinhart night (March 2) at Yonkers Raceway with a trio of $15,000 divisions that were won by Flirty Forty, Dragon Roll, and Turnthefrownaround. RaCe 1 READ MORE (6) CONTROL TOWER Brittany Farms welcomes first Bettor’s Wish foal drops back to the $12,500 Claiming level and he moves Brittany Farms is thrilled to announce in a couple of spots after being the arrival of their first foal by Bettor’s uninvolved last week from the Wish from Brittany Farm’s mare Shining eight hole; veteran should find Beauty. a way to beat these.. He is described as a “very nice long- -Matt Rose legged brown colt that stands very well.” The colt, from 2020 Dan Patch Award- Saturday, march 6 winning Bettor’s Wish, has a special connec- tion to Brittany Farms. Bettor’s Wish and RaCe 2 Leah Cheverie the dam Shining Beauty were both bred Brittany Farms’ and raised by Brittany Farms. Shining (6) BILLY LINCOLN N Bettor’s Wish/ Beauty is a stakes-winning Captaintreach- drops to the basement condi- Shining Beauty foal. erous daughter of World Champion, Dan tion and should handle these Patch and O’Brien Award-winning mare easily enough if he doesn’t American Jewel, who herself was Brittany Farms born and raised. make a major mistake. -release (Bettor’s Wish Syndicate) -Derick Giwner meadowlands $3 million handle streak continues to roll on full card analysis / past performances Despite a month of crippling winter weather and the re-opening of racing in Ontario two weeks ago, betting at The Meadowlands has Yonkers (THU) Analysis Meadowlands (FRI) Analysis stayed on a roll. In fact, on Friday (March 5) night, management is hoping to up the track’s streak of wagering at least $3 million to an Mohawk Park (FRI) Analysis Meadowlands (SAT) Analysis impressive 10th consecutive program. “We say it often,” said Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Yonkers (FRI) Analysis Mohawk Park (SAT) Analysis Manager Jason Settlemoir. “But horseplayers have really responded in a big way to our low takeout wagering menu. With six of our popu- lar 15 percent takeout wagers being offered every night, it has given DHP PPs harness eye PPs trackmaster PPs free PPs players a more realistic chance to turn a profit, making The Big M the best place to play.” READ MORE Want full-card analysis? Visit DRF.com/harness

DRF Harness Digest | 18 | March 4, 2021 Visit us online at drf.com/harness