Friday, February 26, 2015

Greatness Seems a Given for Mission Brief Even her own sire, the great Muscle Hill, couldn't touch By Bill Finley her time-wise during his 2-year-old year, when his fastest This much we know: Mission Brief was one of the most mile was 1:53.2. talented two-year-old trotting fillies to ever grace the After the Red Mile race, she would go on to win three of racetrack. But will she go down as one of the all time her next four, the only loss, of course, coming when she greats, maybe the greatest trotting filly ever? broke in the Goldsmith at Woodbine. But she finished up She could and that's what makes her 3-year-old the year with wins in the elims and finals. campaign the most exciting story of 2015. Burke knows he has to fix the breaking problem. If she is "I embrace the hype," trainer Ron Burke said. "She's going to continue to break in 30 percent of her races then she's never going to compile the sort of record where she deserves comparisons to the all-time greats, The trainer believes he's gotten that problem under control. "It's just that she was a 2 year old and now she's a 3 year old," he said. "I hate to make it that simple, but I think it is that simple with her. As her mind matures and she's not so nervous about things I think she will be fine. And I am hoping this year that's the whole deal. Yes, last year she was real nervous starting out . She was very alert and very aware of what was going on around her and sometimes she would be uncomfortable when put in new situations. By the end of year she was starting to figure it out and has had more time to mature mentally and with more training I think she'll be fine. I don't think it will be an issue." Mission Brief is currently training in Florida and Burke

Will Mission Brief win the 2015 Hambletonian? (Nigel Soult photo) done things that no other horse ever did." Burke, who only recently started to spend big dollars at the yearling sales paid $150,000 for the daughter of Muscle Hill at the 2013 Lexington sale. When he started training her down he discovered he had a very talented but nervous filly on his hands. In her first start, in a New Jersey sire stakes race, she broke stride, repeating a pattern that would be the only blemish on her 2-year-old season. She won her next four starts before breaking again in a leg of the Kindergarten series. She won an elim for the Peaceful Way and then broke in the final. But it's what she did when not breaking that got even the most demanding and discerning harness experts so excited. In the Oct. 2 International Stallion Stakes at the Red Mile she went in 1:50.3. Not only was it a world record for a 2-year-old trotting filly, it smashed the previous mark of 1:52.2 held by Designed to Be and is nearly three seconds faster than the record set by a 2-year-old trotting male. That is 1:53.1, held by the gelding Outburst.

New yearling sale slated for Goshen on Sept. 13. With top farms committing to sale figures to be a major, major success. See page 2 HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 2/27/15 PAGE 2 of 8 said she won't come north until early April. He has into good horses." tentatively scheduled the May 15 New Jersey Sires Stakes Note: Filly JK She’salady has not been nominated to the as her comeback race, but has his sights set on far bigger , so, unlike Mission Brief, it doesn’t goals. appear that her connections are intent on tackling the top Though he will be trying to win the race with a filly, males Burke's big goal for the year is the Hambletonian. With Mission Brief so much faster than her rivals as a 2 year old Burke sees no reason not to go for the biggest American trotting prize of them all. The fastest time put in by any make 2-year-old trotter in 2014 was Pinkman's 1:53.2. The second fastest male was Habitat (1:53.4), who happens to be trained by Burke. "I have some really good male trotters and they don't even breath the same air that she does," he Goshen Yearling Sale Slated for Sept. 13 Ron Burke (center) said. "They don't belong on the from the Goshen Standardbred Horse Sales Co. sees nothing but same track with her. Unless they Goshen, NY -- The inaugural Goshen Yearling Sale has greatness in Mission make great strides forward or she been established and is scheduled for Sunday, September Brief’s future makes great strides backwards, I 13, 2015. can't see them being able to beat The new venue has already attracted quality her. She's just better than they are." consignments from Blue Chip Farms, Cameo Hills, Burke said Mission Brief will not face males prior to the Crawford Farms and Winbak Farms. Hambletonian and the only other race he would consider The annual harness horse auction will be held at the starting her in against the boys is the male division of the Mark Ford Training Center in Middletown, New York and is Breeders Crown. scheduled for the afternoon immediately following the New "I wouldn't want to make her do that all the time," he said. "The Hambletonian is something you have to take a shot at and the difference in the Breeders Crown is that the race for boys is worth a lot more than the one for fillies." Burke and driver Yannick Gingras will travel to Florida Monday to train Mission Brief and get an up-close look at her. It's too early to get nervous, but Burke figures he will. "(Sweet) Lou used to make me sick I'd get so nervous," he said. "He was the only one that did that to me and now he's gone. She’s going to be the one now that makes me nervous. I know it's going to be the same way with her. But at least having had Lou I came to realize all the ups and downs that can happen. I think also with Lou I learned things about to how manage my expectations and to take take my time and not worry about what anyone else thinks and just do what's best for the horses." Some trainers don't like it when their horses are put on a pedestal. Too much pressure. But Burke said he is going to enjoy the ride and will never have a problem telling anyone just how good he thinks this horse is. "Yes, I think you can say it, that she's going to be one of the best ever," he said. "We had Buck I St. Pat and I think she was one of the top 10 trotting mares of all time and in her whole career she never trotted faster than this one has. On her best day she couldn't have beaten Mission Brief. “That's what you do this for. You have to want that pressure, you have to want to have those kinds of horses. Give me all the top horses in the game and make me make them; it's a lot easier to do that than have to try to turn crap MCARDLE

is the sire of the richest pacer in North America in 2014: McWicked, winner of the Breeders Crown, Adios, and Max Hempt, and Dan Patch Award winner as the top 3 year old colt pacer!

TThis sire of four world champions is also the second-leading sire of 3yos by average earnings, behind only Somebeachsomewhere.

His rst Ohio crop will be yearlings in 2015.

Booked full in 2013 and 2014.

2015 Stud Fee: $4,000 with Multiple Foal Discounts

Inquiries to Farm Manager Brad Wallace 14346 Township Road 205, Findlay, Ohio 45840 (419) 422-3004, Fax (419) 425-2999 www.hickorylanefarm.com HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 2/27/15 PAGE 3 of 8

York Sire Stakes Night of Magee has had 10 seasons with $2 million-plus in Champions at Yonkers earnings, 13 more seasons with $3 million in earnings and Raceway. "The a trio of $4 million seasons. He won a whopping 630 races location is ideal as it is in 1994, which led all drivers in North America. within close proximity to Dave also proved victorious in the 1995 World Driving many of the trainers and Championship, defeating drivers from Canada, Australia, owners in the tri-state France, Sweden, Germany, Italy and other European stops. region that purchase He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in yearlings," noted Joe 2001. Thomson the owner of On the local scene Dave has been dominant throughout Winbak Farms, the second largest breeder in North his career, winning driving titles at every Illinois racetrack. America. "Several thousand Standardbreds are either His 12 Maywood Park driving titles and 11 Sportsman's raised or trained within a 75 mile radius of Goshen." Park titles are both records. He is also the leader in Super Tom Grossman, the owner of Blue Chip Farms stated Night victories among drivers. that, "the industry would benefit from more than one major He has also posted an amazing 36 straight seasons with northeastern yearling sale. The mid-September timing more than $1 million in earnings and 38 straight seasons of allows farms to stage yearling preparation well in advance 100 wins or more. of the other major sales." The 61-year-old Magee is a resident of Big Rock, Ill. He Facility owner Mark Ford agrees. "The timing really will be moving on to a new career as a State Steward helps the trainers, owners and potential purchasers who (Judge) at Hoosier Park in Anderson, Ind. would already be in the area for the Night of Champions at Yonkers. We are excited to have a relatively captive Jamieson Wins Two in Driving Championship, audience, and we will have additional stalls available for But Dunn Has Clinched Title those who would like to layover for both events." Canadian representative Jody Jamieson won two races The commission structure will also be advantageous for Thursday in the World Driving Championship in Australia. breeders as horses selling for $50,000 or more pay just The latest riund of races was held at Penrith. There were 3%. Sale prices from $25,000 to $49,900 are charged just only three races on the card that were part of the 4%, with the base commission set at $500 or 5%. The competition. Knud Monster of Denmark won the other WDC entry fee is just $350, making this an attractive choice for New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania eligible colts and fillies. Entries close May 15. All industry farms and agencies are invited and encouraged to participate in this exciting new prospect just outside Goshen's 'Cradle of the Trotter.' For additional consignment information please contact Chris Tully at 845-807-7538, or Email: [email protected] . Our website is: www.GoshenYearlingSale.com .

Hall of Fame driver Dave Magee to Retire Tuesday, February 24, 2015 - by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park Crete, IL --- Chicago's leading harness driver for the past 30-plus years, Dave Magee, is retiring after his drives this Saturday night (Feb. 28) at Balmoral Park. Magee is a Hall of Famer and has been one of the classiest individuals the sport of harness racing has ever known. He has almost 12,000 career victories and more than $101 million in career earnings during his illustrious career. He is one of only 18 drivers Dave Magee will call it in the history of the sport to eclipse a career after that $100 million mark in earnings Saturday’s races at and is the only Illinois based driver Balmoral (USTA photo) to go over $100 million in earnings. HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 2/27/15 PAGE 4 of 8 race. Back in 1900, on the streets of say Brooklyn, a bookie “It feels good to win here,” Jamieson told local reporters. was offering wagering on sports, where a local customer “It’s very competitive out there but could bet $11 to win $10. At some point, somewhere, a once we are off the track the bookie across the street tried to make customers pay $12 camaraderie is great.” to win $10, but that never flew. Over time, people would not With only one race left, Sunday be able to win, or be close to winning, so they'd stop at Menagle, New Zealand driver betting, or move to another bookie. 100 plus years later, my Dexter Dunn cannot be caught for cousin, and everyone else, is betting into that exact same the title. Jamieson and Tim Tetrick juice. are among those who could still At poker tables in Dodge City which look exactly like the finish in second place. set of a Clint Eastwood western, a certain amount was Win or lose in the championship, raked from a pot. In Las Vegas at a poker table at the New Zealand’s Dexter Tetrick could still walk away from multi-billion dollar Wynn casino, a similar amount is raked Dunn has clinched the Australia with a big pay day as he out of a pot. It's not much different in other games of skill 2015 World Drivers has secured the drive on Laterron which are bet on, whether they are new or old - Daily Championship in Sunday’s Group I Cordina Fantasy Sports, video game head to heads, or betting Chicken Farms Ladyship Mile. The race has a purse of exchanges to name but three. $200,000 (Austrialian) or about 156,000 US dollars. He will Last year, according to Eilers research, in the US alone, aldo drive Shannon’s Blast in a arce worth $50,000 $164 billion was bet on sports. Billions more are bet, on (Australian) skill games like cards, props or Fantasy. All told, the skill game gambling market is estimated at well over a half a trillion dollars. What has kept that market so vibrant and growing over the years? What has kept it going despite government crackdowns, Elliot Ness type G-Men, bookmaker stings, and UIGEA acts passed by congress? It's simple: People are offered a good gamble, or what they perceive to be a good gamble, and no matter how many roadblocks you put in front of them, they gamble.

The Fundamentals of Gambling In the past few columns I have looked at slots money, marketing, sponsorships and related funding in harness racing to help grow the sport and the brand. It's something I think is an important part of moving the sport forward. From some, I got a high five or two, especially when the argument of harvesting slot money versus investing slot money has come up. In other quarters - namely from my gambling friends - I barely got low fives. When I was a wee lad my cousin was out-of-work at his home in Southern Ontario. He came up north to work in the mines and stayed with us for a few years. He loved sports and liked gambling on the NFL. He'd have to get his bets down with a southern Ontario bookie from time to time, so I quickly learned point spreads, handicapping and the line. For example, he would bet $110 to win $100, and when I asked why, he explained the "juice". The juice made sense to me because everyone has to make money, and risk components with an interest rate from a bank, or juice from a guy with a gravelly voice named Joe seemed just fine. That takeout rate of about 4.5% kept my cousin coming back, so much so that he still bets sports today. He has never gotten rich, never went broke, but has been a bettor for his whole life. TIOGA DOWNS 2015 LATE CLOSING EVENTS (TO CLOSE APRIL 1, 2015)

For 3-5 Year Olds - Separated by Sex & Gait Event # 1 Event # 2 Morrisville College Sale Trot Nichol’s True Value Pace Colts & Geldings Colt & Geldings Non Winners of 5 Pari-Mutuel races and/or $60,000 Non Winners of 5 Pari-Mutuel races and/or $60,000 Lifetime through and including March 31, 2015. Lifetime through and including March 31, 2015. W/O $100,000 Lifetime NE W/O $100,000 Lifetime NE

Leg #1 Friday, June 5 $12,500G Leg #1 Sunday, June 14 $12,500G Leg #2 Friday, June 12 $12,500G Leg #2 Sunday, June 21 $12,500G Final Sunday, June 21 $40,000E Final Sunday, June 28 $40,000E Event # 3 Event # 4 Williams Auto Trot M&J Oil & Lube Pace Fillies & Mares Fillies & Mares Non Winners of 5 Pari-Mutuel races and/or $60,000 Non Winners of 5 Pari-Mutuel races and/or $60,000 Lifetime through and including March 31, 2015. Lifetime through and including March 31, 2015. W/O $100,000 Lifetime NE W/O $100,000 Lifetime NE

Leg #1 Saturday, June 6 $12,500G Leg #1 Saturday, June 13 $12,500G Leg #2 Saturday, June 13 $12,500G Leg #2 Saturday, June 20 $12,500G Final Sunday, June 21 $40,000E Final Sunday, June 28 $40,000E Nomination Fee $400 No Starting Fee Conditions are available upon request. Pari-Mutuel wins for a purse of less than $2,000 not considered.

EVENT HORSE AGE GAIT SEX SIRE DAM AMOUNT

All owners, trainers and drivers of nominated horses must be approved to race or entry may be denied. TOTAL

Nominator:______Trainer:______

Address:______Phone:______

Checks Made Payable to TIOGA DOWNS and Mailed to: Racing Office—Tioga Downs, 2384 W River Rd, Nichols, NY 13812 HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 2/27/15 PAGE 5 of 8

In the US we have a regulated harness racing gambling In real life I'm a marketer, but I am also a bettor. I firmly market available to almost anyone, via any device, and believe that the sport needs relevant, field tested, about $2 billion dollars is bet; less than 1% of the world fundamental marketing to fill the top of the sales funnel, to wide skill game gambling market. How could this be? encourage more sponsorship and to create a value The main reason, in my view, is: When compared to proposition for the sport of harness racing. I also believe other skill games, harness racing offers an awful gambling that without a game built on gambling fundamentals, most proposition. of that marketing money is sub-optimally spent. For a gambling game to survive, it needs to have a few Maybe the nay-sayers are right. Maybe the game will basic fundamentals: never move forward. Maybe the best path forward is to i) It must be priced appropriately harvest slot money for purses and squeeze governments ii) It needs to offer a proposition that has some for every dollar until it all runs out. But for most of us who uncertainty love the game, it's simply not an option, because another iii) It needs to be run completely fairly way forward - making harness racing the best gambling One of my favorite lines about racing gambling was said game on the planet - has never even been tried. by a friend, Dan, from Florida. "If you want to clear out a poker room forever, start taking 30% out of the pot." Harness racing routinely does exactly that. Superfecta takeouts in Pennsylvania can be worse than some lotteries, and here's a newsflash: Lottery players are not racing's market. In Ontario, unbelievably, almost a quarter is still raked out of win pools. There is no way around it: The takeouts in this sport are beyond egregious. The most Mike Gulotta, Deo Volente Farms common term gamblers use is "usurious", and they are Don't you dare use the word completely correct. beleaguered when discussing the The second plank of a good gambling game explains why New Jersey standardbred industry. the point spread was invented. Giving customers a Not, anyway, in front of Mike gambling proposition that is about 50/50, is much easier to Gulotta, the owner of Deo Volente sell as a match, than having one team at 12-1 and one Farms in Flemington, NJ. While team at 1-12. The point spread did exactly that. In harness others have fled New Jersey, racing we are serving up some terrible betting propositions; Gulotta is so upbeat about the four horse entries, chalk that makes a lead and doesn't get future of the industry in his state run at, superstables, half mile track racing that is formful. that he is investing heavily in his farm. To prove that he is Very high favorite win percentages, in a horribly priced very serious about the future of Deo Volente and New gambling game is not the path to success. Jersey racing he made a major splash last fall when Last up, any game that one might bet on has to be run announcing that his farm will stand 2014 Hambletonian with a sense of fairness and integrity. This has little to do winner Trixton. with hot trainers of the week which we as bettors can HRU sat down recently with Gulotta to find out why he model, who may or may not be doing something wrong. It's might just be the most optimistic man in New Jersey more about reversals of form, and the shady stuff that can, harness racing. does and will happen. It's currently quite irrelevant that I HRU: How are things going with Trixton? What response think, and you likely think, harness racing is on the up and are you getting and how close are you to filling his book? up for the most part. The fact that most everyone else in MG: Not only is his book full but he got a lot of high the skill game gambling market doesn't, is the problem. quality mares. For example, he got Check Me Out, We see the most common complaints and fall-backs from Southwind Serena, the dam of Mission Brief, Queen the sport when it comes to pricing. Somehow a lower price Serene, who was a very good horse and many other top means less money; this despite the fact that takeout rates mares. We got Graceful Touch, the producer of a at racetracks over the last 110 years were never set by the Hambletonian winner. I think Trixton is a home run. market, but by bureaucrats, tracks and horsemen groups Hopefully he translates his handsome nature, his who were running a monopoly. As economist Will competitiveness and all the rest of his positive qualities to Cummings wrote in an HBPA study several years ago, the his offspring. He was $360,000 yearling, he was a sport has lived with high takeouts so long, it knows no other Hambletonian winner and so was his sire (Muscle Hill) and way. My view is: How far does a sport have to fall before his grandsire (Muscles Yankee) and his mother is a full they try another way? sister to three stallions. You can't paint a better picture. As far as running the races to make them a better HRU: So far as your brand, your image, your stature in gambling proposition, that too faces resistance. "This is the the industry, what did acquiring Trixton do for you? way we do it," is a familiar refrain. Well, I'm sorry, the MG: I think we established a great deal of credibility with market says we're doing it wrong, and unless we all live in the Trixton transaction. We've proven that we are a player Cuba, the market means something. It means everything. at the top level. Jimmy Takter said once we did this deal it HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 2/27/15 PAGE 6 of 8 would raise a lot of eyebrows, people would take notice. MG: I think he can do well as a stallion. I do what's best This will put you on the map, that is the way he said it. for the horses in every case. If you do what is best for the HRU: From anyone, whether they decided to breed to horse you'll be successful. There was some element of Trixton or not, did you hear any complaints about him being sentiment involved but the horse was a tremendous race a New Jersey sire? horse for us. In his own right he has four sons who have MG: Not from one single person. We sold all the shares been under 1:50, including Mel Mara. who has made in two days and everyone knew he was going to stand in almost $500,000. The horse has got a tremendous New Jersey. pedigree and at some point he is going to produce a HRU: So many people are down on the New Jersey number of horses that follow in his footsteps. But you're breeding industry and a lot of people have jumped ship. right. It was partly because I didn't want him to be relegated What makes you so bullish on its future? to the backwoods of Central Australia and not know where MG: I have complete faith that the New Jersey he was, not after what he did for racing and for us and for standardbred industry is going to be revitalized and once the other owners. So I thought this would be a good that happens you'll be surprised at how big the purses are opportunity to bring him back. going to be. New Jersey is going to return to its place of preeminence. There's just too many ways it could happen or it not to happen. First and foremost, there is finally a realization among the state's politicians that it makes no sense to have casinos restricted in this state to Atlantic City. I have just been named Chairman of the Board of the New Jersey Sire Stakes and Chairman of the Breeders Race 7, F&M N/W $7,500 L5 Pace Committee of the SBOA. I am going to work incessantly You could make a case in here for almost any one of the and tirelessly to make sure that things go well in this state, ten and I’ll throw a dart at BEACH GRANNY. This one that they go in the right direction. There is fairly wide makes her second start back from November for trainer spread agreement that, like in New York, Ohio and Elliott and had to go the first over route last week in her Pennsylvania, it makes sense to invest in the breeding and return; gets a driver change to Zeron and she’ll be heard racing industries here. from at some point. KZ BEACH GIRL drops while moving HRU: The unfortunate demise of Perretti Farm left a to the inside; it wasn’t that long ago she was in against A/B major void in the New Jersey breeding industry. Would you types. DALLAS JONES and PRECIOUS ROSE N are both have been so aggressive if Perretti were still going strong? MG: We would. I had a lot of respect for that organization, for that brand and for the vision they demonstrated over and over again. We are in business to be a top quality, high quality breeding farm. So you don't do that without going after the top stallions. But I'm also looking for others to repopulate the state. I want other farms to come back and help bring New Jersey back to its pinnacle. I'm not looking to create an insulated dynasty. I am looking for New Jersey to be the leader again. It is eminently doable. HRU: Clearly you're looking to build something special at Deo Volente. What is your vision for the future? MG: The long term goal is to have a reasonable number of stallions. We need the sire stakes program to be revitalized and the breeding program to be revitalized and I am going to make sure that happens. Our vision is to make sure we have extremely high Trixton is the star quality mares and extremely high stallion at Deo Volente quality stallions. Four to six stallions is about the right number. HRU: You recently added Lis Mara to your group of stallions. He was a terrific race horse when you were among his co-owners but has had mixed success as a stallion. How much of your decision to bring him home was due to sentimentality? HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 2/27/15 PAGE 7 of 8 in for the optional $30K tag; the latter has a decent history (1 for 39), who astutely claimed FOX VALLEY LEGEND here. ROCK N LOAD closed in :26:4 last week but is still last week off a win. POWERFUL VALOR had every yet to hit the board in six starts this year; certainly not the chance last out but was rebuffed; it was still a productive try same mare that we knew last year. MANDY’S though as a longshot. NORTHERN MATADOR swept from MATTJESTY warrants a look due almost entirely because third over last week and now moves inside; a repeat threat of the connections; was a winner here early in January. with good cover. POCKET PASSER looked like a winner CANDY STYX N makes her second start back since the late in his most recent but was caught out of nowhere. qualifier and KEN DOLL J should be forwardly placed from $12 ticket ($0.50 base): 5-10 / 3-5-7 / 4-8 / 2-10 the rail. $24 ticket ($0.50 base): 2-5-6-10 / 2-3-5-7 / 4 / 2-9-10 For TrackMaster pps for the Meadowlands Pick 4 click Race 8, N/W $15,000 L5 Trot here. For all other pps go to www.trackmaster.com Former champion SPIDER BLUE CHIP returns from a couple of races at Yonkers and could be quietly sitting on a good one. I know he lost when he was last seen here three back in a C-1/B-2, but Thursday’s Results Spider Blue Chip that winner of that race is a 10, DD, $25,000, P, DELAWARE Special Handicap Post top horse when right. Four Positions 1 thru 3 Drawn Post Positions 4 thru 7 Drawn back this one didn’t miss by much in 1:53 and his best Post Position No. 8 Assigned, 26.1, 54.2, 1:22.0, 1:50.0, FT would give him an honest chance at a square price. IL Movie Idol (h, 7, I Am A Fool--Movie Star Legs, by No MAGO would be an obvious short priced contender against Nukes), $8,000 2009 SHS-HBG O-Breakaway Racing. these but makes just his first start back since December; B-Dr John M Egloff & J M Egloff Jr. T-Nicholas Callahan. left on a winning note too so perhaps something went D-Corey Callahan, $12,500, Lifetime Record: 62-12-11-9, amiss. MONEY ON MY MIND returns for Burke and $271,360 comes out of a qualifier against a FFA trotter; he’s another that may need a start to get re-acclimated. TAKE MY PICTURE drops and would normally be a threat against these but the barn still remains winless on the meet. MARION MAYFLOWER will be showing speed as usual and UPFRONT BILLY beat a field last out that he couldn’t lose against; this is much tougher. Thursday’s Results 6, M, $25,000, P, Fillies & Mares DASH FOR THE "G" Race 9, F&M N/W $5,250 L5 Pace NOTES Highest Money Earners From 2/19/2015, M, 27.3, SIR LEHIGH Z TAM has constantly been hampered by 55.3, 1:23.4, 1:52.0, FT outside posts at Yonkers and as a result finds her way to Black Magic Eyes (m, 7, Village Jolt--Western Concert, the bottom level now. I know these Lachance ‘Z-Tam’ by Western Hanover) O-Robert D Main. B-Emerald horses always look better on paper than how they actually Highlands Farm. T-Jason Robinson. D-Brett Miller, race but this one really shouldn’t have any excuse against $12,500, Lifetime Record: 104-12-14-15, $148,232 this subpar group; an honest try wins it. SMOKIN N To view replay click here GRININ debuts in the Blackler barn and he may not have to improve this one much to have a chance in here. WIKEDWITCHOFTHEWEST has speed to put her in a good early spot and this group is softer than what she’s been in against. RHAPSODY ROSE was far beaten in her most recent and has now bottomed out; still rates a shot to threaten in this particular field though.

Race 10, Claiming $12,500 Trot FUEL CELL lands another bad starting position but he’s shown the speed to overcome it in a number of his recent races. Overall he remains the most consistent of these and dug in gamely to win his last; can be played with a good degree of confidence. CASANOVA LINDY is always a threat against these and goes first start off the claim for Surick; amazingly that trainer is yet to even finish second in 24 starts this meet. Similarly to that trainer is DiDomenico HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 2/27/15 PAGE 8 of 8

T-Jimmy Takter. D-Daniel Dube, $23,000, Lifetime Record: 80-22-17-11, $518,444 2-Lorenzo Dream (g, 8, Taurus Dream--Langala Dream, by Credit Winner) O-Vincent J Laurenzo. B-Reve Avec Moi Dreamwithme, CA. T-Julie Miller. D-Brian Sears, $11,500 Tuesday’s Results 3-Backstreet Hanover (m, 7, Andover Hall--Bye Bye 9, Mea, $22,500, T, *F&M W/0 $10,000/PREFERRED Kerry, by S J's Photo), $45,000 2009 LEX-SEL HANDICAP* P.P.1-5 DRAWN; 6-7 DRAWN; 8 & 9 O-David R Hamm. B-Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. T-Chris ASSIGNED, 28.0, 58.2, 1:27.0, 1:55.3, FT Marino. D-Tyler Buter, $5,520 Mistress Valentine (m, 6, Master Glide--Patsy's Calls: 1, 1H, 2H, 3, 4H Valentine, by Bj's Mac) O-Rags To Riches Of Pa LLC & Finish Order: Murmur Hanover, Awsome Valley, Star Tyler V Stillings. B-Kdk Standardbreds. T-Tyler Stillings. Photo, On The Podium, Prayer Session, Count Me In, D-Mike Wilder, $11,250, Lifetime Record: 72-22-18-8, Splitsville $256,354 To view replay click here 4, YR, $28,000, T, NON-WINNERS OF $25,000 IN LAST 6 STARTS, I, 30.1, 1:29.4, 1:59.1, 2:28.2, FT Tag Up And Go (g, 5, Angus Hall--Tagapine, by Tagliabue), $5,000 2011 CAN-YS O-J L Sadowsky LLC. B-Tri Star Farms LTD, CA. T-Robert Bresnahan. D-Daniel Thursday’s Results Dube, $14,000, Lifetime Record: 60-11-9-10, $191,965 5, Wdb. $41,200, Pace. Miss Vera Bars Final. 28, 58.1, 1:28, 1:57.1 FT Dube Gets No. 8,000 Nippy W Hanover (f,3 - American Ideal-Northern BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Diligence-D M Dilinger) B-Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. T- Yonkers Raceway Blair Burgess. D-Mario Baillargeon, $20,600. Lifetime YONKERS, NY, Thursday, February 26, 2015—Dan Record: 12-4-2-1, $50,820 Dube, Yonkers Raceway’s To view replay click here leading driver thus far in 2015, won his 8,000th career race Thursday night. The milestone victory was a wire-to-wire performance with outsider Clem ($22.60) in the $14,500, eighth-race pace. From post position No. 7, the Sunday’s Results 6-year-old gelding held sway a 1, YR, $25,000, T, NON-WINNERS OF $18,000 IN LAST 6 half-length in 1:56. STARTS, I, 28.4, 1:28.1, 1:57.2, 2:27.1, GD Dube, who entered the Andie Sophia (m, 5, Like A Prayer--Promising Deal, by evening needing a pair of wins Promising Catch), $5,700 2011 BHS O-Harmon Racing for the plateau, immediately Stable LLC & Comfortably Numb Stable & Adam Friedland. halved that number when B-Winbak Farm. T-Rob Harmon. D-Daniel Dube, $12,500, Upfrontwhosurlady Daniel Dube has reached Lifetime Record: 53-11-9-12, $441,072 ($16.60)—in her first purse try the 8,000 win milestone since mid-September—was a 2, YR, $22,000, T, NON-WINNERS OF $12,000 IN LAST 6 loose cover victress in the $9,000, pacing opener (1:55.4). STARTS WINNERS OVER $120,000 IN 2014/15 NOT He then finished second, second, fifth, fifth and fifth in ELIGIBLE., I, 29.3, 1:29.1, 1:58.4, 2:28.4, FT next five drives before earning his required-by-law Warrawee Preferred (g, 4, Federal Flex--Warrawee Kate,congratulatory sign. by Angus Hall), $22,000 2012 CAN-YS O-Scott D “I don’t really look at (the numbers),” the 45-year-old Woogen. B-Warrawee Farm, CA. T-Gary Messenger. Quebec native said a couple of days ago. “I don’t put any D-George Brennan, $11,000, Lifetime Record: 35-9-4-3, pressure on myself. I’m happy the season has gone well so $55,940 far.” Dube, approaching $95 million in career purses, is best 3, YR, $46,000, T, OPEN HANDICAP POST POSITION 1 known as the primary driver for two Harness Horses of the ASSIGNED POST POSITIONS 2-7, 9&10 DRAWN POST Year, Gallo Blue Chip (2000) and Rock N Roll Heaven POSITION 8 ASSIGNED, I, 29.0, 1:27.0, 1:55.4, 2:25.3, FT (2010). 1-Not Afraid (g, 6, SJ's Caviar--Beverly Crusher, by Balanced Image) O-Christina Takter & John D Fielding, CA & Goran N Anderberg, SD. B-Steve D Organ, CA.