DRF HARNESS HOME DIGITAL HARNESS EYE HARNESS PPS DRF BETS ENTRIES ARCHIVE

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020 PREVIEW ISSUE

New Image Media Photo USTA/Mark Hall Photo PARTY GIRL HILL (14-14-0-0 / $749,120) TALL DARK STRANGER (12-11-0-0 / $1,190,181)

HORSE OF THE YEAR remains on the line as the Standardbred elite compete on Friday & Saturday at Harrah’s Hoosier Park

© 2020 Daily Racing Form, LLC - 10 Grand Central, 3rd Floor, NY, NY 10017 From Amigo Volo to Party Girl Hill, driver Inside this issue Derick Giwner: Elimination races & the Dexter Dunn has Breeders Crown horsepower impact on Breeders Crown finals, Page 5 Breeders Crown staff selections & By Jay Bergman analysis, Page 7

By all measures of success, it has been a Jay Bergman: Nantab has bucked the phenomenal year for driver Dexter Dunn. odds to produce multiple Crown While 2020 has been different for many finalists, Page 10 reasons, for Dunn, who has seen his UDRS rating climb from a respectable .280 in Bob Marks: 2019 to .350 this year, wins have come more sons prosper as stallions, Page 12 frequently, and purses have been greater. Heading into this weekend’s Breeders Amigo Volo riding high into Breeders Crown at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, Dunn finds Crown 3YO Colt final, Page 13 himself in a solid position and may have favorites in half of the dozen championship On The Backstretch: Profile of trainer events that will take place on Friday and Brett Pelling, Page 15 Saturday nights. “I’ve been very fortunate to drive some Industry News, Best Bets & Analysis, great horses,” said Dunn with his typical Page 18 modesty. “I was very pleased with how most of them raced coming into this week.” Email the Editor [email protected] It’s that “trip over the track” that could HARNESS DIGEST SCHEDULE make all the difference for every horse trying to capture a Breeders Crown title. For Dunn, Issue dates next week are Nov. 2/3/5 who captured two Breeders Crowns last year, he enters the championships hoping that Ken Weingartner/USTA both Amigo Volo, who captured the juvenile Dexter Dunn should add some Breeders To ensure proper delivery male trot in 2019 at Woodbine Mohawk, and Crown hardware to his mantle this of the newsletter via weekend at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Manchego (Open Mare Trot), will rise to the email, add [email protected]. occasion once again. com to your contact list “Amigo Volo has been good all year,” said Dunn hopes he can give a first Breeders Dunn of the Nifty Norman-trained gelding Crown victory to the unbeaten filly Party Girl that followed up a Kentucky Futurity victory Hill (post 2), who goes in the $500,000 Crown with a blazing 1:51 2/5 winning mile in one of for sophomore pacing fillies, the tenth race on Discover two eliminations last week for the $500,000 Saturday’s card. final (race 11) on Saturday night. A winner in “She’s a smart horse that has gotten smarter seven of 13 trips this year, Amigo Volo starts with each start,” said Dunn of the poise Party from post two looking to capture a second Girl Hill has shown whether being forced to Crown title. go slow or being asked to go at extremely high Manchego, at the end of 2019, looked to be speed. “She was so relaxed going that second ready to take on all comers in 2020, with even quarter last week.” Find your favorite tracks, PPs, some mention of racing in Europe this year. As has been the case throughout her 14 wagering, and everything Those plans didn’t quite work out for varied consecutive victories without defeat, Party reasons and the brilliant daughter of Muscle Girl Hill kicked it into another gear in the you need to win, faster than Hill enters Saturday’s $300,000 (race 8) Open stretch and easily took her elimination in a ever before. Mare Trot event surprisingly with less wins 1:50 1/5 clocking. For Dunn the elimination than losses. Nevertheless, Dunn was more accomplished two objectives. First it gave than encouraged with how the Nancy Takter- Party Girl Hill a good post for the final, but DRF.COM/HARNESS trained mare raced last week. “She was much more importantly it gave him a chance to race more relaxed and easier to drive,” said Dunn. her from off the pace. “She’s been so many “I think she came a last quarter in 25 1/5.” miles on the front end. I just wanted her to Follow Indeed the 5-year-old would seem primed for follow last week,” said Dunn. aBHSCo.-Fall repeat Crown PTA_Layout victory. She1 10/27/2020 drew post 5:37 seven PM Page 1 in a field of eight. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

PLAN TO ATTEND 2 DAYS! NOVEMBER 17-18 BLACK TYPE SESSION - TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17

Easily find your next bet with JERRY HAWS the upcoming race ticker P.O. Box 187 CHAMPIONS CENTER, SPRINGFIELD, OH Read highlights of the most Wilmore, Kentucky 40390 important headlines & races Phone: (859) 858-4415 Catalog available online at www.bloodedhorse.com Fax: (859) 858-8498 “TQuicklyhere’s N accesso Subs thetitu latestte for E xperience” videos & analysis

DRF Harness Weekend | 2 | October 29, 2020 VisitFinding us youronline favorite at drf.com/harness track is a breeze with new filters

Get instant news updates from a live Twitter feed

VISIT DRF HARNESS NOW Oct1_Hambo_BCrown_Template 10/27/2020 5:12 PM Page 1

• Thursday, October 29 Breeders Crown Welcome Reception

• Friday, October 30 Harrah's Hoosier Park Presents All 2-Year-Old Breeders Crown Finals Post Time 6:00 p.m. (EDT)

• Saturday, October 31 Harrah's Hoosier Park Presents All 3-Year-Old & Open Breeders Crown Finals Post Time 6:00 p.m. (EDT)

For a complete list of entries to the Breeders Crown visit www.hambletonian.com 4500 Dan Patch Circle 109 South Main Street, Suite 18 Anderson, IN 46013 (800) 526-7223 • HoosierPark.com Cranbury, NJ 08512-3174 • 609-371-2211

Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing at racetracks and 21 or older to gamble at sports books and casinos. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (1-800-994-8448) ©2020 Caesars License Company, LLC. Dean Gillette Party Girl Hill looks to run her perfect record to 15-for-15 with a win in the Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Pace.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 Cattlewash) back at the three quarters and I thought I had a chance to beat him,” said Dunn. No Lou Zing couldn’t catch Cattlewash, who Dunn drives Party Girl Hill for trainer Chris Ryder, who also trains sprinted to a 1:47 2/5 winning mile. “I definitely think we can have Bettor’s Wish, a 4-year-old that he’ll look to work out a winning trip a top-five finish with this group.” Dunn’s charge drew outside of the for in the final Breeders Crown race on Saturday, the $500,000 event odds-on favorite Tall Dark Stranger (post 1) as well as the aforemen- for Open Pacers. “I’m very happy with the way he’s raced these last tioned Cattlewash (post 3). few weeks,” said Dunn of the son of Bettor’s Delight who has strung There will be four Breeders Crown events on Friday night for the together three straight wins after a disappointing effort in the Cana- 2-year-olds of each gait and sex and Dunn may not have the favor- dian Pacing Derby. Bettor’s Wish drew post nine in the field of 10 ites but still thinks he’s got a fighting chance with a pair of mounts. making Dunn’s job more difficult. “It will be a challenge against a In the $600,000 Crown for juvenile pacing fillies, Fire Start Hanover group of top horses like that,” said Dunn of the imposition. “But he’s looks to bounce back after a second-place finish in last week’s elimi- overcome the outside before and I think he can again,” Dunn said. nation. “I thought she raced very well,” said Dunn. “She hadn’t raced Kissin In The Sand, the probable favorite for the $300,000 Crown in a few weeks and I think ‘Nifty’ (Norman) will have her better this Open Mares Pace (race 12), has had her share of drivers over an week.” Fire Start Hanover, a daughter of Somebeachsomewhere, was illustrious career, with Dunn steering in her last two starts of 2019 an impressive winner on consecutive weeks at The Red Mile in Grand and then returning to guide her to three straight stakes wins this Circuit action. The outside draw (post 7) won’t limit Dunn’s options. October, including a 1:48 blowout in the Allerage at The Red Mile “She’s a versatile filly and you can do what you want,” Dunn said. on October 11. “She’s been impressive in every one of those starts,” Dunn has been behind Always A Miki from the early days for said Dunn. “She’s just been very strong at the end of all of those trainer Nancy Takter and again he’ll pilot the son of first-crop sire miles.” Indeed, whether on the front or coming from behind Kissin in the $600,000 Crown for 2-year-old colts and geldings In The Sand has finished out her miles with an abundance of speed. carded as race 14. “He’s been good throughout the year,” Dunn said. On Saturday she drew post three for trainer Nancy Takter and will “There were a couple of tough trips that really wasn’t his fault.” be looking to knock off last year’s Breeders Crown champion Cavi- Always A Miki showed solid pace finishing third in last week’s elim- art Ally (post 4) and 2018 champion Shartin N (post 6). Also in the ination heat behind the unbeaten Perfect Sting. “I think this week impressive group will be the two-time Breeders Crown champion he’s going to need a soft kind of trip and hope to pick up some of the Warrawee Ubeaut (post 5). pieces,” Dunn said, recognizing that he’ll start from post four outside Dunn will complete his Saturday night Crown card of contenders both Perfect Sting (post 2) and the streaking Southwind Gendry. with No Lou Zing (post 6) in the $500,000 Breeders Crown 3-year-old Hoosier Park’s Breeders Crown weekend schedule calls for 15 colt and gelding pace carded as race 13. “I’m very happy with the races on both Friday and Saturday with post time at 6:00 p.m. on way he raced last week,” said Dunn. “I was sitting on David’s (Miller, each night.

DRF Harness Weekend | 4 | October 29, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness noting that Gingras chose off her on Friday, so maybe that’s a sign that she won’t be 100% in the final. EDITOR’S EYE Gotta Believe took a clear step in the right direction by showing early speed and the ability to finish well in the stretch. Too bad he By Derick Giwner @harnesseyeguy drew post 9. Party Girl Hill uncorked a 25 1/5 final quarter to win a race she had no business winning and she did it under confident handling by driver Dexter Dunn. She was so impressive that driver , Elimination Races and who handles fellow elimination winner Lyons Sentinel remarked that Party Girl Hill is probably the best pacing filly he’s seen in his life. the impact on the It wasn’t an elimination race (just a prep) but Sectionline Bigry faced late stretch traffic while coming home in 24 4/5 after some of the Breeders Crown finals best pacers in the world crawled the middle half in 58 2/5. No one gets by Tall Dark Stranger. No one! He looked vulnerable as usual in the stretch of his elimination and while the PP line makes it In the next 24 to 48 hours, many seem like Warrawee Vital was getting closer, to the naked eye they of you are going to cozy up to your could’ve gone around another lap and no one was passing him. favorite set of past performances and I haven’t decided yet whether it was simply the illusion of the slow attempt to decipher the 12 Breeders pace or not, but Manchego finished in 25 1/5 and was absolutely loaded Crown winners along with which with trot at the end of her mile. horses may finish in the top three or four spots in each race. It’s a Kissin In The Sand showed some early speed, came uncovered and difficult task that I hope to make a bit easier for those of you who make couldn’t have looked any better rolling past Horse of the Year Shartin N. it past the first paragraph. If there is a sharper horse in the sport right now, I don’t know who it is. Handicapping is simply the art of using past performance along Amigo Volo was wrapped up late in a track-record performance. with outside variables to select the right horses, or at least the horses Enough said! which if provided reasonable opportunity will succeed. The process The above thoughts are simply general observations. I will select has to start with what we learned from the past, and that begins with some of the above horses as my top pick and others perhaps will fall the elimination races from October 23 and 24. into the top 3 or 4. Try to remember that while last week is impor- Starting with the 23rd, which included 12 elimination races, the tant, it is just one variable in the puzzle. The finals will most likely be weather was certainly worth considering. Only three horses on the contested with completely different pace scenarios and that alone will entire 15-race card were able to win on the lead and two of those went shift the outcome of any race. off at odds of 1-2 or lower, so they were supposed to win. There was a The Friday and Saturday Breeders Crown cards at Harrah’s strong, steady stretch tailwind which resulted in slow second quarters Hoosier Park are both spectacular. There are 15 races each night with and insanely-fast final quarters. Consider this: nine of the 12 Breeders a 6 p.m. start time. Both nights offer a $20,000 and $40,000 guaranteed crown elimination races had a second quarter of 29 4/5 or slower. Pick 4, on races 8 and 12 Friday and 7 and 12 Saturday. Saturday also Despite only seeing three wire-to-wire winners, the track was far has a $10,000 guaranteed Pick 8 featuring all Breeders Crown races from having a closer’s bias. Only one winner on the card came from starting in race 8. further back than fourth at the three-quarter call to win. So what do Click on the dates for my full-card analysis for Friday and Saturday. we take away from Friday’s races? Closers were actually at a huge disadvantage on Friday because they were never provided the opportunity to rally into quick (or even Breeders Crown Wagering Highlights reasonable) fractions. For example, how was a horse like Caviart Lotus expected to win when he was five lengths behind Southwind Gendry at harrah’s hoosier park - POST TIME 6:00 PM ET - OCT. 30 & 31 three-quarters and the leader finished in 25 4/5? Caviart Lotus paced a 25 2/5 final quarter and couldn’t come close. In the same race, Literl POST TIME RACE # PURSE/CONDITIONS Lad Hanover also came home in 25 2/5 and also had no shot. None of the above means that a horse like Southwind Gendry is not 8:36 8 $600,000 Breeders Crown 2YO Filly Trot going to win Friday’s $600,000 2-Year-Old Colt Pace final. If you think 9:23 10 $600,000 Breeders Crown 2YO Colt Trot he is simply better than the foes from his elimination and can handle 10:10 12 $600,000 Breeders Crown 2YO Filly Pace the undefeated Perfect Sting, I wouldn’t sway you from backing him, da y 10:57 14 $600,000 Breeders Crown 2YO Colt Pace i

but there is no way he is going to be on the lead after slow fractions r and able to sprint home as he pleases. F WAGERING HIGHLIGHTS: With drier and less windy conditions on Saturday, the track played $20,000 Guaranteed Pick 4 (Race 8) more true to form. Six horses were able to win on the front from 14 $40,000 Guaranteed Pick 4 (Race 12) races and overall I’d put more weight into the efforts we saw as a $20,000 Guaranteed Hi-5 (Race 15) factor in the handicapping process. There are nuggets of information which can be pulled from elimi- nation races, like general form and soundness. That said, when 55% OFF TIME RACE # PURSE/CONDITIONS to 70% of the horses in a race are guaranteed a spot in the final, the 8:24 8 $300,000 Breeders Crown Mare Trot importance of finish position is very low. We simply want to see a 8:50 9 $500,000 Breeders Crown 3YO Filly Trot horse who is maintaining their position or gaining in the stretch . . . one who seems fresh and ready to show more next week. 9:16 10 $500,000 Breeders Crown 3YO Filly Pace Those who purchase the DRF Harness Eye past performances can 9:42 11 $500,000 Breeders Crown 3YO Colt Trot check out my individual performance comments for every horse in 10:08 12 $300,000 Breeders Crown Open Mare Pace the eliminations as well as The Red Mile comments from horses who 10:34 13 $500,000 Breeders Crown 3YO Colt Pace didn’t require eliminations. Below I’ll cover a few highlights of horses that caught my eye: SATURDA Y 11:00 14 $500,000 We already covered Caviart Lotus. Whether he can beat Southwind 11:26 15 $500,000 Breeders Crown Open Pace Gendry or Perfect Sting is still in question but the price should be WAGERING HIGHLIGHTS: right if you feel strongly. $20,000 Guaranteed Pick 4 (Race 7) The elimination line doesn’t look particularly appealing on Caviart Audrey, but it also doesn’t show that she was under tight restraint by $10,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Pick 8 (Race 8) driver while sitting behind very slow fractions. I’d $40,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Pick 4 (Race 12) be willing to wager that she tied-up or shut off her air, and even if she $20,000 Guaranteed Hi-5 (Race 15) didn’t, it wasn’t an ideal situation for a young pacing filly. It’s worth

DRF Harness Weekend | 5 | October 29, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness TIMONIUM YEARLINGS

HANOVERHANOVER SHOESHOE FARMSFARMS isis sellingselling 237237 yearlingsyearlings atat thethe StandardbredStandardbred SaleSale inin TimoniumTimonium fromfrom Nov.Nov. 33 toto Nov.Nov. 55 includingincluding thethe FINALFINAL 1212 YEARLINGSYEARLINGS byby thethe greatgreat SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERESOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEOS & VIEW PEDIGREES

Andover Hall · Bar Hopping · Betting Line · Cantab Hall · Captaintreacherous · Greenshoe International Moni · Somebeachsomewhere · Stay Hungry · Tall Dark Stranger

717-637-8931 hanoverpa.com | [email protected] BREEDERS CROWN HANDICAPPING: PERFECT STING GETS TOP CALL FRI - Race 8 FRI - Race 10 FRI - Race 12 FRI - Race 14 SAT - Race 8 SAT - Race 9 $600K Breeders $600K Breeders $600K Breeders $600K Breeders $300K Breeders $500K Breeders Crown 2YOF Trot Crown 2YOC Trot Crown 2YOF Pace Crown 2YOC Pace Crown Mare Trot Crown 3YOF Trot

(2) ITERATION will (5) VENERATE as- (10) SOMETHING- All (2) PERFECT (7) MANCHEGO’s (4) SORELLA should offer a better price serted his superiority BEAUTIFUL had a good STING does is win race here last week be better for this final tonight and she could here last week in his stretch rally going last and he should be up indicates she’s back as most of Takter’s trip out this time elim and he should week when she broke. to this toughest test and she’ll be tough to horses are; top call. in what looks like a convert at a short I’ll fish for a price in a to date. beat here. (5) SPOLIED wide-open race. price here. field with options. (3) SOUTHWIND (5) PLUNGE BLUE PRINCESS (8) SWIFT SWANDA (3) IN RANGE (2) JK ALWAYSBALADY GENDRY CHIP (7) HYPNOTIC AM GARNET (5) LADY CHAOS (7) CAPTAIN COREY (5) SCARLETT (4) ALWAYS A MIKI (4) WHEN DOVESCRY BARNSDALE HANOVER

(2) ITERATION has (7) CAPTAIN COREY (6) BLUE DIAMOND (1) PERFECT STING (4) WHEN DOVESCRY (10) LOVE A GOOD the perfect spot in never looked com- EYES should take looked better in his has been primed for STORY just might most well-matched fortable last week in the shackles off this elimination than this and has the gate trip-out as she did in field. the pocket and may week after series of any of his previous speed necessary to Kentucky against this blast early here. conservative steers. races if that’s even secure the top. rock-solid group. (5) LADY CHAOS possible. (5) VENERATE (5) SCARLET (5) PLUNGE BLUE (5) SPOILED PRINCESS (10) PRESTO HANOVER (3) SOUTHWIND CHIP (1) TAKE ALL COMERS (3) MAY BABY GENDRY JAY (1) CONTINUALOU (7) MANCHEGO BERGMAN (4) ALWAYS A MIKI

(3) SPLASH BLUE (7) CAPTAIN COREY (7) FIRE START (2) PERFECT STING (4) WHEN DOVESCRY (4) SORELLA - Shoes CHIP - He’s close - Was done in by a HANOVER - Was - Blew away the com- - Has been babied all come off this week enough every week soft middle half in used into the wind petition again in his year. Time to take the so that means to hold out hope for the elim. Not jumping and got caught last elim. Have to give him gloves off. Giwner is on her side. an upset in a wide- ship that quickly. week; another chance the edge here vs. #3. She’s a second faster (7) MANCHEGO open field. in tight-knit field. without the shoes. (3) IN RANGE (3) SOUTHWIND (5) PLUNGE BLUE (5) LADY CHAOS (5) SCARLETT GENDRY (3) MAY BABY (5) VENERATE CHIP HANOVER DERICK (4) MAZZARATI (10) LITERL LAD (7) HYPNOTIC AM GIWNER (9) NOTORIOUS PINK HANOVER

(2) ITERATION - Tired (7) CAPTAIN COREY (7) FIRE START (2) PERFECT STING (7) MANCHEGO - (10) LOVE A GOOD after leading in her - Squarely beaten in HANOVER - Good - Fast, tough, and Loved her qualifier STORY - Closed elim but should be his elim, but I think elim effort where professional horse. and prep. I think she strongly in the elim, tighter tonight. he can turn the she got caught late. Makes it a perfect rallies by them. and she’s in a good tables. Improves tonight. ten. spot behind a fast (5) LADY CHAOS (4) WHEN DOVESCRY leaver. (4) ON A STREAK (5) SCARLETT (3) SOUTHWIND (8) SWIFT SWANDA (8) GRAND SWAN HANOVER GENDRY (5) SPOILED PRINCESS (5) VENERATE GREG (2) JK ALWAYSBALADY (6) SUMMA CUM (3) MAY BABY REINHART LAUDE

(2) ITERATION - Filly (7) CAPTAIN COREY (6) BLUE DIAMOND (2) PERFECT STING (7) MANCHEGO (7) HYPNOTIC AM gave way in her elim - Tasted defeat for EYES - Saved ground - His name says it seemed to flip the - Tasted defeat in but that only helps the first time last to safely make the all and a win here switch back on and her last three but her price in the final. week but he’s too final. Expect more makes him a perfect I expect her to be as was right there at talented; bounces aggression now. 10-for-10. good as ever. the wire. Expecting (5) LADY CHAOS right back. a winning trip from (2) JK ALWAYSBALADY (3) SOUTHWIND (4) WHEN DOVESCRY (10) PRESTO Sears. (5) VENERATE GENDRY (7) FIRE START (5) PLUNGE BLUE (4) SORELLA MATT (3) IN RANGE HANOVER (7) ABUCKABETT CHIP ROSE HANOVER (5) SPOILED PRINCESS

(10) PRESTO – (5) VENERATE – Kept (5) SCARLETT HANO- (2) PERFECT STING – (4) WHEN DOVESCRY (4) SORELLA – Worked hardest of any ‘Corey’ at bay last VER – Exits what Moved into a stronger – Sharp win in prepara- Seemed to have filly in either elimina- week. That rival threw clearly seemed to be pace, going by a nice tion for this. Talented plenty left in the tank tion. Expect Yannick to a knee boot, but at the better elimination. horse in Summa Cum mare owns a victory after angling out for follow Sears right off no point did it appear Strong grind into fast Laude last week. I give over her two main nearly an 1/8 of a the gate and be prom- he was going by. Not fractions and never him the slight edge in rivals on a big stage. mile in the stretch of inent throughout. much separates them. gave way; very sharp. a showdown with #3. (7) MANCHEGO the better elim. (2) ITERATION (7) CAPTAIN COREY (9) NOTORIOUS PINK (3) SOUTHWIND GENDRY (5) SPOILED PRINCESS DARIN (5) PLUNGE BLUE CHIP ZOCCALI (5) LADY CHAOS (3) IN RANGE (2) JK ALWAYSBALADY (6) SUMMA CUM LAUDE (7) HYPNOTIC AM

DRF Harness Weekend | 7 | October 29, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness BREEDERS CROWN HANDICAPPING: ‘PARTY’ THE CONSENSUS CHOICE

SAT - Race 10 SAT - Race 11 SAT - Race 12 SAT - Race 13 SAT - Race 14 SAT - Race 15 $500K Breeders $500K Breeders $300K Breeders $500K Breeders $500K Breeders $500K Breeders Crown 3YOF Pace Crown 3YOC Trot Crown Mare Pace Crown 3YOC Pace Crown Open Trot Crown Open Pace

(2) PARTY GIRL (2) AMIGO VOLO, (3) KISSIN IN THE (1) TALL DARK (5) ATLANTA gets a (7) CENTURY FARROH HILL will get beat clearly best in here, SAND has been STRANGER has been better post than last got the tightener he sometime, but it says is a Pick 5 single lights out since eye- so consistently bril- time she faced needed last week. I here that it won’t be catching rally on 9/19 liant that it’s hard to see him tripping out for me. (3) GIMPANZEE here tonight. and she will be tough go against him here. here like he did in the (1) CAPORNICUS on 9/25. Time to turn in here. Dan Patch Stakes. (3) LYONS SENTINEL (3) CATTLEWASH the tables. (10) GANGSTER (6) SHARTIN N (9) BETTOR’S WISH (7) JK FIRST LADY HANOVER (6) NO LOU ZING (6) LINDY THE GREAT GARNET (5) WARRAWEE (10) THIS IS THE PLAN BARNSDALE UBEAUT

(2) PARTY GIRL HILL (2) AMIGO VOLO has (2) KISSIN IN THE (1) TALL DARK (9) CRYSTAL FASHION (9) BETTOR’S WISH continues to race at looked fresh and fit SAND is poised to STRANGER will get has been quietly has found his form a much higher level while others have capture the title the respect he so getting better each at the right time and than the competition. struggled in the late here after some vi- richly deserves. week and has proven has the speed and season. he can leave and track courage to overcome (3) LYONS SENTINEL cious miles. (3) CATTLEWASH with the best of them. the draw. (5) HILLEXOTIC (6) SHARTIN N (10) NEW YEAR (4) WARRAWEE (5) ATLANTA (4) DORSODURO (3) READY FOR MONI (2) ROCKIN NOLA VITAL HANOVER JAY (3) GIMPANZEE BERGMAN (10) THIS IS THE PLAN

(2) PARTY GIRL (2) AMIGO VOLO - He (3) KISSIN IN THE (1) TALL DARK (3) GIMPANZEE - Is (1) SECTIONLINE BIG HILL - Has been an just seems too sharp SAND - has turned STRANGER - has as honest as they RY - Should be more unstoppable force in right now to lose and into a bearcat over proven to me that come and he doesn’t aggressive this week 2020 and it is hard was a measured win- the last two months. none of these can need a trip to win. and with the poor to think that will end ner last time. pass him. draw of ‘Wish’ he has (5) WARRAWEE (5) ATLANTA Saturday. a big shot. (7) BACK OF THE UBEAUT (3) CATTLEWASH (1) MISSION (4) PEAKY SNEAKY NECK (9) BETTOR’S WISH (6) SHARTIN N (4) WARRAWEE ACCEPTED DERICK (3) LYONS SENTINEL (8) BEADS VITAL (10) THIS IS THE PLAN GIWNER

(2) PARTY GIRL HILL (2) AMIGO VOLO - (3) KISSIN IN THE (1) TALL DARK (3) GIMPANZEE - (1) SECTIONLINE - She’s beaten all of Been on a tear since SAND - Monster STRANGER - Makes Was back to his old BIGRY - Charged these throughout late August and form spree her last it interesting some- self in the prep after home in the elimina- 2020, and I can’t see looks like he’s just five races and her times, but I don’t a Lexington clunker. tion. Expect much dif- the others stopping getting stronger. elim performance think any of these Gets third Breeders ferent tactics tonight her tonight. was outstanding. can pass him. Crown title. and look for a price. (10) GANGSTER (4) PEAKY SNEAKY HANOVER (6) SHARTIN N (6) NO LOU ZING (5) ATLANTA (10) THIS IS THE PLAN GREG (3) LYONS SENTINEL (3) READY FOR MONI (5) WARRAWEE (4) WARRAWEE (8) KATKIN AMERICAN (9) BETTOR’S WISH REINHART UBEAUT VITAL

(2) PARTY GIRL (3) READY FOR MONI (3) KISSIN IN THE (1) TALL DARK (8) KATKIN AMERICAN (10) THIS IS THE HILL - One of the - Has some excuses SAND - Hit a rough STRANGER - He’ll be - Has a ton to prove PLAN - Part of the most exciting horses for recent failures but patch mid-season controlling the action on the big stage but Burke quartet that will to come along in he’s proven talented but she’s firing on all and as usual he’ll he has the hometown make an impact here. As talented as any in some time. Keeps enough; post has cylinders now. fight off all comers. advantage and may this wide-open event; the streak intact at options. prove fast enough. (6) SHARTIN N (6) NO LOU ZING needs smooth sailing. odds-on. (2) AMIGO VOLO (5) ATLANTA (5) WARRAWEE (3) CATTLEWASH (6) BACKSTREET (3) LYONS SENTINEL MATT (7) BACK OF THE UBEAUT (3) GIMPANZEE SHADOW ROSE (4) PEAKY SNEAKY NECK (9) BETTOR’S WISH

(2) PARTY GIRL HILL (8) BEADS – Trotted (5) WARRAWEE UBEAUT (3) CATTLEWASH – I (5) ATLANTA – She (7) CENTURY FARROH – Paced a back-half home nicely with the – Vastly improved am not completely sold has beaten Gimpan- – I think the combina- in 52 4/5 while first winner, making up with the addition of TDS could have even zee twice in the last tion of second-time over with Dunn never some ground from the Lasix and we could see beaten this colt last two months and her Lasix and early speed moving the whip from head of the lane to the another move forward week and he’ll be dou- last two wins have could find ‘Farroh’ in a his hip; impossible to wire once free; some second time on the ble or triple the price. been sensational; favorable spot. pick against her. price appeal. medication. narrow advantage. (1) TALL DARK (9) BETTOR’S WISH (4) PEAKY SNEAKY (2) AMIGO VOLO (3) KISSIN IN THE SAND STRANGER (3) GIMPANZEE DARIN (10) THIS IS THE PLAN ZOCCALI (3) LYONS SENTINEL (7) BACK OF THE NECK (6) SHARTIN N (4) WARRAWEE VITAL (6) LINDY THE GREAT

DRF Harness Weekend | 8 | October 29, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness

Nantab has bucked the odds to produce multiple Crown finalists

Amanda Stephens After Next Level Stuff competes in the Breeders Crown she’ll be for sale in the Standardbred Horse Mixed Sale at Timonium.

Iteration cost $250,000 at the Harrisburg 2019 auction. Perhaps lost among the A-list of broodmare talent above is a jaywalking Cantab Hall-sired mare named Nantab. Undistinguished on the By Jay Bergman racetrack, Nantab found a home after her racing days were over BergmanJay when Scott Farber (Runthetable Stables) spent $25,000 to purchase her. “I wanted to get back in the game with Jimmy (Campbell),” said Farber. “I realized early on that I couldn’t compete with other owners paying six figures for yearlings.” For a breeder to just place a horse in the Breeders Crown, of which While Farber purchased some trotters to race, his primary goal we have 12 divisions this weekend at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, is a was to breed a small number of mares and hope to have the stakes major accomplishment. For larger breeders with more assets it’s a success his late father Sandy enjoyed some years back with Runthet- bit easier. Yet in spanning the entries for the division-ending pivotal able and trainer Jim Campbell. contests we found four specific broodmares that deserved mention “I really love Cantab Hall mares,” said Farber, who says he spends for producing two significant Breeders Crown contenders. a lot of his day poring over data. “I’m an analytics guy.” It should come as no surprise when one of those mares happens to In Cantab Hall, Farber has a stallion with rich pedigree on both be the 2014 Horse of the Year JK She’salady. Her incredible racing sides. On the stallion flank there is Self Possessed, a grandson of career and superb pedigree would of course suggest to experts that Valley Victory blessed with incredible high speed. On the dam’s side, she had the potential to produce horses of the quality of Nancy Cantab Hall’s line stretches back to the rich family of Andover Hall, Takter’s contenders JK Alwaysbalady (Always B Miki) and JK First Conway Hall and Angus Hall, the brothers who both established Lady (Western Ideal). themselves with racetrack success then went on to enjoy success On the trotting side it becomes a bit rarer for a broodmare to reach during second careers. similar heights, but both Dunk The Donato and Steamy Windows “The idea was to breed the mares to stallions that had high speed,” have accomplished the feat with foals a few years apart. For Dunk said Farber, who believed the combination would provide him with The Donato, a daughter of Donato Hanover from the immedi- trotters that could compete at a high level. ate family of $3 million winner Mr Muscleman, Plunge Blue Chip Nantab was bred to Dejarmbro first in 2015 and produced a filly (Muscle Mass) is a serious contender for the Open Mares trot while that did qualify in 2018 but never raced. Her second foal was Next her half-sister Splash Blue Chip (E L Titan) goes in the 2-year-old Level Stuff, a filly from the first crop of the late Sebastian K. “I filly trot. Dunk The Donato had clearly arrived as a producer in thought Sebastian K was a horse with extremely high speed and was order for Splash Blue Chip to sell for $265,000 at the 2019 Harrisburg great-gaited,” said Farber. Next Level Stuff put Farber in the posi- sale. tion he set out to be in and that was as an owner of a stakes-caliber Two-time Breeders Crown champion Gimpanzee has seen his dam trotter. Next Level Stuff won six of her 10 starts as a 2-year-old in Steamy Windows rapidly emerge as a star, having produced Itera- 2019 and then has come back this year winning half of her 12 starts, tion, the full sister (Chapter Seven) to Gimpanzee who went on to including a Breeders Crown elimination last Friday at Harrah’s capture the New York Sire Stakes final for juvenile fillies this year Hoosier Park. as well as multiple Grand Circuit events. With a maternal pedigree “She’s really raced well all year,” said Farber. “She was good in that goes back to the champion racehorse and stallion , Steamy Windows foals are likely to be well-received in the future. CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

DRF Harness Weekend | 10 | October 29, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 the Kentucky Futurity Filly race but just got backed up.” Next Level Stuff drew the pole position for Saturday’s $500,000 Breeders Crown final, a race that may be her last for Farber. “We’ve got her in the sale. It’s tough to bring back a 4-year-old mare,” said Farber, who is treating his venture as a true business and needs to balance the revenue and expense streams. In choosing Creatine to breed Nantab to in 2017, Farber saw the obvious speed of the stallion but liked something else. “He was just such a tough racehorse,” said Farber of the $2.1 million earner and son of Andover Hall.

Amanda Stephens Take All Comers, a son of Creatine, will try to pull off a major upset in the Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt Trot.

Take All Comers was the result and the juvenile gelding also found the pole position for his Breeders Crown finale on Friday. “He’s an interesting story in that after the Sire Stakes final Jimmy (Campbell) was talking about stopping with him for the year and bringing him back next year,” said Farber. “After a few days we had another conversation and he suggested we try the Keystone Classic at The Meadows and see how he does.” It was a strong second-place finish in the Keystone Classic that convinced the connections to continue. “After the race at The Mead- ows David (Miller) told me that the horse would be good at The Red Mile,” said Farber. Take All Comers was good enough to capture a Bluegrass divi- sion in 1:52 3/5 over The Red Mile surface on October 2 and that was all the inspiration required to continue his 2-year-old campaign. A solid third in last week’s trials against division favorites Venerate and Captain Corey was an encouraging sign, but at the same time Take All Comers finished eight lengths behind those rivals. What’s incredible about the Nantab story is not just that she’s produced two Crown finalists but perhaps that she’s done so in such a non-traditional way. It’s not as if major commercial breeders were flocking to either Sebastian K or Creatine during their first two seasons at stud. Just look at these results and if you’re a breeder ask: what Nantab can do for you? Take All Comers has earned $100,000 more this year than any other foal by Creatine. Next Level Stuff in her two years on the track has earned $340,000 more than any other foal by Sebastian K from his first two crops. There’s a Bar Hopping yearling colt that Farber will be sending Advertise with to Jim Campbell shortly by Nantab as well as a weanling by Tacti- cal Landing in the pipeline. The mare has been bred to Muscle Hill this year. “We stepped her up,” said Farber, believing full well that Nantab has earned the right to have a foal from the sport’s leading trotting stallion. MULTIPLE In Nantab’s extended maternal line is a link to the surprise 1983 Hambletonian winner Duenna. It was Duenna’s richest foal Amah PLACEMENT (Cumin) that produced Nanny Fine (Donerail), the dam of Nantab. DISCOUNTS What’s fascinating about this timeline and the apparent lack of production for the last 35 or so years is that Amah had just one foal and Nanny Fine had just one foal. That’s a realistic excuse for a For more information or to place an ad, maternal line to go dark for a period of time. Make no question with the emergence of Nantab the family is back with a vengeance. contact Derick Giwner at [email protected]

DRF Harness Weekend | 11 | October 29, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Somebeachsomewhere sons prosper in the breeding barn while Muscle Hill waits for his signature colt

success with his initial crop headed by Captain Crunch and many others. In his second crop, ‘The Captain’ offered the still unde- on the mark feated Party Girl Hill, who is in the argument of “greatest fillies of all time”. By Bob Marks @BobMarks3 As some have indicated, Most Happy Fella not only extended but expanded the Meadow Skipper line into two distinct branches. It remains to be seen just how Captaintreacherous will eventually fare in that area, although he’s off to a sensational start. Somebeachsomewhere, the unlikely superstar, like Meadow Meanwhile, other sons of Somebeachsomewhere, namely Skipper before him, seems to be shaping the pacing breed in his Sunshine Beach, So Surreal, Net Ten EOM, have shown well in own image given the siring performance of his sons thus far. Now their initial attempts at stud. Judging from the yearling prices the question becomes: Will Muscle Hill do likewise? attracted by Huntsville and Downbytheseaside at this year’s sales Somebeachsomewhere and Muscle Hill are somewhat unique thus far, the industry expects these Somebeachsomewhere sons to being considered the epitome of their specific gaits and genera- follow suit as well. tions. Unlike previous superstars, both have maintained their Then there’s the brilliant Papi Rob Hanover in the discussion as respective lofty rankings as stallions. Somebeachsomewhere’s potentially best son. It is recalled how Adios Butler, Overtrick, Bret Hanover, Niat- While it’s impossible to forecast the future, it does appear that ross and Nihilator were considered the ultimate of their eras, Somebeachsomewhere and sons will have something to say about though not one of those maintained that pinnacle as a stallion. the direction the pacing breed is likely to take in the decades to Conversely, Speedy Scot, Nevele Pride, and Self come. Possessed preceded Muscle Hill as superstar trotters, though none As for Muscle Hill, Trixton, his first major son to hit the stud, maintained those abilities in the stud barn. has started off well but does not appear of line-extender caliber Of course, Mack Lobell, given his infertility, gets a pass, while as of this writing. Other potential stallion sons include Tactical Speedy Scot and Self Possessed each left one son in the presence Landing, Southwind Frank, E L Titan, Bar Hopping and What The of Speedy Crown and Cantab Hall to extend their legacies. Both Hill. Of those, Tactical Landing, the full brother to Mission Brief, ‘Crown’ and ‘Cantab’ filled in admirably. will get his chance at Southwind Farms after being resurrected Somebeachsomewhere can be considered an unlikely super by and beating his elders in the 2018 TVG. Tactical candidate given his modest Mach Three-Where’s The Beach pedi- Landing’s first foals will reach the auction sales in 2021. gree. Meadow Skipper’s dam Countess Vivian was surreptitiously Southwind Frank, the freshman trotting champ of 2015, and switched from then super-sire Adios to the modest Dale Frost when Bar Hopping saw their first crops make the races in 2020. Both Adios nearly foundered and couldn’t breed. have shown quite well, though neither has indicated he might be According to legend, Del Miller made the change without of the caliber of a successor son as of this writing. Bar Hopping informing Countess Vivian’s owners until after it was done and has a Breeders Crown candidate in son In Range while Southwind in fact instructed Meadow Skipper to be gelded late in his 2-year- Frank’s daughter Flawless Control was the Pennsylvania sire old season at Hollywood Park. Fortunately to his and the pacing stakes filly leader this year. breed’s immense relief, he relented after the colt set a season’s E L Titan has been around a couple of years and he too gets his mark in his final start in response to some frustrated and vigorous share of decent performers, but also has not suggested that he’s a whipping by catch-driver Joe Lighthill. sire in his father’s like. Somebeachsomewhere was purchased for $40,000 in Lexington What The Hill, the Dan Patch 3-year-old champion of 2017 remem- by Brent MacGrath and Schooner Sables as a potential Ontario bered for his Hambletonian disqualification and TVG redemption, Sires Stakes candidate in what was, according to Brent, his final will send his initial Ohio-sired crop to the races in 2021. bid. Somebeachsomewhere established himself as one of, if not the Thus at present Muscle Hill seems to be emulating other super- greatest, pacer of all time in a brilliant two-year campaign that star trotting stallions in the area of successor sons, though that saw him suffer but one loss to Art Official in the Meadowlands could change as other sons will get their chances. In that his best Pace, a race most still consider the best of this new millennium. may still be yet to come, as he himself came along later in his sire As did Meadow Skipper with his first-crop son Most Happy Fella, Mucles Yankee’s life, the jury will remain out for the foreseeable Somebeachsomewhere immediately offered Captaintreacherous in future. a brilliant first crop that also included Sunshine Beach and other Somebeachsomewhere on the other hand seems entrenched stars. as a breed shaper given the impressive showing of extender son Similar to Most Happy Fella, with his first crop comprising Captaintreacherous. Silk Stockings and Tarport Hap, Captaintreacherous was a huge Stay tuned.

Ohio Stallion Registration Deadline November 30, 2020

For foals to be eligible to any Ohio-restricted stake, such as the Ohio Sires Stakes, a stallion must be registered with the Ohio State Racing Commission and standing in the state of Ohio during the year of conception.

Forms for new & returning stallions can be found at www.racing ohio.net/OSDF.html

For information, contact OSDF Administrator Kim Rinker at 614-779-0269 or [email protected]

DRF Harness Weekend | 12 | October 29, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Amigo Volo riding high heading into Breeders Crown final

By Ken Weingartner

Six weeks ago, trainer Nifty Norman said he couldn’t be happier with the way Amigo Volo looked heading into the rest of the season. As the horse prepares for Saturday’s $500,000 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old male trotters, it’s safe to say he remains enthusiastic. Amigo Volo, who was the Breeders Crown champion at age 2, won the Kentucky Futurity on Oct. 11 at Red Mile and followed up with a track-record victory in his Crown elimination last Saturday at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Going back to mid-August, he has won five of six races and finished second in the other. “He has not let me down,” Norman said. “Even last week, I was kind of mildly shocked at how good he was. He’s just solid. He’s raced in just about every race there is, and he’s as good now as he was at the start. He maybe even better. That’s a good sign for a horse.” Amigo Volo won his elimination in 1:51 2/5, the fastest mile ever by a 3-year-old trotter at Hoosier Park. The time was just one-fifth of a second off the track’s overall record. In Saturday’s Breeders Crown final, Amigo Volo will start from Amanda Stephens post two with driver Dexter Dunn. He is the 6-5 morning-line favor- Amigo Volo is the likely favorite in the 3-Year-Old Breeders ite. Three male trotters this century have won Crown trophies at Crown Colt Trot. ages 2 and 3: Gimpanzee, 2018-2019; Father Patrick, 2013-2014; and Muscle Hill, 2008-2009. Amigo Volo is by Father Patrick out of Margarita Momma. Zweig Memorial after finishing second in the Hambletonian, is the For the year, Amigo Volo has won seven of 13 races. Lifetime, 7-2 second choice. Capricornus is 6-1. the multiple world-record-setting gelding has won 13 of 25 starts Norman’s Breeders Crown weekend begins Friday with Fire and $1.21 million in purses for owners Pinske Stables and David Start Hanover in the $600,000 final for 2-year-old female pacers. J. Miller. The filly had a five-race win streak snapped with a second-place “It won’t be easy, but I think that at the moment he’s probably finish to Continualou in her elimination. the best horse,” said Norman, who has won four Breeders Crown Fire Start Hanover is the 3-1 favorite, starting from post seven finals. “I’ve got a good driver, a good draw, so I’ve got as good a shot with driver Dunn. as anybody.” “I was very happy with her run,” Norman said. “She was sick Norman also sends out Chestnut Hill in the event. Chestnut Hill after Lexington, we brought her home, she had five days off. I only finished second by a neck to Capricornus in the other Breeders trained her once. I thought she would be kind of short, but she was Crown elimination. actually really good. Even though she’s drawn seven, I think she’ll For the year, Chestnut Hill has won three of 14 races, including go really good. I think that run last week will really help her and the Canadian Trotting Classic. The colt is by Muscle Hill out of she’s good either way, she can leave or she can race from off the Poof She’s Gone, a filly that provided Norman his first Breeders pace. Crown trophy in 2009. He is owned by Mel Hartman, David McDuf- “She’s a nice filly and I think she’s got a good shot. She’s a big, fee, and Little E. Hartman and McDuffee bred Chestnut Hill with strong thing, and has just gotten better as the year has gone on. I’ve Herb Liverman. got a lot of confidence in her.” Chestnut Hill will start from post nine, the outermost spot on the Harrah’s Hoosier Park hosts the four $600,000 Breeders Crown gate, with David Miller in the sulky. The colt is 15-1 on the morn- finals for 2-year-olds on Friday. The remaining eight finals, for ing line. 3-year-olds and older horses, are Saturday. Racing begins at 6 p.m. “I thought he raced really good last week, but then the draw just (EDT) both nights. crushed him,” Norman said. “Now you’re really relying on luck. The 2020 Breeders Crown, presented by the Libfeld-Katz Breed- But you know what, he’s had some bad draws or rough trips and got ing Partnership, is the 37th edition of the $6 million event. Harrah’s good finishes out of them. A few things went his way, and he always Hoosier Park will provide a free live high-definition streaming of gets home good. The horse himself is in good shape.” the races on YouTube. Ready For Moni, who won the Goodtimes Stakes and Harry M.

DRF Harness Weekend | 13 | October 29, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness DRF HARNESS DIGEST NEWSLETTER

✓ Standardbred News ✓ Opinions from Top Writers ✓ Featured Stories ✓ Industry Profiles & Interviews ✓ Handicapping & Best Bets

FREE! Get each FREE issue of DRF Harness Digest via email to stay up to date with the latest in the industry.

Sign up now in seconds by visiting:

DRF.COM/HARNESSNEWSLETTER Did you ever want to know more about the people involved in the harness industry? Editor Derick Giwner combs the harness landscape each week to profile a new personality from the sport.

trainer Brett Pelling What kind of car do you drive? Porsche 911 Turbo. Favorite dinner meal? Snack? Roast chicken on a bed of cabbage; Chocolate or candy. What is your favorite track to race at? The Meadowlands. It is the truest and fairest of all tracks. What is your favorite big event in racing?

Meadowlands Pace Night. It always falls around my birthday USTA Photo and we’ve had a lot of good 3-year-olds pointing to it. I feel that Brett Pelling has accumulated well over 1,600 wins as a night is a culmination of all the winter’s training. To me Mead- trainer and 43 as a driver in his career. owlands Pace night is the time where you get a horse as good as he is going to be. Also, Meadowlands is my home track. horses with Pan-Am. My first job coming to America was as a horse attendant and I just decided to stay. I got my trainer’s How often is racing on your mind? license and went on my own in 1988. Unfortunately all the time. You returned to North America in 2017 to train again after What is your favorite thing to do outside of racing? a decade back home in Australia. Have things gone as expected? Spend time with my kids. They are 26, 24 and 14. I think so overall; initially not. I was hoping to have nice 3-year- What is your favorite sport to watch? olds right off the bat, but I also understood the business had taken a step back with more partnerships involved. The people that had It used to be the NBA, but I’ve totally gone off it. They’ve just clients were very protective of the clients they had. When I left the taken the whole Black Lives Matter movement too far as part of U.S. we had 60 horses and another 15 to 20 were always in the pe- the sport. I like F1 (Formula One). I like the technology that goes ripherals and always available. I had some very good friends that along with it. I also like the cycling grand tour. were clients with other people when I came back (from Australia). I was very determined to avoid trying to take anyone’s owners. What is one thing about you most fans/bettors don’t know? I only like to do things by agreement the right way. It took me a while to build things back up. I was my own biggest owner for the I’m very approachable. Most people don’t think that, but I am. first two years but I’m not anymore, so we’re on the right track. I think I’m also a $2 bettor’s friend. I understand what they are about, and when my horses head to the track, if they believe he What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten about harness is in a good spot, they’ll be as good as they can be. racing? What is one word that describes harness racing for you? Never own more than 10% of your barn. Unfortunately when I Deja vu. The years roll on top of each other and big events come came back I didn’t follow that advice because I couldn’t. Most around quickly. The calendar spins around very quickly. I wish trainers are not wealthy enough to own a lot of horses in their we got to have these horses longer like in the European model. I barn and if they do, they get themselves in trouble. would be a huge fan of having a horse around until they are 4, 5 or 6 years old, but that just isn’t the way it is. What was your favorite moment in harness racing? How did you get started in the sport? The year (1998) I went to the Jug and swept the Jug and Jugette

My step-father was involved. He had already moved to America. CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 I got a job working for a livestock company that was shipping

DRF Harness Weekend | 15 | October 29, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 elims and finals. I thought it was a massive achievement and difficult to repeat. I look back on it fondly. Browning Blue Chip, Cam Knows Best and Shady Character won the Jug elims (Shady Character won the final) and Armbro Romance (won final) and Pan Yankees in the Jugette. Is racing at the Delaware County Fair special? I think the Jug is pretty awesome. To get to win it is special. We have four Jug trophies in the house here. They went with us to Australia and came back again with us. Which is the best horse you’ve ever trained? I have no doubt that the best horse I ever trained was Papi Rob Hanover. I was always in awe of him. He had every- thing: intelligence, strength, gait, speed. Unfortunately the industry was hurt by the fact that he didn’t get to keep racing. It would’ve been a great battle and some- Hanover Shoe Farms photo thing the industry really needed with him Brett Pelling brought Papi Rob Hanover to stand at Hanover Shoe Farms late this summer. against Tall Dark Stranger. Unfortunately he had a freak accident. Let’s talk about your Breeders Crown starters. When How good do you think Papi Rob Hanover could’ve been? Dovescry has been lightly raced this year. Can we expect a breakout effort on Saturday? When I see other horses racing and knowing in my mind how dominant he was over them, in my mind he would’ve broken all the She was very good at The Meadowlands the other night in 1:52 on records. He smashed the world record on a five-eighths in 1:47 1/5 a track that was actually off. I’m looking for a really nice effort. and that was just his fourth start of the year. He was very special. If There are good mares in there, but she’s definitely my one and only I have one regret, hopefully he’ll be a great sire and they’ll ask what real chance. We’ve been very light with her to get her ready for her great sire never raced at The Red Mile. The answer will be Papi Rob 5-year-old season, but now that we are late in the year, she’ll be as Hanover. good as she can be for where she is in her life. Which horse is/was your favorite? How far is Caviart Ally from putting in a mile capable of Back when I was starting out I had a horse named View Field Prince. winning the Open Mares Pace? I bought him myself in 1988 when I was just starting out. He was just a Unfortunately things haven’t worked out for her since COVID. We $30,000 claimer but was tough as nails. I’m super appreciative of him. got her ready for the Matchmaker and she was sensational. She car- He would just win the hard way. He got me going. He helped me buy a ries a lot of weight; likes to race; likes to train. When we came back truck and trailer and put a down payment on my first house. He was a from COVID, everything went too quickly for her. She had a couple really nice, kind horse. He’ll always hold a special place in my heart. of tie-up problems, a couple of soundness problems. She’s still pacing There are lots of them where you appreciate their personalities. “Papi quick miles but those horses are going supreme efforts every time Rob” has a nice personality. Another very special horse for me was they line up. On Saturday (in her elimination) she came up with a Armbro Operative. He had a lot of problems but one of the owners told new problem and we’ve been working on that this week. Last year me that we raced him nine times for a purse of $100,000 or more and he she was in a groove where everything was right. This year it has won every time. He could get up for a big race and was a cool horse. been one little thing after another. It’s been a balancing act and it just hasn’t come together. What’s the one race that you haven’t won but really want to win? Your son Jack has been driving horses lately. Does he have a Probably the only one is the Hambletonian. I can’t think of any future in the sport? others I haven’t won. If you asked me the one race I regret, it is also He sits good in the bike and horses run for him. When he works out the Hambletonian because we should’ve won it with Like A Prayer the nuances of the game, I think he’ll do well. He’s light and drives (2002). Ron Pierce made a big mistake at the top of the lane. He was kind, he’s not a rough driver. He’s built a lot like Dexter (Dunn) so I following the winner and he elected to pull back and get behind a told him to watch him and use that style. He sits very still and horses horse that was three-wide and go four-wide. If he stayed where he run for him. He only weighs 135 pounds. was, he probably wins by two lengths. I think if you ever talk to Pierce he’ll say that is the one race he regrets. If you could choose any horse in history to train, which horse How many horses do you have in the barn? would it be and why? I have 27 stalls. Within the next two weeks they will be full. I’m try- I feel very fortunate to have trained Papi Rob Hanover. Hopefully ing not to go over that number because we have to have staff to take people look at the horses I have trained and say them. I really can’t care of them and I like to keep the same people. I don’t want to hire think of any horses. someone for a few months and have to let them go. Even when we don’t have 27 horses, the people I have still have jobs. CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

DRF Harness Weekend | 16 | October 29, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Kentucky Racing Commission was looking to hang me. When it was all said and done, we ending up going to race at the Breeders Crown but taking the 20 days, so I took 20 days that I never should’ve taken so Peter Pan (stable name of owner) could race his horses in the Breeders Crown. It was a great period of time for me in terms of success, but a real blight on the industry that I was the leading trainer in the country and no one backed me up.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 In the whole scheme of things, I don’t feel like I have a record, but when I fill out my license and it says have you ever been arrested, I have to say yes. I was arrested in 1988 for possession of PLDs. Those There has been talk about your conspicuous absence from are prescription legend drugs. I had a box which had a bottle of Bute, a bottle of Lasix and a bottle of Banamine. I was the leading trainer the Harness Racing Hall of Fame despite stellar statistical at Freehold and they searched my barn and found this box. I said, achievement. What are your thoughts? ‘What’s the problem?’ The box was labeled but the medicine wasn’t, so I got arrested. Now every time I come into the States via JFK There are quite a few things in the business that don’t add up. If (airport) I get taken into a back room, because it is on an FBI record, I don’t make the Hall of Fame, I hope there will be a Down Under to explain something that happened in 1988. I took it to court and person eventually because I think the Down Under horsemen and the final outcome was ‘case dismissed’ but I still have to carry that horses, just like the Canadians, have had a true impact on the sport around with me. It is wild. To me there are a few things in this busi- in the States. The Hall of Fame is a true body that recognizes lots of ness that have been wrong, but what am I going to do about it? things and it would be fitting and good for New Zealand. I’d be proud to be the first and if I’m not, hopefully another one. How did COVID-19 affect your life and business? There are always stories and innuendo. Unfortunately things are It wasn’t too bad. My daughter and her husband live in Brooklyn never straightened out if there was a problem in the past. Unfortu- and came to live with us in Monmouth County. I only live two miles nately there are still people who accuse others of doing things in the from the barn. I just went to the barn and back home every day. I was past when in fact it never happened. The people who have the votes, very lucky. From a business point of view it was actually a positive to it is very hard to speak for them. me because I had eight horses I owned myself and I recognized very quickly that there were too many unknowns, so I sold five of them. Other than a pending Class 4 positive that you are currently That ended up being a very good move. appealing from this year, your record is clean dating back 20 years. Do you think that is fair to hold judgements from 1988 If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what or 1999 against you? would it be? What did I really do 20 years ago? I can tell you right now that others Get rid of the current race bikes. They’ve destroyed the business. We are in the Hall of Fame with many more positives. We had one of the need to take a long hard look at how they’ve changed racing and had biggest bullsh** positives of all-time with The Panderosa getting a a major negative impact. We’ve become way more speed-oriented morphine positive (1999). That horse came back with a reading of less than our forefathers ever envisioned. These bikes just make horses than three nanograms. They couldn’t even tell the exact number, just go forward. I think it cuts down the lengths of their careers. From less than three. A nanogram is one part per billion. In a gambling perspective, it is horrendous because horses can’t close a horse is allowed to race with 75 nanograms. By the time I got done from the back anymore. The whole model for harness racing has with the Peter Pan part of that race, it cost me three-quarters of a been affected by these bikes. million dollars. It’s things like that which piss me off in this business. There are things as trainers which occur and are beyond our control. How do you view the future of harness racing? Just like that class 4 positive that we are fighting right now. The New I think it will always be here. We need smart management like WEG Jersey Racing Commission failed to notify the New Jersey Stan- has shown. For the product WEG has, they do so much better than dardbred horsemen - they notified the thoroughbred horsemen - of a we do and someone needs to recognize that. change in the ruling with Bute going from 24 to 48 hours. The SBOA is fighting it, not us. There was an error from the Commission and the SBOA has picked up this fight for me and something like 14 others. Time for the stretch drive: I think I’ve had 7,400 starts at The Meadowlands and 7,100 of them Best Horse You Ever Saw: have been for horses’ 3-year-old and up with all of them having Bute - I got to see him win 24 hours before the race. Now all of a sudden the rules have changed. and it was the most amazing Does that mean I should have a positive on my record? thing I’ve ever seen. When- ever I see the Europeans race Another thing that happened, and no one really knows this, when and the way they race, I think I got the positive for morphine in Pennsylvania, and this is why it is remarkable. They are I’ve always thought the sport needed a czar so someone could take able to do that because they a closer look at things, there were nine positives for morphine that preserve them when they are week and I was the last person to go in for a hearing. I knew that younger in life. the other guys were all locals at The Meadows and they received Meadowlands Photo “time served” because it took between seven and 10 days to have a Best Race you ever saw: Varenne winning the Breeders hearing. I brought a lawyer in with me just in case because I was From my own selfish point of crown at The Meadowlands. the leading trainer and they gave me nine months. I gave them an view, Western ideal beating earful. Now we started to fight it with administrative law. They had Dragon Again in the Haugh- something going on at the time where you couldn’t race in Canada ton final (2000). Dragon Again was a stone front runner and we were while under appeal, so finally we were actually at Lexington about three deep on the turn, hooked onto his wheel. At the time I thought 22 days before we had to enter for the Breeders Crown (at Mohawk), that was the best race I’d seen. it was a Friday afternoon. My lawyer said to me, ‘will you take 20 days so you can enter for the Breeders Crown?’ I said ok. I raced Best Driver ever: John Campbell. seven horses on the Saturday which were already entered and I get a call from Marc Guilfoil from the Kentucky Racing Commission Lasix – Yes or No?: No. saying I raced those horses while under suspension. Apparently Favorite TV Show?: I’ve watched a lot of Netflix lately - Dexter. they agreed to the 20 days effective immediately instead of effec- tive Monday. Those seven horses made like $350,000 and now the Trotters or Pacers?: Pacers, definitely.

DRF Harness Weekend | 17 | October 29, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness INDUSTRY NEWS

Charles Keller III resigns from Hambletonian Soc. Board

At a recent telemeeting, the executive committee of the Hambleton- ian Society reluctantly accepted the resignation of long-time member At DRF Harness we strive to provide the best handicapping and Harness Racing Hall of Famer Charles E. Keller III. information in the sport. Each week we’ll use this space to bring READ MORE you some of our handicappers’ best bets, value plays and horses to watch. Use this information as one of your tools when wagering or simply click on the link above and head to DRF Bets to wager now. Yonkers adds stakes races, raises purses Happy Handicapping!

MGM Yonkers announced that two Stakes races will be added to the Thursday, october 29 racing calendar in November at Yonkers Raceway. On November 28, 2020 there will be a $125,000 Invitational Pace for RACE 8 horses that were eligible to the Borgata Pacing Series and a $100,000 Invitational Mares Pace for horses that were eligible to the Blue Chip (7) RAU RU was a confi- Matchmaker Series. dent winner in the opening These stakes along with several others were unfortunately canceled leg of this series and off that earlier in the year due to the pandemic and closure of the racetrack strong effort he gets the call and casino. The Yonkers Raceway Race Office will be contacting eligi- to repeat. ble participants shortly. -Garnet Barnsdale MGM Yonkers is also pleased to announce a 10 percent purse increase across the board for all classes. This increase will take effect Friday, october 30 for racing the week of November 9. -edited release (Yonkers) RACE 3

(1) ANOKA HANOVER Yearlings now online for Blooded Horse Fall Sale didn’t race in the Breeders Crown because she wasn’t Black-type yearlings are now online for the Blooded Horse Sale to eligible, but she’s that type of be held Nov 17-18 at the Champions Center in Springfield, OH. The 123 filly, and is having an excel- yearlings sell on Tuesday. lent 2-year-old campaign. Hundreds of racehorses, broodmares and green prospects round -Greg Reinhart out Tuesday’s session and all day Wednesday. Mixed horses may be supplemented until November 9. Visit www.bloodedhorse.com to RACE 7 view yearlings, enter horses and order a catalogue. -edited release (Blooded Horse Sale) 6 - MISS TANGO didn’t miss by much from the pocket in either of her last two tries, and Mohawk Million to return in 2021 was a solid third in the breeze the week before. She’s hit the After a successful inaugural edition, Woodbine Entertainment board in 8 of 11 so far, and this today (10/27) confirmed that the Mohawk Million for 2-year-old trot- group shapes up as far more ters will return in 2021. manageable. READ MORE -James Witherite

Standardbred Horse Sales offers ‘Stable Stars’ contest RACE 7 (5) MELADY’S MONET In conjunction with its Annual Yearling Sale, Standardbred Horse was too far back to threaten Sales Company is pleased to announce the 2020 edition of its popular last week but came absolutely “Stable Stars” Contest. Contestants will predict the knock-down sales flying home with an impres- prices of 15 yearlings to be sold on Tuesday, November 3rd. sive late burst of speed. READ MORE -Matt Rose Live racing returns to Dover on November 2 full card analysis / past performances Dover Downs will return for its 51st harness racing season when the 83-day meet opens on Monday, November 2 and continues through Meadowlands (FRI) Analysis Hoosier Park (SAT) Analysis Thursday, April 1. READ MORE Mohawk Park (FRI) Analysis Mohawk Park (SAT) Analysis Propulsion disqualified from 45 races in Sweden Hoosier Park (FRI) Analysis Meadowlands (SAT) Analysis

The Swedish Trotting Association has disqualified North Ameri- DHP PPs harness eye PPs trackmaster PPs free PPs can-bred Propulsion from 45 races in Sweden because the horse was found not eligible to race as he was nerved in both front legs. READ MORE Want full-card analysis? Visit DRF.com/harness

DRF Harness Weekend | 18 | October 29, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness