Stable success helping Millar heal from double lung transplant horror story - Harness Racing Update
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Stable success helping Millar heal from
double lung transplant horror story
“I had to learn how to walk all over again,” Millar said. “The only
thing that kept me going through it all was getting reports on
how my horses were training.”
by Sandra Snyder
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Millar Farms homebreds have been on a roll since racing
resumed in Ontario in June. Three-year-old gelded pacer
Powertrain clocked a 1:49.3 mile at Woodbine Mohawk Park
in his second lifetime start on June 28, 2-year-old pacing filly
Prohibition Legal won an Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold Series
division on July 2, freshman pacing colt Betterhavemymoney Hip 39 The Greek Freak p,3,1:49.4f ($264,344)
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“It’s a little surreal so I’m kind of pinching myself a little bit and
just enjoying it,” said owner/breeder George Millar. “I said to (my
trainer) Nick (Gallucci), ‘It’s kind of strange this week because Preferred Equine Marketing
we were all pretty excited.’ The whole farm was pumped about PREFERREDEQUINE.COM
Powertrain last week. To have a colt go sub-1:50 his second (914) 773-7777
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on this week, but it was like hardly anybody is talking about
him because the 2-year-olds are racing so well.” “It was like a horror show, I had a double lung transplant and
found out a day later the lungs they gave me had COVID. So
The early season success has had extra meaning for the entire instead of being in the hospital for two weeks I wound up being
Millar Farms team because 2021 started out on an appalling in the hospital for 13 weeks and lost 35 pounds. I had to learn
note for its owner. The Stouffville, ON resident, who is in his 71st how to walk all over again,” said Millar. “The only thing that kept
year, had a double lung transplant in February that resulted in a me going through it all was getting reports on how my horses
13-week stay in hospital and a rehab program that is ongoing. were training. I think maybe my horses got together and said,
Harness Racing Update | Page 1 | July 9, 2021
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Harness Racing Update
SUMMER
In today's HRU
Communication must be paramount in Yonkers tote malfunction page 05
You make the call page 09
Önas Prince wins “Swedish Hambletonian” page 14
MIXEDSale
New owner remembers dad with ‘Chuck’ page 15
‘George needs a break this year so let’s race good for him.’ So
that’s what’s happening.”
Millar and Gallucci selected two trotting fillies out of the London
Virtual Yearling Sale last fall, but they have been delayed due to
some fractious behaviour in the paddock, so all of the young-
sters currently tearing up Ontario racetracks are homebreds,
some of them third generation products of Millar’s breeding
program.
“I pick the breedings out and then you’re there when they all
get broke, so it’s kind of like you’re there from start to finish.
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Owner/breeder George Millar underwent a double lung
transplant in February and said the only thing that kept
him alive was thoughts of seeing his horses race.
IN-PERSON | PROXIBID | VIEW CATALOG
Harness Racing Update | Page 2 | July 9, 2021
Harness Racing Update
It’s a nice feeling. And a lot of these babies I have I raced their Newer members of the broodmare band are also starting to
dams, I raced their great dams, I raced their great-great dams,” have an impact. Shadow Play son Powertrain is the first foal
said Millar. “Prohibition Legal is out of a daughter of Little Black from Mmillion Blue Chip, a daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven
Book, who was kind of my foundation broodmare, and we had and Molly Can Do It that Millar acquired for $100,000 at the
a good time with Catch A Wish racing, too. She’s produced me 2013 Lexington Selected Sale. The mare did not find success on
two or three in 1:50, so she’s just a good mare. Serious Matter the racetrack, but her owner hopes she has found her groove
is still around, she’s walking the field. They call her grandma. as a broodmare. Powertrain is two-for-two and makes his OSS
She’s not having foals anymore but when Steven weans the debut in the second 3-year-old pacing colt Grassroots division
babies she goes out and looks after them.” at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday (July 10).
The Little Black Book line is being carried on in 2021 by fresh- “I bought a lot of mares, like really well-bred mares, over the
man pacing filly Prohibition Legal (Big Jim–Catch A Wish) and last three or four years and a lot of them didn’t turn out too
2-year-old pacing gelding Silk Road Smash (Bettors Delight– well on the racetrack, expect for Bestseller Hanover, so a lot of
Chocolate Truffle). Two-year-old pacing gelding My Blueberry them are already in the broodmare band,” said Millar. “Their first
Buck (Thinking Out Loud–Mind Over Matter) is a great-grandson babies are being dropped on the ground this summer, they’ve
of Serious Matter. Three-year-old pacing fillies Cyclone Sister already had them on the ground, and more will drop next year,
(Shadow Play–Riveting) and Cantstoplying (Sunshine Beach– so I’m looking forward to seeing what they’re going to produce.”
Musical Voyage) are great-granddaughters of J Bs Elizabeth and Gallucci and his team will break seven yearlings this fall and
Betterhavemymoney (Betterthancheddar–Whosluckierthanme) there are 11 foals on the ground. Millar enjoys getting in the
is a great-grandson of Natchitoches. jog cart behind the young horses and is working hard on his
“You know the funny thing is, that Betterhavemymoney colt, I rehab program to make sure he does not miss a mile behind
was going to cull his dam,” said Millar. “She was marked in the the 2020 and 2021foal crops.
book to cull after she foaled out this year and I liked him so “Last week I went up and jogged one, but when they did the
much in January I told Steve Samis, my broodmare farm manager, surgery, they kind of split you right open you know, they did
I said, ‘Stevie, I changed my mind. I like this colt, I think we’ll some nerve damage to my left arm. My right arm is great, but
breed her back to Betterthancheddar,’ and I’m so glad I did now.”
New Image Media
Millar Farms’ Powertrain (Louis-Philippe Roy) clocked a 1:49.3 mile on June 28 at Woodbine Mohawk Park in his second
lifetime start.
Harness Racing Update | Page 3 | July 9, 2021
Harness Racing Update
I don’t have the strength in my left arm and the horse kind of
bolted sideways like it was going to go in the infield and when
I went to pull on the left line I would have liked to have a little
bit more strength there, so I think I’ve got to do a little bit more
exercise before I go back,” said Millar. “But guaranteed I’ll be
sitting behind my yearlings in September and jogging them on
the farm. That’s what I like to do.”
In the meantime, Millar is enjoying watching his racehorses
compete and the babies frolic in the fields with their mothers.
“After spending that much time staring at hospital walls, it’s
so nice to be back at the farm, and be around the horses,” said
Millar. “It’s getting busy around here now which is nice. And I
have all my grandchildren here swimming in the pool right now,
so actually life couldn’t get better.”
New Image Media
Millar Farms’ homebred Prohibition Legal (James MacDonald)
won an Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold Series division for
2-year-old pacing fillies on July 2 at Mohawk in 1:54.
New Image Media
Another Millar homebred, Betterhavemymoney (James MacDonald) won a Gold event for freshman pacing colts and
geldings on July 3 at Mohawk.
Harness Racing Update | Page 4 | July 9, 2021
Harness Racing Update
It’s critical in being able to know with certainty what happened
at Yonkers because surely this is not the first time in the history
of racing that such an event has occurred. And the track owes it
to the public and to their customers to let them know not only
what happened but how that is going to be prevented again
in the future.
Adding to the confusion is not being able to piece together
the scope of impact by the tote malfunction. Almost every race
replay begins from a few seconds before the start of the race
through the end of it. For this race, the replay made available
only shows the closing stages of the race. Because of this, you
can see the “final” closing odds, but you can’t see the odds of
Communication must be what the horses were at the start of the race, presumably before
any in-race changes occurred.
paramount in Yonkers tote I was able to take screenshots that night of the Pick-3 and
malfunction Pick-4 will-pays leading up to that race and based on those,
the #4 Hitman Hill was slightly favored in both pools over #7
Branquinho. But who knows unless you saw it live and remem-
by Brett Sturman
bered it if Hitman Hill was still favored as the race started. All
An oddity occurred this past Tuesday (July 6) at Yonkers Raceway we know is that according to the graphics in the homestretch
where the night’s fourth race resulted in a no contest. Though Branquinho was 3-5 and Hitman Hill was 3-2. In the post-race
an out of character event, it’s still one where its implications graphics, the winner Branquinho was priced even shorter at 1-2
must be taken with extreme seriousness. while third-place finisher Hitman Hill drifted slightly to 8-5.
Having not seen the events live and not having replay avail- When trying to obtain additional information for this column,
ability (more on that below), going solely by the race chart it the track was not able to comment on the matter at this time
appears that Hitman Hill left from post 4 and then yielded to and the judges forwarded me to the New York State Gaming
an oncoming Branquinho who left from post 7 and cleared Commission.
past the quarter pole. In a seemingly innocent enough race,
Branquinho led the rest of the way easily for the two-length
win while Keystone Komodo chased to be second. Hitman Hill
backed away from the pocket to finish a well beaten third.
What ensued from there was a series of communication breakdowns.
Following the completion of the race, graphics showed simply
the order of finish for the top four horses for at least 10 min-
utes, but without the hint as to an inquiry or what may have
been causing the delay in the race to go official. After that, it
was announced that the race was a no contest. Showing a race
off-time at 8:24 p.m., the track issued a tweet over an hour
later at 9:43 p.m. stating “Tonight’s fourth race was declared a
no contest due to a tote malfunction in the stop betting that
caused wagering to be open during the race.”
There’s a lot to unpack in that statement. For starters, it shows
irrefutably the potential for wagering to continue even as a live
race has begun. Though it seems that there’s been ample anec-
dotal evidence through the years to support it, any suggestions
of “open windows” (continuing to be able to bet after a race
has started) have been typically treated as conspiracy theories.
So, what actually happened in the case of Yonkers tote malfunc-
tion? No one knows. Was it simply a matter of human error? Was
it some form of a technical malfunction? Was it something more
nefarious? The public, and particularly those who had wagered
on the race and even more-so those who would have cashed
otherwise, deserve a more detailed explanation than the tweet.
Harness Racing Update | Page 5 | July 9, 2021
Harness Racing Update
Whatever the explanation is, and perhaps it’s a very simple one,
communication of it is owed to the public.
Meadowlands Pace eliminations
This weekend is highlighted on the racing front with two elim-
inations for the Meadowlands Pace. With 14 entrants, there
are two eliminations Saturday (July 10) where the top five of
seven horses in each $50,000 elimination will come back for
next weekend’s final.
FIRST ELIMINATION RACE 6
ONE EIGHT HUNDRED has proven himself to be the real deal
and credit to Takter for managing the maturation of this one
since last year. After impressively sprinting up the inside two
back to beat South Beach Star, his race last week against older
conditioned foes was even faster when he established a new
life mark of 1:48 flat including a :25.3 kicker at the end. He’s
not unbeatable by any means, but he is a deserving elimination
favorite. ROCKYROAD HANOVER hasn’t been able to get the
best of One Eight Hundred yet this year, but he does come off
a race where if not for a ticky-tack disqualification he would
have been given due credit for beating Perfect Sting. HEART OF
CHEWBACCA gets a big-time driver change to Brennan. Noble
was first listed down to drive when entries were first taken
and I’m not sure if Brennan replaces him due to that drive in
the Messenger elimination, but at any rate a return to early
speed may be coming. CHARLIE MAY gave an excellent account
of himself when running second to American Courage in his
Messenger elimination and final. CHASE H HANOVER loomed for
a moment first-over into American Courage; playable longshot.
EXPLOIT posted a 1:48.1 mile four back.
Picks: One Eight Hundred, Chase H Hanover, Rockyroad Hanover
SECOND ELIMINATION RACE 8
AMERICAN COURAGE passed his Messenger test with flying
colors and now gets a shot on the big track. When I spoke
to trainer Alexander a couple weeks ago in advance of the
Messenger eliminations, not only was he adamant about how
good his colt was, but that he was going to open even more eyes
once on the mile track. This is his shot! Two-year-old champion
PERFECT STING went a 1:48.1 mile two back but then for all
intents and purposes was defeated last out at The Meadows
off a :55.1 half mile. He’ll be tested here for sure. SOUTHWIND
GENRY was charted with interference last out attributed to
Rockyroad Hanover, though it’s tough to say if it materially
impacted him. He was a dominant winner three back at Philly
in a race that included One Eight Hundred; would have to think
Yannick will be pushing forward early. ABUCKABETT HANOVER
was beaten last out at Yonkers before the break but that was
a nightmare trip from post 8 anyway; gets a rematch with #1
on more level footing.
Picks: American Courage, Southwind Gendry, Perfect Sting
Harness Racing Update | Page 6 | July 9, 2021
Harness Racing Update
Be My Baby Now and Sea
Silk impress in $150,000
Next Generation events
Ownership group takes pair of 2-year-old “Be My Baby Now didn’t seem as impressive as Sea Silk but
events. I think that’s her style,” said co-owner Mark Weaver. “She’s all
business and will do whatever Chris asks of her, nothing less
by Jay Wolf and nothing more.”
Owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Knox Services On Saturday night (July 3), the pacers took center stage and Sea
and Hatfield Stables had a great couple of nights last weekend Silk had the Eldorado Scioto Downs fans buzzing with her 4
in the Next Generation events at Eldorado Scioto Downs. The ¾ length romp and 1:51.3 track record effort in the filly pace.
veteran ownership group won a pair of $150,000 events for Page once again eased his mount off the gates wings, taking
Ohio bred 2-year-old fillies with trotter Be My Baby Now and the lead before the three-quarter mile station and drew off from
pacer Sea Silk. Secret Side Place (Trevor Smith) and the pace-setting Dragon’s
In Friday’s (July 2) inaugural filly trotting test, the What The Revenge (Dan Noble). She paced her final quarter in :27.3 to
Hill–Baby Bella filly made her first career start a winning won secure her first win.
with a length-and-a-half score in 1:57.4. The Downbytheseaside—Silk Purse lass was made the bettor’s
Driver Chris Page sat patiently in fourth through much of the top choice after a pair of qualifying wins at The Meadows — both
race, sending the winner three-wide in the final turn to outsprint miles were timed in 1:58.3.
Reichers Caviar (Aaron Merriman) and Moments Created (Kurt “Sea Silk really impressed me,” said Weaver. “I can’t remember
Sugg) to the wire. a more impressive debut.”
Brad Conrad
Be My Baby Now (Chris Page) won last Friday’s (July 2) $150,000 Next Generation event for Ohio-bred 2-year-old trotting
fillies in her first career start.
Harness Racing Update | Page 7 | July 9, 2021
Harness Racing Update
“We have another filly, Seaside Park, that was better than her The trotters will return to Eldorado Scioto Downs tonight (July
all along but she got hurt. So, knowing we were going in with 9), while the pacers will head to MGM Northfield Park’s “Flying
our ‘B’ team I was a little worried. We may have to reevaluate Turns’ on Saturday (July 10).
our rankings.” Trainer Ron Burke will send out 25 freshmen into OHSS action
Nine of the 10 money-earners in the pace events were by over the two nights — nine on Friday and 16 Saturday evening.
Downbytheseaside or Fear The Dragon, both first year Ohio “As for the other ones in the sire stakes, at this point they’re
stallions. hard to separate. For the most part we went with our best in the
The Next Generation required a $10,000 nomination fee paid Next Gen but there are some that were very close,” said Weaver.
on March 15 to claim a spot in the nine-horse fields. “We have a very deep group this year. Almost all of them we felt
“The Next Generation was just the cherry on top. It is such a were worthy of going in the sire stakes in the initial leg rather
unique race with the purse so big for being so early in their than the Buckeye (Stallion Series).”
careers,” said Weaver. Weaver is not only high on his chances this weekend; he is also
Ironically, both Burke Brigade Next Generation champions were very high on the future of Ohio racing.
$47,000 yearling purchases at the 2020 Ohio Select Sale – Be “The Ohio program doesn’t take a backseat to anyone. We have quite
My Baby Now from the Stephanie Smith-Rothtaug consignment a few Ohio breds that we’re very excited about and most will be in
and Sea Silk from the Steiner Stock Farm offerings. action this weekend. With the new stallions in the state, it wouldn’t
“Maybe next year we’ll just start opening the bids at $47,000,” surprise me to see Ohio breds as players in the Grand Circuit races.”
joked Weaver.
Be My Baby Now and Sea Silk will not have much time to rest
as the first leg of the Ohio Sire Stakes (OHSS) will be held this
weekend.
Brad Conrad
Sea Silk (Page) romped to a 4 3/4 length, 1:51.3 track record for freshman pacing fillies while winning Saturday’s (July 3)
$150,000 Next Generation final for the Burke Brigade.
Harness Racing Update | Page 8 | July 9, 2021
Harness Racing Update
Saturday morning (July 10), Warkentin, the voice of The Big M,
will once again share his trade secrets with a bunch of eager
wannabes.
“My first thought was, I don’t expect there to be much interest,
I always think that, and then [Matt Zuccarello] gets 15 people,”
said Warkentin.
Zuccarello attended the workshop in 2017 and when it wasn’t
planned the following year, he took it upon himself to help
organize it in 2019.
“I decided as a fan and amateur driver that I wanted to continue
this and, hopefully, we’ll be able to do it for many more years,”
You make the call said Zuccarello. “This is the second one that I’ve been in charge
of coordinating in the past three years.”
by Debbie Little
The organizers are fortunate enough to have 15 qualifiers on
The Meadowlands-sponsored race announcers workshop started in Saturday, but if they end up with more participants than races,
the 1990s and even though it’s gone through some changes over all of the names will go into a hat and the lucky ones will get
time, two things remain the same: its popularity and Ken Warkentin. to call over the public address system.
Dave Landry
Ken Warkentin, the voice of the Meadowlands, will again play host to an announcer’s workshop on Saturday morning
(July 10) at The Big M.
Harness Racing Update | Page 9 | July 9, 2021Harness Racing Update
The prospect of calling a race at the top track in the sport is
exciting to all attendees, many of whom have practiced doing it.
“I’ve been around the game since the early ‘70s,” said Robert Jolly.
“I used to call the races on my way to Roosevelt and Yonkers.”
Casey Moore, who’ll be driving down from central New York,
heard about the workshop on The Meadowlands simulcast show.
“I’ve always had a passion for sports broadcasting,” said Moore.
“Often finding myself muting the races and calling them on the
fly, so any opportunity to hone my skills with a living legend, is
one I simply cannot pass up.”
Robert Pugliese, who lives a few miles from The Meadowlands,
decided to attend after reading about it in the Paulick Report.
“I have been a horse racing fan since I was a teenager,” said
Pugliese. “As a kid, I remember watching the Kentucky Derby on
Blasenak. “I got a taste of calling a race three years ago on a hot,
TV and mimicking Dave Johnson’s “and down the stretch they
hot Fourth of July at the Saratoga Harness track. I had to [recreate]
come” call every year. I thought it would be fun to learn what
the race to my parents (who ducked indoors to obstructed-view
goes into calling a race and maybe trying it myself.”
seats in the air-conditioned bar area), and it helped me key into
New Jersey resident Bob Fidanza owns horses with Zuccarello, the race and every moment of the action as I told them what was
who told him about the workshop. going on, so I thought it might be fun to try it at The Big M.”
“I enjoy all aspects of the racing game and meeting others who Thomas Kearney, from Silver Spring, MD might win for longest
share that interest,” said Fidanza. drive at just under 3½ hours.
For horseman Michael Hinkley, calling a race is on his bucket list. “I heard about this workshop through social media after I was
“I owned and trained in the 80s and always enjoyed all the race hired as the track announcer at Shenandoah Downs in Virginia,”
callers, so I thought it would be fun to see and learn from one said Kearney. “I had filled in for Pete Medhurst at Rosecroft
of the best,” said Hinkley. Raceway in 2017, so I figured this workshop could serve as a
Chris Daggett became a harness fan in the early ‘90s when his refresher for calling harness races, which I last did in 2017.”
parents were part owners of a few horses. Even though Zuccarello has done the workshop before and has called
“So, growing up, I remember announcers like John Bothe, of a few qualifiers, he still looks forward to his next chance to call.
course Ken Warkentin, Roger Huston and even the Meadowlands “It’s one of my dream jobs,” he said. “I’ve been announcing since
racing secretary Scotty Warren, when he used to announce at I was a little kid [maybe seven or eight years old]. I found a
Rosecroft,” said Daggett. “I’ve always loved to pretend to call couple of the cassettes recently.”
races whether I was at the track or recalling old races with Since the workshop starts at 8 a.m., it’ll be a long day for
friends. Never thought I’d have a chance to actually give it a shot, Warkentin, but that’s fine with him because he enjoys giving
so I jumped at the opportunity and I’m blessed to be bringing the class a look behind the curtain.
my dad [Dave] with me as well.”
“It introduces people to the other side of how we process racing,”
Teacher Andrew Blasenak will be up early driving in from said Warkentin. “That’s what we do, we process racing. We’re
Havertown, PA, west of Philadelphia. telling people what happened. The bottom line about this is,
“I’m interested in doing the workshop because I really love the sport it’s just a fun time and the money goes to charity.”
of harness racing and I have a strong theatrical background,” said All workshop attendees pay a $25 participation fee, which
is donated to the Harness Horse Youth Foundation and even
though no one actually believes that attending one workshop or
possibly calling one race would lead to a job offer, it’s certainly
a start and you never know what the future holds.
“I told them to bring their enthusiasm and a check and we’ll go
from there,” said Zuccarello.
What’s that expression? $25 and a dream.
Harness Racing Update | Page 10 | July 9, 2021Harness Racing Update
MEADOWLANDS PACE ELIMINATIONS DRAW: These are the
fields for the two Meadowlands Pace Eliminations that take
place Saturday, July 10 at The Meadowlands, with post position,
horse (driver, trainer) and morning-line odds. The first five in
the official order of finish from each dash will return for the
$700,000 (est.) Meadowlands Pace Final, which will be con-
tested on Saturday, July 17.
FIRST ELIMINATION (RACE 6) – PURSE
$50,000
1. Chase H Hanover (Brian Sears, Scott Cox), 12-1
All you need to know for 2. Charlie May (Brett Miller, Steve Carter), 3-1
3. One Eight Hundred (Tim Tetrick, Nancy Takter), 9-5
the Meadowlands Pace 4. Heart Of Chewbacca (George Brennan, Ron Burke), 4-1
by Meadowlands Media Relations 5. Rockyroad Hanover (Dexter Dunn, Tony Alagna), 5-1
6. Exploit (Todd McCarthy, Tony Alagna), 8-1
The 45th edition of the signature event at harness racing’s top
venue is upon us as the $700,000 (est.) Meadowlands Pace, an 7. Hellabalou (Andrew McCarthy, Eddie Dennis), 15-1
open event for 3-year-olds, gets underway this Saturday (July
10) with a pair of $50,000 eliminations (see fields below). SECOND ELIMINATION (RACE 8) – PURSE
The Pace final, which is slated for July 17, serves as the center- $50,000
piece for “The Greatest Night in Harness Racing.” With COVID-19
protocols now in the rearview mirror (although unvaccinated 1. American Courage (Matt Kakaley, Travis Alexander), 3-1
patrons must wear a mask), fans will undoubtedly pack the
2. Abuckabett Hanover (Andrew McCarthy, Tony Alagna), 4-1
house, but for those who cannot make it out to the track, there
will be a live two-hour telecast on Fox Sports 2, that not only 3. Lawless Shadow (Mark MacDonald, Ian Moore), 6-1
will feature The Pace, but three other major stakes as well. 4. Red Right Hand (Todd McCarthy, Nancy Takter), 15-1
The Big M’s TV team of Dave Brower and Dave Little will be at 5. Perfect Sting (David Miller, Joe Holloway), 2-1
the desk spearheading the broadcast with Jessica Otten han-
dling back paddock and training center interviews with some 6. Simon Says Hanover (Scott Zeron, Tony Alagna), 15-1
of the primary contenders. The voice of The Meadowlands, track 7. Southwind Gendry (Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke), 7-2
announcer Ken Warkentin, will call his fifth Pace, while Gabe DON’T FORGET ABOUT THIS WEEK: In addition to the two Pace
Prewitt, veteran race caller at Pompano Park and Lexington’s Eliminations on Saturday night, a pair of $250,000 Graduate
Red Mile and director of racing at Caesars Entertainment, will Series (for 4-year-olds) finals will also be on the card.
join the team and handle winner’s circle interviews.
In the Graduate Trot, It’s Academic will look to stay perfect in
“All of us at The Meadowlands are excited to team up with the four series outings while Ruthless Hanover, who has three wins
New York Racing Association’s TV division, so that we can bring in four series tries, tops a star-studded Graduate Pace which
The Meadowlands Pace to an audience who might not otherwise includes Allywag Hanover, Captain Barbossa, Warrawee Vital
see the race,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General and Cattlewash.
Manager Jason Settlemoir. “We are very fortunate to be able to
televise live harness stakes events and hope the future sees more GET YA FREE PROGRAMS HERE! Free programs for every race
of these races being made available to a country-wide audience.” of every Meadowlands card are available to the public, and all
one has to do to access them is go to playmeadowlands.com.
Post time on Meadowlands Pace Night will be earlier than usual
as the first race will get underway at 6 p.m. The live presentation FIND US ON TWITTER: You can always check in with the team
of The Meadowlands Pace kicks off on Fox Sports 2 at 8 p.m. at The Meadowlands on Twitter.
HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR STAKES? Also on the menu on For early changes, racing information and staff selections, go
Meadowlands Pace final night will be the $200,000* Mistletoe to @themeadowlands or #playbigm.
Shalee, $285,000* Stanley Dancer, $250,000* Del Miller, On race nights, stay in touch with the Big M’s Dave Brower (@
$450,000* William Haughton Memorial, $175,000* Dorothy eedoogie), Dave Little (@DaveLittleBigM), Ken Warkentin (@
Haughton, $400,000* Hambletonian Maturity and $40,000* Miss kenvoiceover) and Jessica Otten (@JessicaOtten1).
Versatility. (* – estimated purse)
Harness Racing Update | Page 11 | July 9, 2021Harness Racing Update
LOW TAKEOUT, BIG PAYOUTS: Here are the six popular for an additional $40 per seat.
Meadowlands’ wagers that offer a low 15 percent takeout on Pace Night (July 17th) café and lounge tables are now avail-
a nightly basis: able for purchase at https://www.playmeadowlands.events/
• Race 1: 20-cent Pick-5 event-details/pace-dining.
• Race 3: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 Pink also has a $49.95 summer-themed buffet with a variety
• Race 6: 50-cent Pick-4 of salads, a carving station and desserts. The menu features
a Caprese salad, market salad, sliced sirloin, pan seared cod
• Race 8: 20-cent Pick-6 with white wine and capers, Tuscan chicken Milanese, pasta
• Race 10: 50-cent Pick-4 Arriabiatta and NY cheesecake.
• Race 13: 10-cent Hi-5/Pentafecta For reservations call 201-The-BIGM (201-843-2446).
A $100,000 PROMISE: The best bet in all of harness racing, The For everything Meadowlands Pace visit MeadowlandsPace.com.
Big M’s 50-cent Pick-4, offers a $50,000 guaranteed pool both TrackMaster PPs for Saturday’s (July 10) card available here.
times the wager is offered nightly. The Early P4 gets underway
in the sixth race, while the Late P4 kicks off in the 10th.
DOUBLE YOUR FUN ON PACE NIGHT: On Meadowlands Pace
Final Night (July 17), the Pick-4 guarantees will add up to double
what is normally offered and total $200,000.
That night, the Early Pick-4 will sport a $125,000 guarantee
while the Late P4 have a $75,000 promise.
WHO DOES BROWER LIKE? For those who like to get a leg up on
the action, go to playmeadowlands.com to see track oddsmaker
Brower’s selections and analysis. Click on the “handicapping”
tab and go to “race reviews”.
Brower’s input is generally available 48 hours before every card.
HUNGRY FOR BARBECUE? Then you are in luck! Head to The Meadowlands
on Saturday, July 10 when some of the best food trucks and restaurants
in the area will be offering an outstanding barbecue feast.
Food will be available from 5-11 p.m.
DINING FOR PACE NIGHT Tickets are now on sale for Lounge
and Café tables for the Meadowlands Pace final on Saturday,
July 17. There is a special post time of 6 p.m.
The Café picnic tables are tented for guest comfort and have
waitress service. Guests can dine on racetrack staples including
chicken wings and French fries, cheese steaks, burgers, pretzels,
popcorn, ice cream and more. Reservations must be pre-paid
and are $100 per table. Each table seats up to four people. The
$100 is a food credit that can be used at the Café on July 17.
There is no better place to watch and wager all the racing than
the 2nd floor Lounge. Guests can dine on delicious Victory
Sports Bar fare including ribs, crab cakes, wraps, burgers, loaded
nachos, salads, tacos and more. The ticket cost is a food credit
that will be applied to the food and beverage bill. Tax and gra-
tuity are not included in this credit and are additional.
Available Seating/Dining Options for purchase include:
Grandstand Lounge Table: Reservations must be pre-paid and
are $80 per two person table and $160 for a four person table.
Grandstand Lounge Couch: Reservations must be pre-paid and
are $150 per four person section complete with couch.
Additional Seats: Seats can be added to any of the above options
Harness Racing Update | Page 12 | July 9, 2021Harness Racing Update
pressure and added anxiety on yourself, and you end up racing
the horse too hard trying to keep the winning streak alive. I don’t
want that. I don’t even like that being brought up. I already know
he’s a good horse and I know he gives 110 per cent.”
When 3-year-old opens didn’t fill at The Meadowlands, it forced
the hand of trainer Joe Holloway to enter Perfect Sting in a June
19 overnight against older horses. Challenged several times
throughout the mile, Perfect Sting was able to post a game
career-best 1:48.1 victory.
Seven days later in a PASS division at The Meadows, Perfect
Sting led at every call before crossing the wire second, but the
colt was elevated to first via disqualification of the winner.
Perfect Sting ready for “I believe (the race against older horses) took a toll on him,” said
Miller. “He went to The Meadows the next week and he still fin-
Meadowlands Pace ished second. It wasn’t like he stopped and finished fifth. He got
eliminations beat a length. The horse had every right. I’m not disappointed
in him at all, I think he’s a great horse.”
by Gordon Waterstone / USTA editorial specialist Holloway said he plans on making a shoeing change for the
Pace elim, switching to an aluminum shoe.
After a perfect 10-for-10 campaign in 2020 that led to Dan
“I had a shoe with a pad on and I thought the shoe was kind
Patch Award honors as the 2-year-old Pacing Colt of the Year,
of moving around on his foot,” said Holloway, who trains the
expectations were high that Perfect Sting would return this year
$629,977-winning 3-year-old son of Always B Miki out of
and keep a firm hold atop the 3-year-old division.
the world champion mare Shebestingin for breeders-owners
After a bit of a bumpy start in his first three starts in 2021, the Brittany Farms and Val D’Or Farms. “I thought going lighter with
road to repeat glory for Perfect Sting likely will have to begin aluminum would give the horse stability. It had nothing to do
on Saturday night (July 10) when the colt lines up in post five with speed, I just thought it was better for him.”
in the second of two, seven-horse $50,000 eliminations (race
eight) of the Meadowlands Pace at The Meadowlands. The top-five finishers in each elim will return for the $700,000
(est.) Meadowlands Pace final on Saturday (July 17).
“It’s time to start asserting his dominance, that’s for sure,” said
trainer Joe Holloway. “I think it’s time for him to step up his The 9-5 favorite in the first elim (race six) is the Nancy Takter-
game and move to the head of the class.” trained, Tim Tetrick-driven One Eight Hundred, who has six wins
in eight starts this year. The $800,000 yearling purchase of
The task won’t be easy for Perfect Sting as his heat includes
Takter and Brixton Medical Inc. is coming into the elim off a
recent Messenger Stake winner American Courage (four-for-four
career-best 1:48 win in a June 26 overnight at The Meadowlands.
this year), 2020 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes champion Southwind
Gendry (two wins and two seconds this year), and Abuckabett Closing out that victory with a final quarter of :25.3, the effort
Hanover, who saw his perfect four-race win streak this year edged South Beach Star and Perfect Sting’s 1:48.1 clocking as
snapped when he made a break in the Messenger final. the fastest mile by a 3-year-old pacer thus far in 2021.
“We’re in a good spot in a short field,” said driver David Miller TrackMaster PPs available here.
about Perfect Sting, who is listed as the 2-1 morning-line
favorite in the Pace elim. “I don’t see any problems and I think
things will work out.
“I have confidence in him. I have confidence in his ability and
his talent and I’m confident everything is going to go just fine.
Any perceived pressure of the continuance of Perfect Sting’s per-
fect record evaporated quickly this year when the colt suffered
his first-ever defeat in his season’s debut in a Pennsylvania Sires
Stakes (PASS) division on May 16 at The Downs at Mohegan
Sun Pocono. In that race, Perfect Sting came up a head short of
the winning Abuckabett Hanover in 1:50.
“I don’t worry about (a win streak),” said Miller. “I try to put him
in position to win every race. Going undefeated, that’s added
Harness Racing Update | Page 13 | July 9, 2021Harness Racing Update
son Önas Prince is, according to Nordström himself, the best
horse he has trained.
Hell Bent For Am kept the lead from post 1 and Önas Prince
got a pretty relaxed first over trip while Rome Pays Of followed
in second over.
Nordström drove a perfect race with his Önas Prince. He saved
some power outside the leader and put in the extra gear when
Hell Bent For Am was beaten in the last turn. At that point,
Rome Pays Of attacked from second over, but Robert Bergh’s
horse couldn’t get seriously close to Önas Prince who sprinted
to safe win in 1:52.2.
Önas Prince wins Big part of the field of chasers behind the top duo went off
stride in the last turn, which resulted in bronze medal for strong
“Swedish Hambletonian” finisher Maestreaemon.
Önas Prince has 15 wins out of 20 starts so far in his career
by Thomas Hedlund
and the Chocolatier son can look back at a 2021 where he is
The $232,000 Sprintermästaren for 4-year-olds was held in undefeated in seven attempts.
Halmstad, Sweden on Thursday night. The mile race, which
sometimes is referred to as ”The Swedish Hambletonian”, was Fifty Cent Piece wins $162,000 Stosprintern
preceded by three elimination heats in which all saw wire-to-
wire winners in Önas Prince, Rome Pays Off and Hell Bent For The 4-year-old mares fought in elimination heats of the
Am. Stosprintern in Halmstad on June 28 and 10 trotters were
The latter horse had best luck in the draw and trainer Sabine gathered behind the car on Thursday night (July 8) when the
Kagebrandt picked post 1 for her Muscle Hill son. Önas Prince $162,000 final was on the race card.
started from post 2 and Rome Pays Off from number 3. Two American-bred Fifty Cent Piece (Muscle Hill—Thatsnotmyname)
horses previously trained by Marcus Melander (Hell Bent For topped the entire Harrisburg yearling sale in 2018 with a bid
Am and Rome Pays Off) were in great position ahead of the of $500,000 and owner SRF Stable opted to ship the mare
race but it was the third elimination winner, Önas Prince, who overseas after the 3-year-old season. Trainer Robert Bergh was
had the best form when the final was on. most pleased to land both Fifty Cent Piece and Rome Pays Of
Trainer and driver Per Nordström has never experienced a better in his barn.
period in his professional life than this season. Week after week In the Stosprintern final, Bergh had to be satisfied with his
he collects big trophies in races in Sweden and his Chocolatier
position first over because Fifty Cent Piece has proven to be
one of the toughest 4-year-old mares racing in Europe this year.
The mare can’t race in the biggest stakes races in Sweden
during the season, but both the $232,000 Drottningpokalen
and $162,000 Stosprintern are open for horses born outside of
Sweden, as long as the owners have staked the horses.
Fifty Cent Piece has been outstanding in her two big races for
the year. She claimed the Drottningpokalen at Åby in May and
a position outside the leader didn’t stop her from grabbing
another trophy in Halmstad on Thursday night.
Bergh noted that his horses was in total control mid-stretch
and Fifty Cent Piece came home in a 1:55 mile.
Betting Pacer finished strongly as the runner up after a pocket
trip and leader Hilarious Am finished third.
Adam Ström
Önas Prince (2, Per Nordström) defeated Rome Pays Off (4,
Robert Bergh) to win the $232,000 Sprintermästaren for
4-year-olds on Thursday evening (July in Halmstad, Sweden).
Harness Racing Update | Page 14 | July 9, 2021Harness Racing Update
June 19 and won a division of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS)
at Buffalo Raceway on June 30.
The colt is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the third of the
three $25,000 Springfield eliminations. The first two finishers
in each elimination, plus the two third-place finishers with the
fastest individual times in each elimination, return for the final
on July 16.
“He’s a great boy,” said Bolasci, who shares ownership of
Hurrikane Chuck with Jonathan Klee Racing, William Garofalo,
Bill Burke
and Peter Kleinhans. “He had a great race the other day and
Hurrikane Chuck (5, Jim Morrill, Jr.) winning a division of the we’re excited to watch him develop.”
New York Sire Stakes at Buffalo Raceway on June 30. Hurrikane Chuck was purchased under the name Bandera Buzz
for $21,000 at the Goshen Yearling Sale. In addition to the
New owner remembers NYSS and Springfield, the colt is eligible to the Kindergarten
Classic Series.
dad with ‘Chuck’ “Next year, I have him staked a little heavier,” McDermott said.
“We’re very happy with him so far, he’s a very nice horse. He loves
by Ken Weingartner / USTA media relations manager his job. He’s good gaited and everything, but he just never has
a bad day. He goes out and does it every day and is as pleasant
When he was growing up, Justin Bolasci spent a lot of time going
as can be.”
to the races with his father. Starting at the age of somewhere
around 3, he would accompany him regularly on trips to The Bolasci, a 36-year-old New Jersey resident who still lives near
Meadowlands, and whenever his dad cashed a ticket, young The Meadowlands, didn’t get to see his horses in person as
Justin got to keep any $1 bills returned with the winnings. often as he would have liked last year because of the COVID-19
pandemic but is thoroughly enjoying his experience as an owner.
“I rooted for him to win every race,” Bolasci said with a laugh.
“He loved the ponies. He loved to bet on the horses, he loved “When one of the horses wins, there is no feeling like it,” he said.
the sport. As a little kid growing up, I loved it too.” Hurrikane Chuck will start the Springfield elimination from
Bolasci’s father always wanted to own a horse, but never did. post four with driver Tyler Buter. His elim features two other
After his dad passed away two years ago, Bolasci decided he horses coming off pari-mutuel wins, Paula Wellwood-trained
would get involved in harness racing as an owner as a tribute Wolftrax and Ron Burke’s River Ness. Wolftrax, the 5-2 second
to him and fulfill that dream. In 2020, he partnered with trainer choice from post one, captured a conditioned race while River
John McDermott to become co-owner of four horses, and he has Ness, 7-2 from post eight, won the Tompkins-Geers division that
added five more this year. included Hurrikane Chuck.
Among that group is a 2-year-old male pacer competing tonight The 5-2 morning-line favorite in the first elimination is Travis
(July 9) in one of three eliminations of the MGM Springfield Alexander’s Pleaseletmeknow, who debuted with a second-place
Stakes at Yonkers Raceway. The horse is Hurrikane Chuck, named finish in a NYSS division. The 5-2 choice in the second elim is
in memory of Bolasci’s dad. Stretch The Line, who is coming off a Landmark Stakes triumph
for Erv Miller.
“I’m excited,” Bolasci said. “I’m sure he’s watching.”
Racing begins at 7:15 p.m. (EDT) tonight at Yonkers. For com-
Hurrikane Chuck, by Huntsville out of All The Buzz, has raced
plete entries, click here.
twice this season. He finished fourth in a division of the
Tompkins-Geers Stakes in his debut at The Meadowlands on TrackMaster PPs available here.
Harness Racing Update | Page 15 | July 9, 2021Harness Racing Update
HRU Upcoming Stakes
Friday, July 9
Purse Race Track Age, Sex, Gait Race #(s) 1st Race Post
$33,600 New York Sire Stakes Vernon Downs 2YOCT 5, 6, 7 Noon
$15,000 New York Sire Stakes - Excelsior A Vernon Downs 2YOCT 2, 4 Noon
$6,800 New York Sire Stakes - Excelsior B Vernon Downs 2YOCT 1, 3 Noon
$40,000 Ohio Sire Stakes Scioto Downs 2YOCT 1, 3, 7, 11 6:15 p.m.
$40,000 Ohio Sire Stakes Scioto Downs 2YOFT 5, 6, 8, 12 6:15 p.m.
$38,345 Arden Downs The Meadows 3YOFT 8 12:45 p.m.
$25,000 New Jersey Sires Stakes - 2nd leg Meadowlands 2YOFT 1, 2, 6 6:20 p.m.
$25,000 New Jersey Sires Stakes - 2nd leg Meadowlands 2YOCT 4, 5, 7 6:20 p.m.
$20,000 NJ Sires Stakes - Non-Betting Meadowlands 2YOFP 1 - Non-Betting 6 p.m.
$20,000 NJ Sires Stakes - Non-Betting Meadowlands 2YOCP 2 - Non-Betting 6 p.m.
$25,000 MGM Springfield eliminations Yonkers Raceway 2YOCP 6, 7, 8 7:15 p.m.
$23,800 The Cardinal Hawthorne 2YOCP 1, 5 7:10 p.m.
$22,850 Ontario Sires Stakes - Grassroots Woodbine Mohawk Park 2YOCP 1, 3, 7, 9, 11 7 p.m.
$7,100 Prospect Series - Leg #1 Grand River Raceway 2YOCP 1, 3 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 10
Purse Race Track Age, Sex, Gait Race #(s) 1st Race Post
$49,050 W. N. Reynoids Memorial Meadowlands 3YOFT 3, 5 6:20 p.m.
$42,550 W. N. Reynoids Memorial Meadowlands 3YOCT 4, 7 6:20 p.m.
$50,000 Meadowlands Pace eliminations Meadowlands 3YOOP 6, 8 6:20 p.m.
$250,000 Graduate Series final Meadowlands 4YOT 9 6:20 p.m.
$250,000 Graduate Series final Meadowlands 4YOP 10 6:20 p.m.
$40,000 Ohio Sire Stakes Northfield Park 2YOFP 1, 3, 6, 9, 11 6 p.m.
$40,000 Ohio Sire Stakes Northfield Park 2YOCP 2, 5, 8, 12 6 p.m.
$22,850 Ontario Sires Stakes - Grassroots Woodbine Mohawk Park 3YOCP 1, 3, 5, 8, 10 7 p.m.
$22,800 The Violet Hawthorne 2YOFP 3, 6 7:10 p.m.
$9,917 Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes Cumberland Raceway 3YOCP 1, 2, 5 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 11
Purse Race Track Age, Sex, Gait Race #(s) 1st Race Post
$48,000 Indiana Sires Stakes - Leg 2 Harrah’s Hoosier Park 2YOCP 3, 7, 8 6:30 p.m.
$35,000 Indiana Sires Stakes - Leg 3 Harrah’s Hoosier Park 3YOCP 4, 11, 13 6:30 p.m.
$30,000 Pennsylvania All-Stars The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono 2YOCP 6, 8, 10 5 p.m.
$22,875 The Cardinal Hawthorne 2YOCT 3, 6 6:30 p.m.
$22,575 The Violet Hawthorne 2YOFT 4, 7 6:30 p.m.
$9,742 ME Standardbred Breeders Stakes Bangor Raceway 3YOFT 1 11:45 a.m.
Harness Racing Update | Page 16 | July 9, 2021Harness Racing Update
went to the front and held off a late charge from the pocket sitting
Dewtiful’s Grace and Verlin Yoder to get the victory.
Trained by Erv Miller, the daughter of Swan For All—Cheetah Hall
recorded her fourth win from five seasonal starts. Owned in part-
nership by Anthony Lombardi and The Kales Company LLC, Swift
Swanda pushed her lifetime purse earnings to $317,637.
In the second division of the stakes action, Guccio’s Lady and
Michael Oosting pulled the 8-1 upset to get up in the final strides
of the mile to score in 1:55.2 over a track rated sloppy. Trained and
owned by Melvin Schmucker, Guccio’s Lady scored her second win
of the season and established a new lifetime best. The daughter of
Guccio—After Midnight recorded her third lifetime victory from 20
starts and pushed her lifetime bankroll to $66,326 with the win.
Emily Ratcliff / Harrah’s Hoosier Park
DeLong records 3,000th
driving victory
A Girl That Twirls, April
Driver John DeLong recorded the 3,000th win of his driving career
after he piloted Parklane Terror to victory in a conditioned pace at Angel 'share' Buffalo
Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday (July 7). The 1:52.1 vic-
tory marked the third win of the season for the 3-year-old gelded track record
son of Western Terror and a career milestone for the 32-year-old
Wisconsin native. The 2-year-old filly pacers in the second $50,400 division of
DeLong came into the 13-race card at Hoosier Park on Wednesday the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) learned a couple of valuable
just two wins away from his milestone. He also found the win- lessons at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday night (July 7) that
ner’s circle with Cindy The Great for trainer Roger Welch on the sharing is a good thing.
card before reaching 3,000. DeLongs’s family and friends were A Girl That Twirls (Chris Lems) and April Angel (Jim Morrill Jr.)
in the winner’s circle to congratulate and acknowledge his finished in a dead heat for the victory and the tandem also had
accomplishment. to share a new track record in doing so as they toured the half
DeLong started his driving career on the Illinois fair circuit in mile oval in 1:55.2. over the fast track. It eclipsed the old mark of
2005 and won his first driving title at Running Aces in 2008. Now 1:55.3 established on July 3, 2019 by Fashion Hall (Tyler Buter).
at the age of 32, DeLong has over $27 million in career purse In the other division, Twenty Grand ($2.80) showed she was
earnings. DeLong posted his first million dollar season in 2013 worth more than that in beating Symphony Hall by three quarter
and has gone over the million dollar mark in purse earnings every lengths in 1:56.4.
season since. He has finished amongst top five of the leading driver
standings at Harrah’s Hoosier Park for the last six seasons. DeLong But the talk of the night was the deadlock between A Girl That
is currently second on the 2021 leading driver standings at Hoosier Twirls (American Ideal—Heels On The Beach) and April Angel
Park with 98 trips to the winner’s circle and over $1 million in (American Ideal—Royal Distraction).
purse earnings. Trace Tetrick leads all drivers with 153 victories. "(A Girl That Twirls) raced phenomenal, especially being on the
Also featured on the evening’s 13-race card were two divisions outside going around the final turn," driver Chris Lems said. "She
of Indiana Sires Stakes for the 3-year-old trotting fillies. After an just kept digging in."
uncharacteristic break in an overnight last week, Swift Swanda Jim Morrill Jr., who was on the bike behind April Angel ($3.60)
returned to her winning ways to take the first $47,000 division in said, "I didn't realize it was a track record or a dead heat. I
1:54.2. With regular pilot Trace Tetrick at the controls, Swift Swanda thought maybe (A Girl That Twirls) would bobble a little bit
in the stretch to give us an edge but she kept coming and my
horse came back a bit in the end."
A Girl That Twirls ($5.60), who entered undefeated in two qual-
ifiers, is owned by D Racing Stable and is trained by Deborah
Daguet.
April Angel is co-owned by Nanticoke Racing Inc., Jeremy
Pentoney and Keesha Givens. and is conditioned by Les Givens.
It was her first triumph after a second place finish in her career
debut.
In the other bracket, Twenty Grand (Mark MacDonald), after set-
ting the tempo, had to rally and was able to turn back Symphony
Girl (Morrill Jr.) and Lorrie Sue (Kevin Cummings).
Dean Gillette
John DeLong scored his 3,000th career driving win when he drove "(Twenty Grand is) green so I was glad to see that five (Lorrie
Parklane Terror to victory on Wednesday (July 7) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Sue) come up alongside and grab her attention," said MacDonald.
Harness Racing Update | Page 17 | July 9, 2021Harness Racing Update
"I took it easy with Twenty Grand around the turns but it was Company yearling sale in Timonium, MD for a modest $10,000,
good to come back nice in the stretch." a price that had him double checking his catalogue and going
Setting splits of :28.4, :58 and 1:27.4, Twenty Grand (Huntsville— over Adare Castle with a fine tooth comb looking for a flaw he
Up Front Kellie Jo) looked in deep trouble turning for home as had missed in his initial inspections.
Lorrie Sue was able to grab about a half-length advantage. But “I almost missed her, it’s kind of a scary story. It was really hot
Twenty Grand didn't waver and stayed strong to pull off the there and of course you didn’t want to stay inside because of
comeback victory. the COVID restrictions and stuff, so I was outside having a drink
Co-owned by trainer Ray Schnittker, Steven Arnold and Mark with Aaron Byron and all of a sudden I heard her name,” Etsell
Ford, it was the second victory in three career tries for Twenty recalled. “I ran in and they were stuck at $8,000. I stuck my hand
Grand. The win upped his bankroll to $33,975. up and they dropped the hammer. I’m going, ‘Hmmm did I buy
the right horse? Was I bidding on something else?’ I’m like, ‘No,
Liewhentruthwilldo ($4.60) wired the field in 1:57 to collect that’s the number.’ So I went back and looked at her again and
the victory in the first $15,000 division of the Excelsior A said, ‘What did I miss?’ and there was nothing.
Series. Driven by Morrill Jr., Liewhentruthwilldo beat Patsville
(MacDonald) by 1-1/2 lengths with Ashlee's Supreme (Greg “She’s not a big, big filly, maybe that was the thing, she was a
Merton) finishing in third. little, I wouldn’t say on the small side, small medium maybe. It
was funny, I could have sold her like five times after I bought
The other bracket saw a big upset as King Princess (Lems) her down there, so I guess obviously somebody else missed
registered a $25.80 score in 1:57.2 over Seahuntsidealbeach her too. I don’t know, our fortune, other people’s misfortune, it
(MacDonald) by 2-1/2 lengths. Nadina Hanover rolled in for worked out good for us.”
third place.
On her arrival in Ontario, Etsell’s long-time partners Robert
The $6,300 Excelsior B event, a non-betting affair, had Center Newton of Walkerton, Graham Hopkins of Chesley and Peter
Attention (Denny Bucceri) collect a head decision over Manhunt Porter of Port Dover, ON bought shares of Adare Castle, who
(Kevin Cummings). returned that investment and put a little money in their pockets
Morrill Jr. and David McNeight III completed the night with with the $50,700 she earned Tuesday evening.
triples while Givens and Cassandra Johnson had a training dou- In the second $102,200 Gold division driver Sylvain Filion
bles on the card. of Milton, ON used a similar strategy with Elegant Mermaid
Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway from Post 8. Sent to the front soon after the :28.1 opening
quarter, Elegant Mermaid sailed through a :59 half and 1:29.1
three-quarters before pulling away to a two and one-quarter
length win in 1:57.3.Fan favourite Grace finished second and
Bargain trotting filly Lovin Julie was third. (replay here: Elegant Mermaid).
Elegant Mermaid, another daughter of Muscle Mass, is a recent
strikes Gold in OSS debut arrival in the Ben Baillargeon barn and he said he was impressed
with her Ontario Sires Stakes debut.
Two-year-old trotting fillies got their star turn at Woodbine “I didn’t have her this winter. She wintered in (New) Jersey at
Mohawk Park on Tuesday (July 6) and Adare Castle and Elegant Andy and Julie Miller’s. They’ve taught her everything,” said
Mermaid emerged victorious in their Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Baillargeon. “She’s such a natural gaited trotting filly that she’ll
Gold Series debut. make money because she will trot on every track. I wish she was
In the first $101,400 division, fans liked the look of Adare a little bigger maybe, but sometimes the best things come in
Castle’s qualifying results — one win and one second — and little packages, right. So right now I am very pleased with her.
sent her off as their top choice. The Muscle Mass daughter and She’s well behaved, she trots nice and there’s not much else I
driver Bob McClure of Rockwood, ON left well from Post 4 and can say about her, I only had her one week. I might look like a
had established command before the :29 opening quarter. They genius but I didn’t do the work on her really.”
cruised along on the front end through a 1:00.1 half and 1:30 Daniel Plouffe of Bromont, QC and Alexandra Verret of Magog,
three-quarters and then kicked home to a four and three-quarter QC share ownership of Elegant Mermaid, who qualified twice
length win in 1:57.4. HP Felicity finished second and Needa Little at Gaitway Farm in New Jersey before shipping north for her
Magic was third (replay here: Adare Castle). Ontario stakes engagements.
“The first day we hooked her she laid down in the mud, so I Adare Castle, Elegant Mermaid and their 2-year-old trotting filly peers will
wasn’t overly impressed that day, but after that things were make their second Gold Series start at Grand River Raceway on July 28.
pretty good. She was a little spooky all winter, but she settled
down and once we started coming to Mohawk training she got Complete results from Tuesday’s program are available here and replays
better and better and better,” said trainer Mark Etsell. “The first can be viewed on Woodbine Mohawk Park’s YouTube channel.
time I qualified her, I mean she had showed speed before, but The two-year-old trotting colts make their Gold Series debut
at home, you know, and then I turned her loose a bit that day at the Campbellville oval on Thursday, July 8. Fans can down-
and she come home in :27.3 and I said, ‘Hmm maybe we’ve got load a program and watch the live stream on the Woodbine
something here.’ So then Bobby qualified her the next time and Mohawk Park website and those wishing to attend in person
she come home in :28 and change. She’s got such a fluid gait. can make a reservation at https://woodbine.com/mohawk/
It just helps her a lot, she can carry her speed for quite a ways, guest-registration/.
and she’s sensible too, so far anyways.”
Sandra Snyder / OSS publicity
Etsell purchased the filly at last fall’s Standardbred Horse Sales
Harness Racing Update | Page 18 | July 9, 2021You can also read
