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Friday, March 6, 2015
can beat Timoko but believes his mare will have her best
European Star Timoko, Favored Against Maven
performance yet since being shipped to France. She is
Sunday, Will Race in North America
winless in four starts there and was last seen finishing fifth
By Emmanuel Roussel and Bill Finley
behind Timoko in the Prix de France. For the most part,
Trainer Richard Westerink, the trainer of 8-year-old
Timoko, considered among the best horses in Europe, has she has been unlucky on the racetrack, often getting poor
trips.
mapped out a 2015 schedule for his star trotter and it
Takter's brother Johnny will drive the daughter of
includes a couple of stops in North America. Timoko,
Glidemaster.
whose next start will come against U.S. invader Maven in
"Yes, we need some good luck," Takter said. "She is
Sunday's Grand critérium de vitesse de la Côte d'Azur at
training
fantastic. I trained her in a 56 mile last week with a
Cagnes-sur-Mer, is being pointed for the International at
last
quarter
in 26 and a piece. If she gets the right trip she
Yonkers and the Breeders Crown.
can be right there. I am hoping to get a little lucky and get a
third over trip. There is a pretty long stretch there. I think
"As for his
she is coming in as good as I can have her. I was hoping to
autumn
draw a little better. It's a reasonable field."
campaign,
Takter won the race in 2000 with Moni Maker.
we'll look at it
"The unfortunate thing this time is that Maven got the
more
eight post and Timoko got the three," Takter said. "That
thoroughly
won't help. Hopefully, that post isn't too bad."
after the
There are 13 horses in the field and the race is contested
Elitloppet,"
at
one mile. The eight is the outside draw as positions nine
Westerink
through
13 start from the second tier. The track is 1,300
said. "All I can
meters
in
circumference, which is a little more than three
say is that
quarters
of
a mile.
European star Timoko is scheduled to
racing over
come to the US this fall
there (in North
America) has
always been a dream of mine."
When the Yonkers International was set for Oct. 10
Westerink concluded the timing was perfect.
"I was planning (to come to the US) last year but the
dates were not good because the breeding season was not
over in July. October is much better for us. I'd really like to
go. I went to Yonkers a few years ago to check out the
track and I think that Timoko won't have issues with it. Even
though it is not a good track to take the shoes off, he'd still
be good over there as he turns very well left-handed –he's
no good going the other way but it's irrelevant in the States.
As for Woodbine (host of the Breeders Crown), I've seen
Rapide Lebel and Commander Crowe over there and he
won't have any issue. My concern is the trip to go there in
the first place because it can become difficult to find an
insurance to fly such horses. We shall work it out."
In the meantime, Timoko is the horse to beat in Sunday's
200,000 Euro race on the French Riviera.
"He's in very good shape," the Dutch trainer said, “and I
look forward to the Criterium at Cagnes on Sunday.
Timoko's 3-for-3 over there so we are pretty confident, as
long as he can get away from a good post."
Timoko is an eight-time Group I winner and has earned
$2.79 million in his career. He won the Grand critérium de
vitesse de la Côte d'Azur in 2013 and last year's Elitloppet.
He will be driven Sunday by Bjørn Goop.
As for Maven, trainer Jimmy Takter isn't predicting that he
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 3/6/15 PAGE 2 of 6
Takter is still pointing for the Gran Premio Lotteria in Italy
but has designed a different route to get his mare there.
After Sunday's race she will be sent to Sweden and have
two preps there for her showdown in Italy.
a lot of good ones. With Creatine
going to Sweden that makes less
competition among the boys."
Father Patrick is also nominated
for the Graduate Series and Takter
said whether or not he goes in the
Shake It Cerry
series could affect his thinking with
Shake It Cerry. He said he sees no reason why Father
Patrick, who is also breeding this year, won't be ready for
the series. The Graduate begins May 25 at Tioga Downs
before moving to the Meadowlands for three legs. The final
is worth $250,000 and will be contested on July 11.
Weather KO’s Eastern Tracks
The winter that just won’t end closed down a handful
more tracks yesterday as Yonkers, Freehold and Dover
Downs were shut down due to Winter Storm Thor.
Qualifiers scheduled for The Meadows were also scrapped.
Shake It Cerry Could Face Boys This Year
The Jimmy Takter-trained super mare Shake It Cerry has
been nominated to the Graduate Series, opening the door
for her first ever start against males.
"I don't know if I will race her in the Graduate or not,"
Takter said. "I just want to have that door open. It's very
possible the fillies will be as good as the boys this year.
There's Bee a Magician, Chris Oakes' filly (Clasic Martine),
Stable of Horses God Loves Featured in Toronto
Sun
Harness racing received some nice exposure yesterday
when the Toronto Sun ran a feature story on the “Stable of
Horses That God Loves,” a fundraising effort for the
Standardbred Racetrack Chaplaincy of Canada. To read
the story click here
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 3/6/15 PAGE 3 of 6
Jamieson Wins in Australia
Apparently in no hurry to get back to the frigid Northern
Hemisphere Canadian driver Jody Jamieson has remained
in Australia since the World Drivers Championship and won
a race Thursday at Cranbourne with a horse named Surreal
Dream, who is by Lis Mara.
He had two other drives on the card, finishing third and
fourth.
Jamieson will be back Saturday at Tabcorp Park Melton
to drive Vincennes in the Group 1 Pryde’s Easifeed Great
Southern Star and Bellmac Kody in the Group 3 Aluminum
Industries Invitation Drivers Trotters Free For All. The final
of the Group 1 race has a purse of $300,000 Australian or
$233,000 US
New Amateur Club To Race Weekly at The
Meadowlands (press release)
East Rutherford, NJ - The Meadowlands and GSY
Amateur Racing Club are announcing a regular schedule of
races geared toward amateur driver participation at the
New Jersey track every Friday beginning March 20. The
GSY Amateur Racing Club is the result of discussions
between Meadowlands management and Dave Yarock, an
avid amateur driver who has helped to facilitate other such
endeavors in the northeast.
The races will be pari-mutuel events for a purse of $8,000
each week, concluding with a $15,000 final on Saturday,
May 1. The placement will be the second race on Friday's
card to help build customer familiarity with the competing
horses and drivers.
To participate, all drivers must qualify as amateurs per
USTA standards, hold an "A" or "P" license and join the
Club for a one time fee of $215. There is no per-race fee.
The races will be scheduled to avoid conflict with any
existing amateur series thus providing drivers the
opportunity to compete in as many races as possible.
"I started seven years ago driving my one horse, now I
have 15 horses and a farm to house them," said Yarock.
"The amateur drivers together own hundreds of horses,
employ trainers and grooms and bring new people into the
business. Bob Krivelin, Bob Hechkoff, Steve Oldford, David
Glasser and Joe Pennacchio are just a few of many that
love the racing and have big investments. For us it's a
fantasy; racing at The Meadowlands is like playing in
Yankee Stadium. The GSY Club will also benefit a number
of charities by the donation of the driver's percentage."
Meadowlands CEO Jason Settlemoir added "The
amateur drivers continue to gain popularity with the racing
audience and they have a stronger presence than ever in
our sport. Their passion is contagious and we welcome
them and the potential new fans they will bring to The
Meadowlands."
A new website is in the works at
www.amateurharnessracing.com that will contain
biographies, past performance records and a video of a
race driven by the competing amateurs.
Interested parties should make quick contact with Mr.
Yarock at DaveYarock@gmail.com or by phone at (201)
914-9238 for further details on membership in the GSY
club. Entries for the races will be taken by Mr. Yarock as
well.
Payments Due for 2016 Crawford Farms
Meadowlands Pace
Maintaining eligibility for the 2016 Crawford Farms
Meadowlands Pace requires a two-year-old sustaining
payment made by the March 15 deadline.
On those foals of 2013 that were nominated by the $50
yearling payment last May, the sustaining cost is $400.
Supplemental nominations to the race are accepted at the
cost of $1,000.
Visit The Meadowlands stakes application page for the
necessary form. Questions may be directed to the Stakes
Administrator at (201) 460-4214.
$200,000 Prix D’Ete Nomination Payment Due
March 15 (press release)
TROIS-RIVIERES, Quebec, March 5, 2015 – The
Hippodrome 3R management team wants every horse
owner and trainer in North America to not miss the March
15 nomination payment for the 2015 $200,000 Prix D’Ete.
The race is only eligible to four-year-old pacers with the
top eight money earners in 2015 at time of entry going into
the rich final. The race will be held on Sunday, August 23.
Last year’s revival of the one-time richest stakes event in
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 3/6/15 PAGE 4 of 6
all of Canada saw trainer Jimmy
Takter’s Sunfire Blue Chip
rewrite the all-age track record
at 3R with an amazing 1:50.3
mark over the 3R half mile oval.
Driven by Yannick Gingras,
Sunfire Blue Chip’s clocking
erased the prior record by
nearly two full seconds and he
started the race from post eight.
“Not only was it great to come
back to my home track and win
the Prix D’Ete with Sunfire Blue
2014 Prix D’Ete winner
Chip,” said Gingras, but it was
Sunfire Blue Chip
so special to win in front of my
family and friends. I can’t want
to come back and compete in the Prix D’Ete again this
year.”
There is a big resurgence of major stakes for
four-year-old pacers in 2015 with the new formats for the
Confederation Cup at Flamboro Downs and the Graduate
Series at the Meadowlands and Tioga Downs. They will
take place in May and June.
Last year the Prix D’Ete was the richest race in North
America for four-year-old pacers.
To get the nomination form and for the payment
schedule, rules and regulations for the Prix D’Ete go to
www.quebecjockeyclub.com .
Carmine Abbatiello
After all these years Carmine Abbatiello hasn’t lost any of
his bravado.
If 30 years younger, how would he do against the drivers
of today?
“I’d blow them away,” he said from his winter home in the
Florida Keys.
During the heyday of Yonkers and Roosevelt few figures
were bigger than “The Red Man.” He was a perennial
leading driver and so well known nationally that he was
featured in an article in Sports Illustrated and made a beer
commercial.
Abbatiello, 78, last drove in 2004 and hasn’t driven
regularly since the mid-nineties.
For six month a year he lives in Marathon, Florida
enjoying the sunshine and relaxing. His favorite hobby, he
says, is fishing, something he says he does “almost every
day.”
In April he returns to Colts Neck, New Jersey and goes
back to work. He helps his son Eric with the daily training
duties at Gaitway Farms.
“I still help Eric when I get back home,” he said. “I work
with him every day, jogging and training.”
He says he follows the sport year-round, watching races
from Florida and paying particular attention to how his son’s
horses do.
He is a product of a different era, from a time when
people still actually went to the
racetrack.
“When we used to be at
Roosevelt I didn't want to be in the
last race because you couldn’t get
out of there,” he said. “There would
be 37,000 people there. You go to
any track today and you couldn’t hit
anybody with a rock. There’s no
one there anymore. If not for the
casino gambling we'd be in lot of
trouble.”
Abbatiello says the modern driver
does things much differently from
the stars of his era.
Carmine Abbatiello
“There are so many good drivers
lives six months a
now but the problem is they all
year in the Florida
race the same way,” he said.
Keys
“When we train horse I don’t go the
third quarter as fast as I can go. I watch these races now,
and I include Eric in that group, that’s all they do. They go
the third quarter as fast as they can go. The third quarter is
the fastest quarter and I don’t know why. I never trained a
horse that way.
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 3/6/15 PAGE 5 of 6
missed by a length in her recent qualifier to FFA mare
Somwhereovrarainbow; McCarthy might take an early shot
with her from out here. BROWNSVILLE BOMBER puts up
a good one every now and then and beat #10 five races
back, for what that’s worth; TOP BRAND makes her first
start of the year for the new barn and was a 1:50 winner
last year.
Race 8, N/W $8,500 L5 Trot
ANGELS RANSOM has really been coming into his own
lately for Smedshammer and he’ll finally get some attention
tonight. That race two back won by Upfront Billy was
excellent and his wide rally last week was steady; maybe
he’ll be put into play earlier now. WINDING HILL was
improved last out and now moves inside a few slots; an
obvious short priced contender for top connections. Zeron
moved too soon last week with CLEMENTINE DREAM but
it wouldn’t have mattered anyway; I wouldn’t touch if the
price is short again. ENDURO HANOVER was shuffled a
bit last out but he’s another that still needed more late.
PINE CREDIT makes his third start for Julie Miller but was
outkicked last out by ENOUGH ABOUT YOU; too bad the
ladder lands the outside.
Race 9, Claiming $10,000 Pace
KEEPING OPTIMISTIC was an impressive looking winner
last week in his first start at the Meadowlands. This one
never saw the rail from post 10 and despite the wide trip he
always continued to move forward; now goes third start for
Harmon and he can repeat. WESTERN TSUNAMI was an
“I would try to get my horse to relax in a race a little more easy 2/1 winner in this print last week and now lands the
than they do today. But I didn’t go 50, 51 like they do today; rail for this mini-series final. 12-year-old still remains the
we didn’t go that fast. But I always tried to get a horse to
most consistent of these and will warrant a deserving short
relax, get one quarter mile into them and then let them
price. LOCKLOADNEXPLODE has been good in his last
relax. They don’t do that today. But I guess that’s what the
three races since moving back to the Simpson barn. #1
owners and trainers want.”
has gotten the better of him in their last pair but this one
isn’t without a chance if he gets a trip. BESTNOTLIE
HANOVER swept from off cover last week and tonight’s
post should allow him to get another good trip in the outer
flow; hoping to pounce late. TRIPLE MAJOR closed faster
than anyone last week as the beaten favorite; will offer a
much better price now to make amends.
Race 7, F&M N/W $10,001 L5 Pace
It’s strange seeing world
Race 10, N/W $10,000 L5 Trot
champion
MONEY ON MY MIND took more action than he should
SHEBESTINGIN
have last week in his first start back and was conservatively
suddenly in for the third
handled. He now drops for Burke and Gingras while
lowest condition here as
making his second start back and finding the rail; that
she makes her second
qualifier against DW’s Yank would be good enough and a
start back since returning. short price will be coming. HILL I AM went the first over
By all rights she should
route last out and the foes that show on his recent lines are
beat these but the mare
better than these; sneaky play. WORTH THE MONEY AS
Shebestingin
that beat her two back,
just can’t buy a win but last week was his best rally yet;
who isn’t exactly a world beater and now she comes off a
lands another mid pack post and McCarthy gets the return
vet scratch; I guess I wouldn’t be surprised by anything.
call. CASHAHALLIC wired weaker last out and this is the
WESTERN EMPRESS was second last out to
level that gives him problems; would need his very best.
Inittowinafortune and that mare came back last week to
$4 ticket ($0.50 base): 9 / 4-8 / 1-4-5-6 / 1
upset in the F&M Open. DELIGHTFUL DRAGON only
$16 ticket ($0.50 base): 5-9 / 4-8 / 1-4-5-6 / 1-2
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 3/6/15 PAGE 6 of 6
Wednesday’s Results
10, DD, $18,000, T, Open Handicap Post Positions 1 thru 5
Drawn Post Positions 6 thru 8 Assigned, 26.3, 55.2, 1:24.0,
1:53.2, SY
Tag Up And Go (g, 5, Angus Hall--Tagapine, by
Tagliabue), $5,000 2011 CAN-YS O-J L Sadowsky LLC.
B-Tri Star Farms LTD, CA. T-Robert Bresnahan. D-Ron
Pierce, $9,000, Lifetime Record: 62-12-9-10, $202,465
Wednesday’s Results
Full Sisters Win Meadows Series Divisions
WASHINGTON, PA, March 4, 2015 — After
Wednesday’s program at The Meadows, it’s hard to say
which of the trotters Lou Goans owns and trains, Laurie Lin
and Linborghini, he prefers. In a rarity, the full sisters —
daughters of Linbo-Bacon Hill Bonnie — each won a
$12,000 opening-round division of the Mary Wohlmuth
Memorial Trot for 3- and 4-year-old fillies and mares.
Perhaps most gratifying for Goans — the siblings were a
combined 0-33 entering the series.
The 3-year-old Laurie Lin got the family off to a good start
when she crossed the wire second but was placed the
winner when Watch Her Dangle was disqualified for a
lapped-on break. Talking Scandal finished third. Laurie Lin
scored in 2:03.2 over a sloppy surface for Tony Hall.
Later in the card, the 4-year-old Linborghini followed
cover nicely, then brushed wide through the lane to triumph
in 2:04.3 for Brian Zendt. Miss E Claire was second, 3/4
lengths back, while Icy Sprite earned show. Andrew
Markano bred both Laurie Lin and Linborghini.
Wu Long took the other series split for Dave Palone, one
of his four wins on the 14-race card. The series honors the
late Mary Wohlmuth, longtime manager of The Meadows’
2:00 Club.
4, Mea, $12,000, T, ***THE MARY WOHLMUTH TROT***
FOR 3YO & 4YO FILLY & MARE NW $25,000 LIFE UP TO
AND INCLUDING FEBRUARY 1,2015 (PA SIRED OR
OWNED) - 1ST LEG, 30.1, 1:02.1, 1:33.0, 2:03.2, SY
Laurie Lin (f, 3, Linbo--Bacon Hill Bonnie, by Conway
Hall) O-Edwin L Goans. B-Andrew D Markano. T-Lou
Goans. D-Tony Hall, $6,000, Lifetime Record: 11-1-1-1,
$14,272
8, Mea, $12,000, T, ***THE MARY WOHLMUTH TROT***
FOR 3YO & 4YO FILLY & MARE NW $25,000 LIFE UP TO
AND INCLUDING FEBRUARY 1,2015 (PA SIRED OR
OWNED) - 1ST LEG, 29.2, 1:01.1, 1:30.4, 2:01.1, SY
Wu Long (m, 4, Explosive Matter--Strong Tea, by
Muscles Yankee), $30,000 2012 LEX-SEL O-Harmon
Racing Stable LLC & Knightstalker Stable, CA. B-Steve H
Stewart & Black Creek Farm & Victor Wagler. T-Rob
Harmon. D-Dave Palone, $6,000, Lifetime Record:
19-2-2-3, $27,260
10, Mea, $12,000, T, ***THE MARY WOHLMUTH TROT***
FOR 3YO & 4YO FILLY & MARE NW $25,000 LIFE UP TO
AND INCLUDING FEBRUARY 1,2015 (PA SIRED OR
OWNED) - 1ST LEG, 30.4, 1:02.2, 1:33.3, 2:04.3, SY
Linborghini (m, 4, Linbo--Bacon Hill Bonnie, by
Conway Hall) O-Edwin L Goans. B-Andrew D Markano.
T-Lou Goans. D-Brian Zendt, $6,000, Lifetime Record:
24-1-3-2, $27,416
© Copyright Harness Racing Update.
This newspaper may not be reproduced in any form or by
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Inc. Information as to the races, race results and earnings
was obtained from results charts published by the United
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permission of the copyright owner.