Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Life Guard On Duty Takes American National

July 29, 2006

Reinsman Sam Widger gave Life Guard On Duty an unconventional drive but it was good enough to score a rousing 1:48.4 victory in the $272,000 American National for three-year-old pacing colts Saturday night at Balmoral Park. The time of 1:48.4 is a new stakes record and just four-fifths of a second off the all-age track record.

"Once I cleared the lead I was first over which was not where I wanted to be--not a great drive but a great horse," Widger laughed. "I didn't really know a lot about this horse before tonight but in mid-stretch he felt good and still had plenty of go and I was confident at that point that we had a good shot to win it all."

Thisbigdogwillfight got the lead easily as the wings of the gate folded, leading the field through a sporty :26.1 first quarter. Not to be denied the lead however was My Boy David and driver Andy Miller, who left hard from post nine, and was parked to a :53 half, with Life Guard On Duty in the second-over spot.

However, when My Boy David cleared to the top, that left Life Guard On Duty taking all the air, but the game colt never wavered and gamely dug in through the 1:20.2 three-quarter clocking. Rounding the final turn positions remained unchanged, and Life Guard On Duty sprinted home in :28 to win by a length over My Boy David. Jereme’s Jet, who was given a perfect two-hole trip by Hall of Famer Dave Magee, could do no better than third.

The son of Jenna's Beach Boy is trained by Todd La Fountaine for owners William and Sheryl Tuieja of Fennville, Michigan. It was the third time Widger had steered a winner home in the three-year-old American National colt pace.

"I've won three of these American National 3-year-old races and every time I've gotten the drive when others have chosen off them," Widger noted.

Those other two American National victories came with Life’s Not Fair in 2000 and Cardmaster Hanover in the 2001 edition.

Widger opted for the drive on Life Guard On Duty when regular pilot Tim Tetrick chose to drive Fox Valley Tribal for trainer Robert Sanders instead. Fox Valley Tribal ended up fourth in the Am-Nat.

"I've made a career off of picking up second, third and fourth choices after other guys have chosen off and doing well with them," Widger explained. "I really didn't know anything about this horse, except that the Todd (trainer La Fountaine) had a lot of confidence in this horse and his abilities."

Life Guard On Duty was making his stakes debut in the American National, after finishing second to Jereme’s Jet in his elimination one week prior. The bay colt was winless at two, scoring three seconds in 11 trips postward as a freshman. Prior to his Am-Nat victory, he had seasonal earnings of just $16,525, with three wins and a pair of seconds in only five tries.

$272,000 American National Three-Year-Old Colt Pace Balmoral Park, Race Six
Saturday, July 29, 2006
PP Horse                     Driver
5 Life Guard On Duty      Sam Widger
9 My Boy David              Andy Miller
4 Jereme's Jet                Dave Magee
3 Fox Valley Tribal         Tim Tetrick
1 Thisbigdogwillfight       Brent Holland
10 Joe To Go                 Jason Dillander
2 Devilfish                     Dale Hiteman
6 Hot N Sporty               Todd Warren
8 Real Mean Art             Mike Oosting
7 Royal Man                  Ryan Anderson
:26.1   :53     1:20.2     1:48.4*
*New Stakes Record