Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

American Nationals Now History

Saturday, November 3, 2007

With more than $1.2 million in purse money, the action was fast and furious on Saturday night (November 3) as some of North America’s best trotters and pacers, converged on Balmoral Park for six American-National Stake Finals. Freshman pacing fillies kicked off the American-National festival of racing with a field of eight slugging it out for $143,000.

Erv Miller’s Super Night star Kelly’s Keepsake toted home to top honors in 1:53.
Handled by driver David Miller, the Illinois bred daughter of Sportsmaster sped from fourth to first after watching Desirable Cindy (Sam Widger) lead the field through an opening quarter in :28.

“We were working pretty hard in the second quarter (:26.3) but my plan going in was to settle, then work my way back to the front,” explained Miller. “I also wanted to make sure I kept Beachy Girl (the even money favorite) behind me for as long as I could.”

Holding her chief rival at bay through middle splits of :54.3 and 1:23.2, Kelly’s Keepsake was a length in front as the field turned for home.

“Even though we caught a little bit of a breather going around that turn, I know how long this stretch is here so I knew they were going to be coming after us,” said Miller. “I finally asked my filly for all she had about halfway from home and she just dug in and held them off.”

With the half-length triumph, this daughter of Sportmaster now boasts a record of six wins, five seconds and one third in 15 starts with earnings of $278,879. Sent off as the second choice in the wagering, Kelly’s Keepsake returned $8.40, $5.60 and $4.00.

Trotters were next on the docket with a field of eight 4-year-olds and up knocking heads for a purse of $190,000.

Corleone Kosmos scored a very easy 3-1/4 length romp in 1:53.1. Placed in fourth by driver John Campbell, Corleone Kosmos was perfectly content to watch Two Weeks Notice (Ryan Anderson) and Man About Town (Dave Magee) trade blows through opening splits of :27.4 and :55.4.

“He’s a fun horse to drive because he’s so fast and he loves to do his work,” explained the Hall of Famer. “He never seems to mind coming first up so I was pretty confident at that point.”

Corleone Kosmos was just two lengths behind the leaders as the field reached the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:25.2. In the lane the son of S J’s Photo left the the field in his wake, Corleone Kosmos was on cruise control as he sped home in :27.2.

This year's Nat Ray winner now sports six wins, five seconds and one third in 14 starts with earnings of $705,848 for owners Arthur Rudolph, Rudolph Stables Inc. and Bernard Owen.

The top older pacers in the country stepped to the plate for the third American-National Stake Final of the night as a field of eight battled for a purse of $205,000.

When the smoke cleared it was Sylvia Burke, John Howard and John Koran’s Maltese Artist with an impressive 1-1/4 length victory in 1:50.1.

Abandoning his pre-race strategy of trying to leave for an early spot, winning driver Greg Grismore elected to take back after watching Jereme’s Jet (John Campbell) and Royal Man (Brent Holland) battle through a quick opening quarter in :26.1.

“I wasn’t quite sure what to do after we left out of there,” explained Grismore. “I knew they were moving pretty good up front though so I just decided to take back and try to follow Mr Big (David Miller).”

Campbell was able to work out a bit of a breather for Jereme’s Jet through middle splits of :55.1 and 1:23.1, but there was still plenty of danger lurking as a hard charging Load The Dice (Mike Oosting) was leading up a live outer charge as the field hit the top of the stretch.

Tipping off three-deep cover, Maltese Artist was in high gear as the field neared the eighth pole. Gobbling up ground with the greatest of ease, the Mickey Burke trained gelding flew by his rivals with a :26.1 final quarter to post his fourth straight victory. Load The Dice turned in a very solid effort to finish second, while Mr Big was third.

“He’s just an unbelievable horse,” said a beaming Grismore. “Week in and week out he goes with the best of them and he just continues to do whatever you want him to do.”

The victory was the 13th in 27 starts this year for the son of Artiscape, who also has four seconds and five thirds to his credit. The win also pushes Maltese Artist’s seasonal bankroll over the $1 million mark while running his career total up to $1,917,866.

Sophomore pacing fillies took center stage in race seven as a field of nine distaffers were sent to battle for a purse of $206,000.

Frank Baldachino’s Go On BB cruised to a 2-1/4 length victory in a career best of 1:51. Placed in mid-pack by driver Dave Palone, Go On BB saved ground in fifth while Platinum Hanover (David Miller) led the field through opening splits of :26.3 and :54.4.

Quickly picking off horses while powering up the outside, Go On BB was just a head behind Platinum Hanover as they moved by the three-quarters in 1:22.4.

“I never planned to have her first up but I couldn’t wait any longer for somebody to give us cover,” explained Palone. “Even though it wasn’t the easiest of trips she was also very comfortable and well within herself.”

Go On BB quickly sprinted away to a five length advantage in the stretch. The daughter of Dontgetinmyway strolled under the wire with her 19th win in 22 starts this season.

“I’ve only raced her twice but I absolutely love this filly,” he marveled. “I had her wrapped up during the entire stretch drive and she still took a new life mark. She’s special!”

Go On BB pushed her lifetime record to 25-3-2 in 36 starts, with earnings of $436,649.

A full field of 10 2-year-old pacing colts met next as they battled for a purse of $145,000. Engel Stables' homebred Mucho Sleazy gutted out a half-length decision in 1:51.3.

The Ken Rucker trainee used an inside spot to get away fourth as Littlebitoflife (Ryan Anderson) tore through fractions of :27.2 and :55.3.

With the outer flow quickly developing on the far turn, Mike Oosting decided to move his charge first-over. Mucho Sleazy was able to put a head in front of Littlebitoflife as the two raced side by side past the three-quarters in 1:23.3.

In the stretch, Mucho Sleazy drew off to a two length advantage. A model of consistency with a record of six wins, four seconds and three thirds in 16 starts, Mucho Sleazy provided quite a thrill for owner-breeder Marty Engel.

“Winning a big race like this with a horse you own and bred is like watching one of your kids hit a home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning,” he exclaimed. “I had to pinch myself after the race was over to tell myself that we really had won the race.”

The final American-National of the night provided the biggest jackpot on the card as a field of 10 sophomore pacing colts battled for $275,000. Once again it was a Mickey Burke trainee who stole the headlines as Strollin Stable, William Robinson and James Koehler’s Won The West won by a head in a thrilling stretch drive.

Given a perfect steer by driver Greg Grismore, the son of Western Hanover floated away from post position nine and was up to fourth as Booze Cruzin (Sam Widger) and Saratoga John (Brent Holland) battled through a tough opening quarter of :26.3.

After a brief tuck, Grismore showed a great deal of confidence in his charge, moving back to the outside as the field reached the half-mile mark in :54.1.

“First over wasn’t really the plan,” explained Grismore. “But my horse just kept digging and digging so I just continued on with him.”

Won The West was just a head away from a stubborn Booze Cruzin as these two rolled by the three-quarter-mile mark in a blazing 1:22.

Through the lane, Booze Cruzin had a short lead despite drifting towards the center of the track. With less than a sixteenth of a mile to go Won The West rallied in the final strides to get the victory.

In the winner’s circle an elated Grismore was singing the praises of conditioner Mickey Burke.

“It’s fun when you drive for a guy like Mickey,” he said. “You know his horses are always going to be sharp and you know they are always going to be placed in a spot where they can win.”

Won The West pushed his record to 16 wins, four seconds and two thirds in 26 starts with the victory. The bay gelding has now amassed $553,974 in this his first season of racing.

Won The West (#9) took the $275,000
American National 3-Year-Old Colt Pace
over Booze Cruzin (#5) in 1:51.1

$143,000 American National 2-Year-Old Filly Pacers
PP Horse                  Driver
1 Kellys' Keepsake      David Miller
9 Desirable Cindy       Sam Widger
6 Dragonfest              Jason Dillander
3 Wondrous Grace      John Campbell
8 Btwnyurheartnmine Ryan Anderson
2 Beachy Girl            Dave Magee
5 Ideal Nectarine        Brent Holland
7 Westside Gritty       Brandon Simpson
Scratched: Get That Cheese
:28 :54.3 1:23.2 1:53

CorleoneKosmos

Corleone Kosmos took the $190,000
American National Aged Trot easily in 1:53.1
with John Campbell at the lines.

$190,000 American National Aged Trotters
PP Horse                 Driver
2 Corleone Kosmos   John Campbell
5 Two Weeks Notice   Ryan Anderson
4 Justice Hall             Jason Dillander
7 Man About Town      Dave Magee
6 Killer Whale            Henry Lunsford
1 Dink Adoo                Mike Oosting
8 Trivoli                      H Hochstetler
3 Dukster                   Brent Holland
:27.4 :55.4 1:25.2 1:53.1

$205,000 American National Aged Pacers
PP Horse                    Driver
6 Maltese Artist           Greg Grismore
5 Load The Dice           Mike Oosting
7 Mister Big                 David Miller
4 My Boy David           Ryan Anderson
2 Jereme's jet             John Campbell
3 Thisbigdogwilfight      Dave Magee
1 Royal Man                 Brian Sears
:26.1 :55.1 1:23.1 1:50.1

$206,000 American National 3-Year-Old Filly Pacers
PP Horse           Driver
7 Go On BB           Dave Palone
6 Real Velocity      Greg Grismore
8 Sportsfancy       Ryan Anderson
1 Me And My Baby Brooke Nickells
5 Kiss Of Heaven   Brent Holland
9 Vaudeville Margie John Campbell
3 Cabana Fever     Dave Magee
4 Platinum Hanover David Miller
2 Absolutelymichelle Mike Oosting
:26.3 :54.4 1:22.4 1:51

$145,000 American National 2-Year-Old Colt Pacers
PP Horse              Driver
2 Mucho Sleazy      Mike Oosting
8 Lets Getit Started Jason Dillander
6 Art Official           Del Chupp
5 Sand Shooter      David Miller
9 Brother Ray        Brent Holland
10 Vette Man         Brandon Simpson
3 Genuwine           Dave Magee
1 Life Savior          John Campbell
4 Littlebitoflief        Ryan Anderson
7 Little Pedro         Sam Widger
:27.2 :55.3 1:23.3 1:51.3

$275,000 American National 3-Year-Old Colt Pacers
PP Horse                     Driver
9 Won The West           Greg Grismore
5 Booze Cruzin             Sam Widger
6 Pop Z Pop                 John Campbell
2 Travis Lou                Dale HIteman
3 Home Bed Advantage Ryan Anderson
10 Exterminator          Mike Oosting
1 Saratoga John          Brent Holland
4 Fox Valley Gambler Dave Magee
8 The Quiet Mon           Jason Dillander
7 KF St Patrick             David Miller
:26.3 :54.1 1:22 1:51.1