Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Notes from The Big M

January 21, 2006

Leading driver Brian Sears celebrates his 38th birthday on Saturday....Andy Miller reports that he is moving to the Meadowlands full time this year..."Mr Muscleman is back in the barn and so far, so good," reports owner Adam Victor Jr. "He's feeling great."

Trainer Steve Elliott has two of his top charges prepping for their returns to the racetrack. "Canyon Wind schooled Thursday morning at the Meadowlands," he said. "He's about three to four weeks away. We picked our spots with him last year. He's going to be in all the big races this year. It's time to find out if he can do it against the best. Burning Point qualified well, pacing in 1:55 and coming home in 28.2. She had six weeks in the field. She loves racing. She gets bored when she's not out there."

Jenna's Choice, who has been sidelined with a right hind pastern fracture since last May, is being pointed toward a return to racing in February. "We're taking it slow with him with the big picture in mind," said Clifford Pattick of Montvale, New Jersey, who owns the bay gelding with Daniel Borgo of Randolph and trainer Mark Silva of Little Ferry. "He qualified with Silva in the bike last week and went 1:55, despite being interfered with twice in the race. He will qualify again on the 26th of January with Sears, where they will probably let him, 'rock and roll.' Hopefully, the four-year-old open on February 4 will fill and then on to the Aquarius on February 11. I can't wait. I counted the days that he has not raced in earnest, and it is 262 days right now. Seems like 262 years!"

Last winter, Jenna's Choice won a trio of Winter Series Finals, the $95,000 Junior Trendsetter, the $104,450 Matt's Scooter and the $70,790. He had won his Berry's Creek Prep, his sixth win in 14 starts in 2005, before his injury surfaced.

Solveig, 2004 two-year-old trotting filly champ, is back racing. "She was sick for almost the entire season at three, and lost all that time," said Jimmy Takter. "She got well late and is trotting strong now. She just won in 1:55 at Dover. I'm going to race her until April or so, and then make a decision if she continues on or will be bred."

Trond Smedshammer has lost HP Paque to a stud career in Italy but has some other contenders for the older trotting ranks. "I think Blur will be coming back," he said. "It looks that way now; Strong Yankee, too. Sand Vic is five now and should be better. He won almost $500,000 in 2005 without winning a race. I also have NY Yank, the first horse I've ever had for Adam Victor. Blue Mac Lad is coming back. I don't have a lot of three-year old-colts this year."

Standings for the Super Bowl Series are posted online at:
http://www.thebigm.com/standingsSeries.asp