Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Bob's Bits...by Bob "Hollywood" Heyden

March 28, 2005

Fast Times At Meadowlands High
In the entire history of harness racing entering 2005, there were TWO race miles under 1:50 in the winter. Parsons Den (1:49.4)-February 27, 1999 at Pompano and Eaton Road Kill-1:49.2-March 6, 2004 at the Meadowlands. This year-2005's winter-there were SEVEN!!
Francam-1:49.1 January 13-2005: Whosurboy-1:49.4 January 8-2005: Johnny Be Cool N-1:49.4-February 5-2005: All Star Blue Jean-1:49.3-February 19-2005: Live Out Loud-1:49.4-March 5, 2005: Sagebrush-1:49-March 12-2005: Life Source-1:49-March 19-2005.

NOTE-This does NOT take into account last night's 1:49.4 by Loyal Opposition-the earliest ever female sub 1:50 effort. That mile came just four days into spring.
Get this-6 of the 7 on the list-the 6 horses who have posted sub 1:50 winter miles this year-are in action TONIGHT! Five at the Meadowlands and one (Whosurboy) at Woodbine. Only Johnny Be Cool N is not going.

The Year Of The Cat
As of Saturday, March 26, 2005 Cat Manzi enters the day leading North America in drives with 1048; enters the day leading North America in wins with 207, and is third in earnings with $1.780 million. Cat has won 17 races in the last three days-12 at Freehold and 5 at the Meadowlands, three daily doubles (two at Freehold and one at the Big M-Friday's early double). The record for wins thru the end of March-245-set by Walter Case in 1993. The first driver to ever hit 200 wins in a YEAR: Bob Farrington-1963-201. Cat passed that March 24. The last time a driver was the first to 200 wins in a year-AND age 50 or older?? 1990-Herve Filion age 50. Cat is 54 and 1/2.

Sears Doubles His Pleasure
Brian Sears won the Matts Scooter final last night and in the process surpassed $2 million for the year-the first and only driver past that milestones. This is the fifth straight DIFFERENT driver to hit the $2 million plateau first in the last five years: 2001-John Campbell; 2002-Luc Ouellette; 2003-Dave Miller; 2004-Ron Pierce; 2005-Brian Sears.

Richard Silverman made his first appearance of the year at the Meadowlands last weekend. "I spent the last few months in Florida, prepping for the upcoming stakes season at the Meadowlands," said Silverman, now 40. "I'll be here for the weekends until we ship the entire barn up April 15. My dad [Jerry Silverman] and I have 22 head, mostly babies, very few older horses this time. As for the mare, [Jugette winner] Glowing Report, she's doing fine and qualifies this week at the Meadowlands."