Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Brief Notes from Around The Ovals

May 19, 2006

Sears Does It
When driver Brian Sears reached the winner’s circle with Vodkaontherocks in the fourth race on Thursday night, it marked the 48th consecutive program in which he has had a winner, setting a track record at the Meadowlands.

Sears eclipsed the mark of 47 wins established in 1986 by Hall of Famer John Campbell. The last time Sears was shutout at the Meadowlands was on March 2, 2006.

More "Searing" Facts
The recognized thoroughbred mark was 64-set in 1989 at New York tracks by the late Chris Antley. Two other Sears numbers of note. Well on his way to his best season-when he hits 251 wins for the season-it'll be the first time in 11 years that any driver has won 500 races combined at the Meadowlands over a two year period. (249 wins in 2005 to lead the pack)

John Campbell did it last in 1994-1995 with 517 combined victories then. Also-Sears was about $400g shy of $20 million (Meadowlands Only) entering the final two weeks of May. When he does reach that plateau, it'll easily be the fastest any driver has done it. Dave Miller did it in five years plus from 1999-2004.

Numbers Of Note
Brian Sears finally pulled ahead of Tony Morgan in the national earning race mid-May. If Brian wins the $$ title for the second straight year, he'll be the sixth driver to win his first two earnings titles consecutively. The other five--Filion-Haughton-Dancer-Campbell-O'Donnell--are ALL in the Hall Of Fame.

One and 1/2-YEARS since a female driver won a Meadowlands race. November 2004-Jacqueline Ingrassia upset the apple cart in the Goldsmith Maid with Aeronautess. NONE since.

Andy Miller just doesn't get any respect--well-at least not enough from the bettors. He has--thru May 15--FOUR $100 horses so far this year in NJ-two at the Meadowlands and another pair at Freehold. John Plutino was the last to do it three times (1989).

19 STRAIGHT years for Cat Manzi at 300 plus wins. He did it on May 13 winning the 11th at the Meadowlands. NO DRIVER in history has ever done this. Dave Palone this year will do it for the 18th straight season.

22 MONTHS--since Sand Vic's last win-the outstanding Free For All trotter in the Trond Smedshammer barn went winless in 2005-BUT-he banked 471g-an all-time record for a horse in ANY season without a victory. It was July 3-2004 when he won at the Meadows in 1:55.1 the last time he hit paydirt.

40 YEARS from the first $100g win of Jerry Silvermans career to his most recent.

1966--Triple Crown winning Romeo Hanover won the $126,915 Cane Pace and the Messenger, valued at $169,985 (Jug-74g). Then-this May 14-Mothers Day-he wins the $100,000 inaugural edition of the Matriarch with Glowing Report.

Graduate Odds N Ends The Graduate final--the 29th edition-was held May 20. Yannick Gingras at 26, was the only driver in the race (Pacific Renegade) who was younger than the series itself. Speaking of Pacific Renegade, his brother won the 1998 Graduate, and later the Haughton-Pacific Fella.

The richest races won by BROTHERS? Red River Hanover and Rocknroll Hanover, the 2002 and 2005 North America Cup.

Ponders' 1:48.3 elimination win was not only impressive, it was his FIRST Meadowlands win in six tries. He is a son of The Panderosa, who last year and this year led the way with the most representation-3 in each.

It's been 12 years since the winner of the Graduate retired WITHOUT a sub 1:50 mark--Arrive At Five.

Dr No was trying to do what had been done only once before. Win the Graduate AFTER having already won the Haughton final (2005) Jaguar Spur did it in 1988 and 1989, and it was especially notable for him because he held off the Horse Of The Year in the Graduate 17 years ago, Matts Scooter.

NJ Classic Shorts
The 27th edition of the richest of all state-bred tests held May 27. Only 8 raced in the NJ Classic prep, while only 6 in the Miss New Jersey prep. Of those 14, exactly half were sired by Western Ideal, who won BOTH last year with Rocknroll Hanover and Ideal News. NO SIRE had won both these races his first TWO years with his first TWO crops prior.....Blair Burgess sent out a son of Western Ideal, Armbro Deuce-how interesting that it was Blair who was the first trainer of Western Ideal back in 1997 at age 2....The combined record for the 8 sophomores in 2006 was 1-20 entering the prep....Wayne Whebby, son of Eric Whebby, both from Dartmouth Nova Scotia, owns Feelin Frisky. That is the same Eric Whebby who raced and won the very first Meadowlands winner on September 1, 1976-Quick Baron for the Remmens...For the 16th straight year, the NJ Classic pot is 500g...32 of the 78 board spots in the history of the Classic went to 3 year olds who would go on to a million $$ career...Mike Lachance had Artstanding-the defending NJSS freshman champ..Mike had won the NJ Classic 5 times, including 4 of the last 8 editions.