Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

DIESEL DON IS REVVED UP FOR VALLEY VICTORY
December 1, 2004

Although it may be too soon to talk about Hambletonian hopes for
next year, Diesel Don may stamp himself an early contender for trotting
expert Chuck Sylvester if he captures the $228,600 Valley Victory Final
on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

Diesel Don has won four of his seven career starts, including the $150,000 American-National on November 6 at Balmoral and last week's Valley Victory prep race. The son of Muscles Yankee is rated as the 3-1 second choice on the morning line in the Valley Victory Final. He will start from post two with driver John Campbell.

A $12,000 yearling purchase at the Harrisburg Sale, he races for Sylvester, Campbell's Having Fun Stable and Neal Goldman.

"We always start our colts later in the season and planned on starting him at Lexington," Sylvester said, of the colt's debut on Augsut 13 at Lexington's Red Mile. "We raced him easy at first, very carefully. Then he got sick and missed a week or two, which set us back a little. Some horses get throat infections from all the dust down there, and that's what happened to him. After he got better, we sent him to Balmoral."

Diesel Don came first up to capture last week's Valley Victory prep race in a career best 1:56.4 clocking.

"He came out of [Friday night's] race very good," Sylvester said. "We checked him over and he seems to be fine. We knew he needed a race to tighten him up. Strong Yankee was scratched, so things looked a little easier for us. [The final] will be a lot tougher. They sold Strong Yankee for a lot of money - I know they think he's a serious horse."

"This will be his last start of the season," added Sylvester, who has won the Hambletonian three times. "We have high hopes for him next season."

With the major stakes races ending and the weather growing colder, Sylvester is heading to Las Vegas for the winter months.

"I bought a home there three years ago and made it my residency this year," he said. "I'm getting ready to head there for the winter. We've only got about 20 horses now. I'll be back to New Jersey the first of May."
-30-