Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

$150,000 American National Two-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot
Diesel Don Fuels Up For American National Trot
November 3, 2004
By Kimberly A. Rinker

In a somewhat wide-open event, Diesel Don may just be the horse that will get the job done in the $150,000 American National Two-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot on Saturday night at Balmoral. The lightly raced son of Muscles Yankee made a bold statement as he cruised to a five-length victory at Balmoral last Sunday night in a prep race for this American National.

"This colt has been fighting sickness for a while, and it’s taken him some time to get over it," driver John Campbell noted. "It’s too early to tell if he’s going to be as tough as his father (Muscles Yankee), but he was right on here in his prep race. He handled the track really well and that’s a testament to Chuck (trainer Sylvester) who had this colt at Lexington and made sure he was ready to go here."

Trained by trotting maestro Chuck Sylvseter, Diesel Don was steered to a 1:57.2 clocking by Campbell in that conditioned trot. The youngster is co-owned by Sylvester, Neal Goldman and Having Fun Stable LLC and the win was his second in only five career trips postward.

Diesel Don’s previous time of 1:58.1 had been scored in a Red Mile qualifier for Campbell on October 8. Prior to that he had finished third in a conditioned trot at Lexington with Campbell at the lines.

"This colt is still learning," Campbell said. "And he has some maturing to do, but I think that race was a good tightener for the American National."

Diesel Don was bred by Winbak Farm of Chesapeake City, Maryland and is the second foal out of the American Winner mare Yankee Blondie, and was a $12,000 yearling purchase at Harrisburg last fall by Sylvester and his partners.

One of Diesel Don’s main rivals is the Doug Ackerman owned and trained Garth Vader, who will be piloted by D. R. Ackerman in the American National. This son of Garland Lobell is the third foal out of the Super Bowl mare Cunning Vixen and was a $28,000 yearling purchase last fall at the Kentucky Standardbred Sale. Garth Vader is a full brother to Spring Steel, 3, 2:01.3 ($50,676).

Garth Vadar won his maiden event at Scioto Downs on July 22, trotting in 1:59.4 in a $23,550 stake for freshman colts. He went off stride in a number of starts before minding his business and winning an elimination of the Lexington Breeders in a career best of 1:58.4 on September 3, before finishing a strong second in the $80,000 final on September 10. He then went on to finish third in the $85,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes Final on September 24.

To date Garth Vader has scored three wins, a pair of seconds and a third in 11 starts, with career earnings of $52,100. He doesn’t appear to be as sharp as Diesel Don, who also has the advantage of a start under his belt over the Balmoarl Park racing surface.

Field for the $150,000 American National Two-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot
Post/Horse                    Driver                    Trainer
1-Amerigo                    Dan Shetler             Dan Shetler
2-Diesel Don                 John Campbell         Chuck Sylvester
3-Garth Vadar               DR Ackerman          Doug Ackerman
4-Agassi Hall                 Andy Miller               Erv Miller
5-Black And Red            Tim Tetrick              Jim Eaton
6-BJ's Riptide                Chris Norris            Chris Norris
7-Passion                      TBA                        J. Coughlin
8-King Clone                 Kurt Sugg                Kurt Sugg
9-Classic Photo              Andy Miller              Erv Miller

-30-