Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

The Graduate by the Numbers & other tidbits
Courtesy of Bob "Hollywood" Heyden"

May 18, 2007

0-NO sons of The Panderosa in this year-He was 1-2 last year, and 1-2-3 in the Haughton 0-Graduate wins for Sears or Dave Miller 0-NONE-Not one repeater from last year in this year.

1-Only ONE sire-Cambest-has finished second in the Graduate and gone on to sire a winner-2002 Camotion. He can make it two winners this year with Lis Mara. 1-The #1 fastest horse sent out by Bob McIntosh in a race-winning AND losing-is Stonebridge Regal-who won the Graduate Prep in 1:48.1-and who was race timed in 1:47.1 last Hambo Day second in the Holborn Hanover record mile (1:46.4)

2-The last TWO Older Pacers of the Year are in here-Boulder Creek (2005) and Lis Mara (2006)

3-THREE Meadowlands Pace winners have finished on the board in the Graduate-Hot Lead was third in 1997, Matts Scooter second in 1989 and Gallo Blue Chip won it in 2001-ALL as 4 Year Olds. THIRD time the charm for Boulder Creek? He was third in 2004 and second in 2005 in the Graduate final. Dorunrun Bluegrass is the ONLY horse to be on the board THREE times in the Graduate final-winning in 1990 and 1992 with a third sandwiched in between.

4-FOUR Year Olds-5 of the 9 this year are age 4. But no 4 Year old has won this since Gallo Blue Chip in 2001.

5- The last five Graduate winners-AGE-was: 5-2006 Ponder, 8-2005 Life Source;

6-2004 Four Starzzz Shark;

7-2003 E Dees Cam and 5-2002-Camotion 7-Graduate Winners for John Campbell (Stonebridge Regal)-the all-time best.

8-YEARS since Campbell's last Graduate win-1999-Noble Ability. That was also the last son of Albatross to win $1 million, and it marked the third time in five years that Albatross had sired the winner of the Graduate-1995-1996 (Ball And Chain)

9-Years since Cat Manzi won his last Graduate-with the SIRE of his drive this year-Pacific Fella/Artistic Fella.

10-Post 10-Last year-was 37/1 but a fast closing second-Leading Xample.

11-Years since a driver has won the Graduate final back to back. Mike Lachance-did it consecutively with Ball And Chain in 1995-1996, also marking the ONLY time a horse won this final two straight years. This year, Ron Pierce and Total Truth look to make it back to back-he won it with Ponder a year ago.

27-Yannick Gingras age-the same age John Campbell was in 1982 when he won the Graduate with Willow Wiper. Yannick would be the second youngest (27 years 9 months-JC-27 years 2 months)

27-Years after Albatross' second straight HOY title-1972-he sired his last winner of the Graduate-Noble Ability.

30-30th Graduate edition

53-Mike Lachance's age in 2004 when he became the oldest to win the Graduate. He also established the stakes record of 1:48.1 that year with Four Starzzz Shark.

Did You Know????
That Life Source went from last to first in the Graduate in back to back years? (2004, 2005)

Remember When?? The epic duel of Jennas Beach Boy and Riyadh took place in the 1996 Haughton final-in world record time-1:47.3. BUT-would you believe-they BOTH were off the board in the Graduate final as the two betting favorites?? Riyadh was 4th at 5-2, and 4-5 favorite Jennas Beach Boy broke at the start and finished 9th.

Did You Know??? That-If Stonebridge Regal wins the final, it'll mark the first time in 30 editions of the race that BOTH the trainer and driver were ALREADY in the Hall Of Fame? Bob McIntosh-John Campbell.

Did You Know??? That the dam of Stonebridge Regal-Lady Joanna-is historys ONLY broodmare to have TWO 1:48.1 performers? (Lease On Life the other)

The 1:48 or Better Club: 18 members 10 UNDER 1:48 Holborn Hanover (3) and Lis Mara (2) are the only ones with multiple 1:48 or better race wins Cams Card Shark and Cambest EACH have 4 of the 18 to their siring credits Cambest is the ONLY sire in the 1:48 or better club with THREE representatives: Eaton Road Kill-1:48; Color Me Best 1:48 and Lis Mara (twice-including an all-time Breeders Crown best of 1:47.3) July 3-2004 was a momentous night for this 1:48 club-THREE of the 18 1:48 or better miles were recorded on that night at the Meadowlands-Four Starzzz Shark-1:47.4, and a pair of 1:48 flat miles from the veteran geldings Eaton Road Kill and Life Source