Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Notes from Bob "Hollywood" Heyden
Third Times A Charm

November 28, 2004

1) THREE straight Su Mac Lad wins for Magician (2000-2002) The ONLY horse in Meadowlands history to win a stake or series final three STRAIGHT years.

2) THREE likely trotting division titleists for Trond Smedshammer in 2004-Windsongs Legacy, Housethatruthbuilt & Stroke Play. NO Trainer has EVER won three division titles with all trotters in the same year prior.

3) THREE straight Governors Cup for Gene Riegle. Not only is he the sole conditioner to ever do this-all were for over half a million $$-and they were the three BEST horses to ever win this prestigious year end freshman test-Artsplace (1990), Western Hanover (1991) and Life Sign (1992). Bruce Nickells did the same in 1992-1993 and 1994 winning the Sweetheart all THREE years-all for over $500,000-with Immortality-Freedoms Friend & Efishnc.

4) $100 million driving club-THREE members-John Campbell (1991-the first to hit this plateau), Mike Lachance (1997-2nd member) and Cat Manzi (2004-3rd and most recent member to do this) NOT coincidentally-their milestone accomplishment came near their Hall Of Fame induction-Campbell-1990, Lachance 1995 and Manzi 2003.

5) 10,000 wins club (although Dave Palone is about to make it a quartet). Herve Filion-Walter Case and Cat Manzi are the only three in this elite grouping. Cat Manzi is the ONLY one in BOTH the $100 million and the 10,000 win club-In 2004-he's having his best season ever and is the ONLY driver in the top five in both wins AND earnings.

6) Now, the Coup De Gras. Stanley Dancers' THREE Triple Crowns. NO OTHER trainer-15 others in all-has more than one. Not only is Stanley the ONLY driver-trainer to win three Triple Crowns, he also is the only driver to win five STRAIGHT Triple Crown races (1969-1971) and very nearly had FIVE Triple Crowns. Keystone Ore was edged out in the 1976 Messenger by Windshield Wiper after being saddled with the second tier, and Albatross was collared by Nansemond in the 1971 Jug or it would have given 1969 Hall Of Fame Inductee Dancer a full handful of Triple Crowns.

And now.....

Brett Pelling is the only trainer in history to have a millionaire in his barn TEN STRAIGHT years--totalling 16 millionaires in all. Here's the roll call:

1995-Davids Pass (first of three Pace winners for Brett)
1996-Mystical Maddy (Two Breeders Crown winners same night at Yonkers-Armbro Operative the other)
1997-Armbro Operative (First Pelling repeat Breeders Crown winner) and Jeremys Gambit (Wilson winner from year before-he went over $1 million career despite NEVER winning a race anywhere EXCEPT the Meadowlands!)

1998-Dream Away, the second Pace winner for Brett. Also Shady Character (Jug & Cane winner) as well as Finals Cheers
1999-The Panderosa-who was and is the ONLY horse-EVER-to win $2 million events BOTH in under 1:50. Grinfromeartoear also toppled the 7 figure mark.
2000-Western Ideal-now a 5 Year Old-this was the first year that Brett had the eventual Older Pacer of the year. (Burgess early-then missed 18 months due to a bad tendon tear) Another millionaire was Astreos, also under the care of Brett-he was the Pace runnerup to Gallo Blue Chip before turning the tables on him in the Jug.
2001-Lyell Creek N
2002-Like A Prayer
2003-I Am A Fool
2004-Western Terror and Timesareachanging.

Brett is the last trainer to have a million dollar DAY! On August 10, 1996, his purse totals for the day exceeded $1 million, winning the Adios in afternoon at the Meadows with Electric Yankee, and at the Meadowlands to capture the Mistletoe Shalee with Mystical Maddy and the $800,000 Wilson with Jeremys Gambit.