Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Wishing Stone is small for a trotter, but he has a big heart

“When he gets to the front, he doesn't want to let anybody by,” said trainer Dewayne Minor. “He has such a big heart. He just doesn't give up.”

The trotter, who measures just 15 hands, has been close in major stake races all season. He was second in the $500,000 Breeders Crown at Pocono Downs and third in the $1.5 million Hambletonian. Lifetime, he's won seven of 21 starts, as of November 1, 2010.

There was no quit in Wishing Stone as he captured the $501,000 Kentucky Futurity for three-year-old trotters in straight heats at the Red Mile.

The Futurity requires a horse win twice. In the first heat, Hambletonian winner Muscle Massive secured the lead, with Flex the Muscle and He's a Demon stalking. Canadian Trot victor Lucky Chucky pulled out and flushed Wishing Stone and George Brennan into the outer flow in front of him.

Wishing Stone nabbed the lead after the half, keeping Muscle Massive locked on the rail behind him. Several made a move mid-stretch, but Wishing Stone easily held on by a length and a half in 1:52.3.

Horses were assigned post position according to their order of finish, so Wishing Stone had the rail in the second heat. Temple of Doom shot to the lead early from the far outside, with Muscle Massive again near the lead in second.

Brennan was not content to sit third for long, pulling Wishing Stone out and sending him to the front after a :27.2 quarter. The son of Conway Hall led the field through fractions of :54.3 and 1:23 and was never seriously threatened, scoring by a length and a quarter in a lifetime- best 1:51.2.

Trainer Minor, 53, enjoyed the biggest win of his 35-year career. He was joined in the winner's circle by his parents and brothers, and an enthusiastic Danish group headed by majority owner Knud Raven.

“The feeling is great,” said Minor. “This colt gets stronger the longer he goes. He always has.”

“This wasn't a big surprise,” said Brennan. “He raced great last week after a month off, and I told Dewayne he'd be much tighter this week.”

Career Highlights
Captured $200,400 Kentucky Futurity on Oct. 16 in 1:51.2
Won the $200,400 Kentucky Futuruity elim in 1:52.3 on the same day
Finished Second in the $500,000 Breeders Crown at Pocono Downs in 1:52.4 on October 9
Won the $37,918 NYSS at Tioga on September 11 in 1:56
Won $150,000 American National on August 28 in 1:54.2

Wishing Stone's Career Statistics Through November 1, 2010
Year Starts/Wins/2nds/3rds     Earnings     Record
2010      13      4      3      2      $ 794,323      3, 1:51.2M Lex 10/16/2010
2009        9      3      3      1      $ 206,196      2, 1:55.0M Lex 10/01/2009
Total    22      7      6      3      $ 1,000,519   3, 1:51.2M