Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Illinois Pacers & Trotters Honored

January 22, 2006

Awards were handed out to the top Illinois horses of 2005 at the USTA & ISOBA District 5 Awards Banquet Saturday night, January 21 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield, Illinois.

Team Hutch earned the title of Illinois Three-Year-Old Colt of the Year for owners Bonnie and Joy Hutchinson and trainer Homer Hochstetler. The Sportsmaster gelding earned $327,275 in 2005, scoring a 9-3-2 record from 19 starts. At three Team Hutch lowered his freshman mark from p, 2, 1:51.4 to p, 3, 1:50.2 by winning the Illinois Colt Stakes Final at Springfield. He now has $603,488 lifetime earnings from 15 career wins, eight seconds and three thirds in 36 career trips postward.

Earning Illinois Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year accolades was James Jesk and Ledford Racing’s Brianna Joy. The daughter of Sportsmaster is trained by Seldon Ledford and in 2005 became the fastest pacing filly in North America when she romped to a 1:49.3 clocking at Springfield. As a freshman she took a mark of 1:54.2 at Maywood Park en route to a season that saw her earn $68,789 with a 5-0-2 record from ten starts. At three she added $266,550 to her bankroll, winning 12 of 16 starts, along with a pair of seconds, pushing her career account to $335,339.

In the sophomore trotting ranks Victor’s Pursuit took home Illinois Three-Year-Old Filly of the Year honors among the distaffs. Unraced at two for owners Robert Rietveld and Paul Gibson, the Roger Welch trainee scored 12 wins, six seconds and one third in 24 starts, earning $203,256 for her cnnections. Her biggest triumph came when the daughter of Valley Victor scored a 1:55.1 victory in the $50,000 Hanover Stake at Balmoral Park on August 23.

Sherrie’s Delight captured the Illinois Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year Crown after a season that saw the son of Keystone Kim earn $159,397, winning 11 of 15 starts for owner Michael Polansky. Trained by Tom Harmer, Sherrie’s Delight captured the $105,000 Su Mac Lad en route to his sophomore record of 1:55.3 on Super Night.

Illinois Freshman Colt of the Year honors went to My Boy David for owners Shirley LeVin and David Riff. The son of Cole Muffler earned $255,999 at two, winning seven of 14 starts, with five seconds and two thirds to his credit as well. He took his top mark of 1:50.4 while winning the $80,000 Governor’s Cup at DuQuoin last season for trainer Homer Hochstetler.

My Metallica nailed down the Illinois Two-year-Old Filly of the Year title after a season that saw her score a 3-1-2 record from nine starts, winning $140,165 for owners the Ciara Stable, Michael Polansky and Duke Johnston. The daughter of Party At Artsplace scored her biggest triumph when she captured the $260,000 Orange & Blue Filly Pace in 1:52.3 on Super Night in September.

Vandalay Racing’s Victor’s Finesse was named Illinois Freshman Filly Trotter of the Year. The daughter of Valley Victor captured 11 of 16 starts, with a second and two thirds, earning $238,760 for her connections and trainer Erv Miller. She scored her mark of 1:55.4 at Springfield, but her biggest triumph came in the $140,000 Lady Lincoln Land Final in early October at Balmoral.

Fox Valley Cayenne nabbed the Freshman Colt Trotter of the Year crown for owners Tanah Merah Farms after a year that saw him win four starts in seven tries, earning $68,491. Trained by Erv Miller, the son of International Chip took his record of 1:56.4 winning a $55,000 State Fair Colt Stake at Springfield.

Cottonwood Farm’s Cole Muffler was christened Illinois Pacing Stallion of the year, while Phillip and Robert Rietveld and Elva Shcrock’s Valley Victor was crowned Illinois Trotting Stallion of the Year for 2005. Fox Valley Redhot nabbed Illinois Pacing Broodmare of the Year honors for owners Jim and Donna Crebs, while Connie Hochstetler’s Quillo earned Illinois Trotting Broodmare of the Year accolades.