Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Metropolitan Takes $340,950 Messenger Stake At Harrington
September 14, 2004
By Kimberly Rinker

Norman Smiley, J.Langfelder, TLP Stable and G. Smiley’s Metropolitan captured the $340,950 Messenger, in 1:52.2 Tuesday at Harrington Raceway. It was the second leg of harness racing's pacing Triple Crown and the time established a new track record for three-year-old pacers. John Campbell steered the sophomore pacer.

Metropolitan won by a length with Timesareachanging in second, Western Terror (Brian Sears) third and Maltese Artist fourth.

“He’s come close in some of the major races, and wasn’t able to get the job done, but things worked to his advantage tonight,” Campbell said. “Chris (Ryder) trained him hard around Freehold after the last race and I think that helped as well as some equipment changes. This horse races very well on the front.”

Stablemates Timesareachanging and Western Terror’s bid for the Triple Crown thus ended, after those two won last week’s Cane Pace in a dead heat.

The victory pushed Metropolitan’s seasonal earnings to over $700,000 and $830,000 lifetime. Only Mantacular and Timesareachanging have higher seasonal earnings among 3-year-old colts. Metropolitan's next start will be in the Little Brown Jug at Delaware, Ohio next week.

“I expected him to win,” winning trainer Chris Ryder said. “I was confident he could cut a mile in 1:52 as long as he minded his manners, and I think I’ve got that organized. The entry was two legit horses, they raced very well in the Cane and good horses are always hard to beat, but fortunately we were able to get it done.”

$340,950 Messenger Draws Seven
Dead-heating Stablemates vie for Pacing's Triple Crown on Tuesday

September 10, 2004
by Kimberly Rinker

Harrington, Deleware was the scene of the draw for the $340,950 Messenger, harness racing’s second leg of the pacing Triple Crown on Thursday, September 9.

The Perfect World Enterprises-owned, Brett Pelling-trained entry of Timesareachanging and Western Terror, who won the Cane Pace in a stunning dead-heat on Labor Day, are both seeking a victory in the Triple Crown. Timesareachanging, a son of Cams Card Shark, ranks second among all 2004 three-year-old colt and gelding pacers in seasonal earnings with $694,983.

Trainer Linda Toscano also has a pair of contenders in Maltese Artist and Art Director--who will race as different betting interests due to separate ownership.

Metropolitan, a winner of $533,272 to date this year has drawn the rail for owners Norman Smiley, Jeffrey Langfelder, Tlp Stable, and Gerald Smiley. The son of The Panderosa will be piloted by John Campbell.

David Scharf and A&G Stables’ Dual Personality comes into the Messenger fresh off two wins in Canadian overnight races, while Jacob’s Western vies just after his second-place finish in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for owners Jacob Ramsburg and Dan Altmeyer.

The Messenger is slated as the 12th on Harrington’s 15 race program, with a first race Post time of 5:30 p.m, EST, for Tuesday, September 14, 2004.

The Messenger Stake
PP - HORSE (DRIVER) - TRAINER

1 – Metropolitan (John Campbell) Trainer – Chris Ryder
2 – Timesareachanging (Ron Pierce) Trainer – Brett Pelling
3 – Maltese Artist (David Miller) Trainer – Linda Toscano
4 – Dual Personality (George Brennan) Trainer – Mark Capone
5 – Western Terror (Brian Sears) Trainer – Brett Pelling
6 – Art Director (George Brennan) Trainer – Linda Toscano
7 – Jacobs Western (Mike Wilder) Trainer – Dan Altmeyer

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