Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Today's News from the World of Harness Racing

March 3, 2006

Miss Wisconsin Preps for 2006
Miss Wisconsin, the 2005 Merrie Annabelle winner, is prepping for her 2006 campaign with trainer Ron Gurfein. Miss Wisconsin, a daughter of Muscles Yankee --Classical Beth, had five wins, one second and four thirds from 14 starts last year at two, banking $395,074 for the Miss Wisconsin Stable of Old Forge, Pennsylvania.

“Miss Wisconsin has come back better than expected,” said Gurfein. “She was sore at the end of last year. It was a long year for her. I actually told the owners, who had a good deal for her, to sell earlier this year. But it fell through. She's bigger and stronger, and I'm looking forward to her season. The babies are doing good. Make Your Mind has come back well."

Boulder Creek set for Comeback
Free-For-All pacer Boulder Creek is back in the harness. Mark Silva has the six-year-old Pacific Rocket gelding back from Olive Branch Farm in North Carolina and is aiming for an April return. Last year the Ontario-sired pacer won over $1 million to push his career winnings to $2.5 million and played a major role in Silva’s first ever $3 million season as a trainer. Cliff Siegel, John Fidera and Lee Wasserman share ownership of Boulder Creek.

“Boulder Creek has been very special. I thought he was at his best last year, even better than 2004. He was more mature and maintained his age better. He was also given a pretty good rest at the beginning of the season which we’ve done again,” said Silva who is based at the Meadowlands.

Flak Bait Laid to Rest
Retired driver-trainer Ben Webster reports that Flak Bait was put down this past week. It has been a tough 12 months for Webster who has had three of his all-time favorites pass away: Seatrain, No Nukes and now Flak Bait.

"He was kicked by another horse in the shoulder, and it fractured pretty bad,” said Webster. “He had to be put down. He was 24, a foal of 1982. The year he won the Kentucky Futurity, that was probably his best race. I had him toned up pretty good for the Hambletonian that year [1985], but he had a bad quarter crack three weeks before the race. It cost him the foundation he needed to go with Prakas and a few others. As a sire, he passed on the trait of bad feet that he had all along. He had a few competitive ones but not any superstars. I was very close to that horse. I'll miss him terribly.”

George Foreman & Wayne Chrebet Team Up
Boxing’s George Foreman and recently retired Jets wide receiver Wayne Chrebet have bought a 20 percent interest in Future Destiny, who won last Friday’s Tender Loving Care Final.

“Part of me hates to give up any parts of a horse like this, but I had an opportunity to provide two guys that absolutely love harness racing with the thrill of having what I hope turns into a top caliber horse,” said trainer George Teague, who owns the three-year-old filly with his sister, Brenda, and Kevin and Ron Fry. Future Destiny’s next start will be in the opening round of the Blossom Series on April 5 at the Meadowlands.

Manzi Stays Close to Home
Cat Manzi, the United States Harness Writers & Harness Tracks of America 2005 Driver of the Year, will be sticking closer to home this year. Last year Manzi captured the North American dash title with 727 wins from 3,609, not only driving Freehold-Meadowlands doubles but also traveling to Delaware and Monticello on dark days to chase down the crown. He is off to another great start in 2006, with 143 wins, 103 seconds and 92 thirds from 660 drives for earnings of $1,156,615.

“This is going to be somewhat different for me than last year,” said Manzi, 55. “I'm not going to be going all over the place. I will travel, but only if it's the right situation, if the horse can win. I'm not going to Dover on Tuesdays. I just don't want to work quite as hard as I have. I have a large array of clients right here, and for now, I'm happy with that."

Sylvester Cuts Back
These days Hall of Fame trainer Chuck Sylvester spends his winters in Las Vegas, but he will be back in New Jersey for a 10-day stay, starting Monday. The veteran horseman, who has four Hambletonian winners to his credit, is still looking for another champion.

"I have 14 horses right now,” he said. “Seven of them are three-year-olds, some of them unraced green trotters. The days of training 40 to 50 horses are over for me. Last year I thought I had a good season but my two best prospects died and the other [Diesel Don] went lame. Some years, you just don't come up with anything good. I would love to win at least one more Hambletonian. The smaller races don't excite me like they used to. But I'm not quitting -- I’m just cutting back some."

Takter on Track
Trainer Jimmy Takter is busy with his youngsters as well as readying his returning horses for their 2006 campaigns. “Solveig is doing well,” he reported. “She spent a whole year last year with sickness. If it wasn't this, it was that. She is fine now, but I'm still not sure if she will race or be bred. Passionate Glide [the Breeders Crown winner and two-year-old divisional champion last year] is looking very good. I haven't turned her yet. She's training on the straightaway, and I'm working on her conditioning for now. Cabrini Hanover is heading back to race as a four-year-old." Takter is also excited about the offspring of one of his past stars. “The Tom Ridge babies, I've heard, look extremely good,” he noted. “But that doesn't surprise me at all. He was an exceptional horse himself.”

Another Lachance joins the Family Business
Hall of Fame driver Mike Lachance has two sons who are now training horses. Martin Lachance, 31, has joined his brother, Patrick, 30, as a trainer.

"Martin is very enthusiastic,” said Mike Lachance, who is driving for both of us sons. “He's not as natural a horseman as Patrick. He's getting much better, more focused. He's a very smart guy who picks things up quickly. He's just getting used to things right now, getting his feet wet. By next winter, I'd say he'd be ready to claim a few and get into it deeper."

Martin Lachance’s first training win came on March 1 at Freehold with Casablanca Hall. His stable also includes Sampras Blue Chip, Best Chance Hanna, Mojo Mama and Horse & Groom entrant Sky Watch, who was third in last week’s opening round. Mike Lachance, who has 9,752 career victories and purse earnings of more than $166 million, vacationed last winter but this year he is back in the Top 10 of the Meadowlands’ driver standings.