Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Odds On Racing's

Trainer of the Month
for November 2007

Linda Toscano

Linda Toscano is one of the most successful female trainers in harness racing history.

Throughout her career she's conditioned stakes winners not only at her base at The Meadowlands in New Jersey, but all over North America as well.

Toscano, 46, is a Brooklyn, New York native who now resides in New Jersey.

Linda Toscano celebrates in the winners circle with Jet Laag & driver Luc Ouellette

Toscano became interested in harness racing through friends while attending Stony Brook
State University in New York. She got her start in the business with Buddy Regan at tracks in New York, and also worked for John Campbell when he had a stable. Linda went out on her own in 1984 and was a leading trainer in New York before moving full time to The Meadowlands in 1998.

Top horse for Toscano was the free-for-all pacer Jet Laag. The son of Laag enjoyed a super
campaign as a 6-year-old in 1999, with 12 wins in 34 season’s starts and earnings of $213,465. Jet Laag was at his best during the Grand Circuit’s annual stop in Delaware. First, he won the $38,000 Senior Jug in a time of 1:49, a new world record for an older pacing horse on a halfmile track. Then four days later in the $52,500 Magical Mike, Jet Laag toured the famed Ohio oval in a time of 1:50.1 to capture his second stakes victory of the week.

Among his other victories in 1999 was an impressive 1:49.3 clocking at The Meadowlands in a $50,000 Open Pace on Hambletonian Day. Jet Laag returned to the races in 2000 and went over the $1 million mark in career earnings. He retired at the end of that campaign with a bankroll of $1,001,746 and 44 lifetime victories to his credit.

The leading lady in the Toscano Barn was Molly Can Do It. The Camluck lass had a breakout
year as a 5-year-old in ‘02, winning $424,960 on the strength of six wins, seven seconds, and
one third in 23 trips to the post. Toscano became the first woman to harness a Breeders Crown winner when Molly Can Do It scored in a personal best time of 1:49.4 in the $350,000 Mares Pace at The Meadowlands.

In 2003 Molly Can Do It recorded five wins in 24 starts, with earnings of $244,169. She was at her best in the $185,000 Golden Girls, edging Bunny Lake by three-quarters of a length in a time of 1:50. In 2004 as a 7-year-old, she hit the board in three of her eight starts and banked $45,400. Her lone victory came in a $35,000 leg of the Cape & Cutter Series. Molly Can Do It retired in April of that year with 19 career victories and lifetime earnings of $889,308.

The pacing filly Rita J was a solid campaigner for Linda in 2005-06. As a freshman, the daughter of Bettor’s Delight had six wins in nine trips to the post and earned $107,616. The New York Sires Stakes regular captured five legs of the series and set her season’s mark of 1:57.3 in a NYSS race at Batavia. Returning to the racing wars last year at age 3, Rita J added $85,396 to her coffers with nine in-the-money finishes in 15 starts. She paced to a personal best 1:53.2 score in a New York State Fair Stake at Tioga Downs.

The 2006 season also saw Linda handle the conditioning for Kenneth J, one of the sport’s leading 2-year-old pacing colts. The Bettor’s Delight youngster had seven wins in 11 appearances, with earnings of $421,990. He dominated the New York Sires Stakes circuit, winning four legs of the series and the $150,000 final at Saratoga. In the fall, Kenneth J posted victories in Lexington in divisions of the Bluegrass and International Stallion Stake (in a lifetime best 1:50.3). He also finished second in the $600,000 Breeders Crown Final, trailing Charley Barley by a half length.

The freshman pacing miss JK Let It Ride was another successful New York-bred for Linda in ’06. Also by Bettor’s Delight, she had five wins in just seven starts and banked $105,576. JK Let It Ride won four NYSS legs and was also victorious in a New York State Fair Stake.

Other top horses for Toscano over the years include Giant Mermaid (1995 older trotting mare of the year), La Dia Hanover (1999 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes 3FP champion), Athena Blue Chip, Southtown, Mean And Green, Comeatross, Shady Desire, Mattsarollin, Future Forecast, Pump Up The Volume, Dancing Falcon, Fancy Creek Funny, Tupelo Rose N, Ciano, Funny Malentine, JK Matchmaker, Art Director, Maltese Artist, and Artistic Hanover.

Linda's 2007 standout was again the pacer Kenneth J. Not only did Kenneth J pass a career earnings milestone in the 3-year-old NYSS colt pace, pushing his bankroll up to $1,072,904, but he also became a two-time New York Sire Stakes champion. The colt is only the 11th horse to successfully defend his freshman title in the 18-year history of the Night of Champions.

"You just have to keep them healthy, and that's Linda," owner Jacobs said, giving credit to trainer Linda Toscano for keeping his colt on top of the state-bred program for two years. "When a horse is easy on himself like Kenneth J, it's easy. He gives you his best every time, but takes care of himself."

While competing on the Grand Circuit this summer, Kenneth J started in just enough New York Sire Stakes – three -- to qualify for the final, and this victory gave the colt a perfect pair of bookends to his season in New York. The son of Bettor's Delight made his first start a winning one in the $153,000 Empire Breeders Classic in May, and closed the Sire Stakes with his 1:53.4 victory with driver Jim Morrill, Jr. aboard. Kenneth J used his post position on the rail to take the early lead, and despite being briefly covered by The Best, cruised home an impressive winner, by 2-1/4 lengths, over Forensic Z Tam.

"It's been a thrilling year," Toscano said. She remains the only woman to train a New York Sire Stakes Final winner. "We started out on the right note and were able to continue that. To see him start in his first 2-year-old race and get better, and then come back as a 3-year-old has been great."

Linda Toscano's Career Statistics through November 1, 2007
Year Starts/Wins/2nds/3rds   Earnings      UTRS
2007   460      92      68      51      $2,615,572       0.319
2006    290      51      46      43      $1,236,675      0.313
2005    325      56      48      34      $690,501         0.289
2004    452      63      71      53      $1,139,519      0.266
2003    331      71      44      35      $1,498,759      0.324
2002   292      42      43      44      $933,261          0.276
2001   429      72      60      41      $890,559         0.277
2000   474      59      79      62      $957,811         0.261
1999    407      73      54      65      $1,100,918      0.306
1998   319      73      38      47      $815,764          0.344
1997   282      47      42      23      $514,850         0.277
1996   512      86      69      68      $1,324,501      0.287
1995    391      69      53      54      $987,339         0.298
1994    205      29      25      25      $387,599          0.250
1993     81       8       11      14      $202,421         0.232
1992    10       0        3        1       $26,380           0.200
1991    21       4       3        1      $27,065           0.286
Total            895                       $15,349,494