Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Harness Happenings
For June 9, 2004

Lloyd Arnold-Will He Or Won't He?
With the best three-year-olds all now beginning to show their stuff, certainly Quick Pulse Mindale, the Provincial Cup winner, is among them. The undefeated sophomore son of Jennas Beach Boy races for Lloyd Arnold of California, but is NOT eligible for the Meadowlands Pace. Which brings up the question--will he supplement to the race?

"I can't say at this point," Arnold said. "Putting up $150,000 to win $500,000 is not a good bet. I'm just now seeing some of the top colts coming out. It looks like a very good group. I'm not sure just how good Quick Pulse Mindale is, but I know he's a versatile colt-very versatile, and he's better than I thought he was when I bought him earlier this year."

That was a $200,000 buy on the recommendation of Tony Morgan, who handles the son of world champion Jennas Beach Boy for the 75-year-old owner.

"I'm a good buyer in this business, not a seller," Arnold noted. "I was getting out of the business in 2002, but Tony called me shortly thereafter and I wound up getting Chevie Duramax. That is the best horse I've ever owned. Of all of them. He did evrything last year on his own. He was never chased at all. But when we had him on Carter Duer's Farm, he somehow broke a sesamoid. I'm not sure how, but he did it out in the field. He's training back and is perfectly sound. He's down to 2:18 and we'll give him all the time he needs. Our aim right now for him would be August."

"Sanabelle Island was the most successsful buy I've ever made," Arnold continued. "I paid $100,000 for her and she won $1.6 million ($1,641,676). Steve Warrington is a total complete horsemen. Very underrated. Sanabelle Island is now in foal to Real Artist, has a Western Hanover suckling and an Artsplace yearling-both fillies."

"I like Jennas Beach Boy as a sire. He produces a real good racehorse. I'm not sure if he can compare to the very top stallions, but he's a real good one. I had Bagel Beach Boy a couple years ago--bought him at Harrisburg. At the end of his three-year-old year, I thought he was the best out there. He won the Matron in 1:50 and a piece and Steve (Warrington) told me there was more in the tank. But he had a bad reaction to an injection after that and was never the same."

Harder Leads All North American Trainers
Mark Harder is the leading harness trainer in money earnings in North America, and he currently has the top three money-winning horses in training for 2004 with Luckyisasluckydoes, Skydancer Hanover and Eaton Road Kill, all well over $300,000 for the year. The last time a trainer wound up the year--any year--with the top TWO money-winning horses in the SAME barn?? 1994-Bill Robinson--who had Cams Card Shark ($2,264,714) and Pacific Rocket ($1,418,325).

The last time the SAME trainer had the richest trotter and pacer in the same year?? 1972--Stanley Dancer--Super Bowl ($436,218) and Albatross ($459,921).

Trond Smedshammer won the $10,000 training award for the conditioner with the most points accumulated through the Classic Series this year.

In each of the last ten years, a different sire has had the number-one money-winning pacer in all of North America--from 1989 to 1994--Cam Fella FOUR TIMES had that honor: in 1989 with Goalie Jeff; in 1991 with Precious Bunny; in 1993 with Presidential Ball and in 1994 with Cams Card Shark.

Dube Gets Big Birthday Victory
Canada's Daniel Dube celebrated his 35th birthday by guiding Miki's King to victory in the eighth race on the Tuesday night card at the Meadowlands, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

It was the 4,794th career win for Dube and his 95th of
the 2004 Big M meet, where he is sixth in the driver standings.
-30-