Pacing colt Split The House is headed for the 2015 Little Brown Jug after a recent sale to U.S.-based owners.
Trot Insider has learned that Al & Michelle Crawford of Crawford Farms have purchased the three-year-old son of Bettors Delight from trainer James 'Friday' Dean, who co-owned the colt with Scott Horner and Peter Milligan.
Al Crawford recalled on Thursday morning how, in watching the siblings and offspring from the Crawford Farms' broodmare band, he was impressed by a mile earlier this year from a brother to one of his pacing broodmares.
"We own Cult Status, Split The House's half-sister," noted Crawford. "Earlier this Spring, I saw Split The House qualify up in Canada and I was like 'wow, real nice mile'. So we started watching him every single start, and obviously we were rooting for him because we own the sister."
The Crawfords kept close tabs on the pacing colt throughout the summer stakes season, watching his most recent race on Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack -- a third place finish to Artspeak in the Simcoe.
"Sunday night, Chris Oakes -- who has a few horses for us -- texts Michelle and says 'would you be interested in this horse, Split The House?'," said Crawford. "I laughed and said 'obviously he doesn't know we have a sister!' and we said we'd be very interested...we'd want to vet him out but he's [Little Brown] Jug-eligible. And if we're going to get him, I'd like to get him before the Jug."
After confirming interest at the price being asked by the ownership group, a bidding war ensued with two other parties also interested. The Crawfords upped the ante and emerged victorious.
"We had him vetted out yesterday at McMaster Equine, and he vetted out very, very well," Crawford continued. "He shipped down yesterday afternoon. As long as he stays healthy, we're going to put him in the Jug. I'm looking forward to it; I've been out to the Jug, Michelle -- as much as she loves the horses -- has never been to the Jug. So it's going to be her first time."
The ability to keep up a colt with Split The House's credentials at this stage of the season was an absolute deal clincher for the Crawfords.
"It was key timing to pick him up at this point and still get to enjoy his three-year-old year, with a colt like this, it's a lot of fun.
"When you put out this kind of money you hope it works out, but he seems like a super-nice colt, good size to him and you can dream -- it's one of the fun things about this sport -- we don't have a stallion and we'd like to have a stallion at Crawford Farms, so if it worked out and he kept coming along it would be fun to dream about something like that. We're a long way from that but that's one of the fun things about this sport: you can hope, anyway."
Crawford also praised the work of trainer Dean and driver Randy Waples on the way in which they've brought the colt along thus far. When Split The House debuts for his connections one week from today, the owner is well aware of how challenging the Little Brown Jug can be to win.
"I think a lot of it is post position. I think if we can avoid Wiggle It Jiggleit in the elimination that would be a home run, and I think anybody who's in the race is hoping for the same thing," admitted Crawford. "Artspeak was super up in Canada but I watched [Split The House] beat him in New Jersey so I think he can probably go with everyone else at this point."
Going into the 2015 North America Cup, many felt that Wiggle It Jiggleit could not lose. Crawford has a similar sentiment looking ahead to Delaware.
"Wiggle It Jiggleit is such a horse, he doesn't need a trip. As long as he doesn't get roughed up brutally it doesn't look like there's anyone he can't handle. We'd be happy to get into the Final. Chris said 'if you draw inside, you've got a shot...if you draw outside in the Jug, it's a tough, tough, stay'."
As the final leg of pacing's Triple Crown and one of the most sought-after races on the North American harness racing schedule, Crawford knows that despite the daunting task of facing Wiggle It Jiggleit there will be a fierce battle from every other horse entered next Thursday.
"I think, especially on that track, if you get a horse in the 1-2-3 there are probably a lot of colts that can race tough on that day," stated Crawford. "I said to Chris that we're not looking to try to get [the purchase price] all back in one start. It's fun to have him here, it's fun to have him for Kentucky...and honestly I think the four-year-old and five-year-old racing is a lot of fun too if you just protect the colt and don't hurt him."
Crawford isn't ruling out bringing the horse back to Canada for the 2015 Breeders Crown at Woodbine Racetrack after Grand Circuit racing at The Red Mile if the colt's in game shape, and that would likely conclude his three-year-old season.
"We're looking forward to taking our time with him, not hurting him and having a nice four-, five, six-year-old horse if it works out."
Unraced at two, due to an injury, Split The House rewarded his connections' patience with 7-0-2 summary from 12 lifetime starts and $207,188 in earnings. His 1:48.3 lifetime mark taken in the New Jersey Classic is the fifth fastest mile time for a three-year-old pacing colt or gelding this season. Chris Oakes will train, with Crawford looking to obtain the services of Brian Sears or Yannick Gingras as a driver.