Bob Aerenson and his father Buddy have owned racehorse for 15 years, but Bob’s interest in harness racing goes back to his childhood.

Before he was old enough to drive, the Wilmington, Del., resident would ride his bike to nearby Brandywine Raceway and offer to jog horses in the morning before returning later to watch the races. He also would hitch rides to area tracks with childhood friend Doug Paul and his family, whose participation in harness racing stretches more than four decades.

In recent years, the Aerensons, who race under the name Rojan Stables (an acronym made up of family member’s names), have been among the owners of Dan Patch Award winners Captain Crunch and Divine Caroline as well as Grand Circuit stakes winners Closing Statement, Bettor Be Steppin, and Lady Rainbow.

This past Saturday, two-year-old male pacer Always A Miki added his name to the list with a victory in the Governor’s Cup. And on Wednesday, three-year-old male pacer No Lou Zing will attempt to add a second Grand Circuit triumph to his credentials when he competes in the $325,000 Progress Pace at Dover Downs.

“We’ve been very fortunate,” Bob Aerenson said. “It’s been a fun ride. My father just turned 90 and is in great health. He gets very excited about the horses. It’s a great thing that we do together. Fortunately, we’ve had some success, and that makes it even more fun.”

No Lou Zing heads to the Progress Pace off a win in the event’s single elimination last week. The gelding won by a half-length over favourite Cattlewash in 1:49.1, with Dexter Dunn driving for trainer Nancy Takter. On Wednesday, No Lou Zing starts from post seven and is the 5-2 second choice on the morning line. Cattlewash, from post eight, is the 2-1 favourite.

For the year, No Lou Zing has won seven of 15 races, hit the board a total of 14 times, and earned $442,308 for owners Rojan Stables, 3 Brothers Stables, and Caviart Farms. His victories include the Jenna’s Beach Boy Stakes and Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship. He was second in the Matron and third in the Adios and a division of the Tattersalls Pace.

His only off-the-board result was a fifth in the Breeders Crown, where he was beaten only three-quarters of a length in a six-horse blanket finish.

“We had a little bit of bad luck at the Breeders Crown, but we’ve gone against some great horses,” Aerenson said. “The fact that we’re in the same conversation with some of these great horses just makes it even more exciting.”

No Lou Zing, by Sweet Lou out of Terroronthebeach, was winless in three starts at age two. He went off stride in all three of those races but got off on a good foot this year with three victories and a second in his first four starts. Takter assistant Josert Fonseca drove the gelding in his first six races this season before handing the lines to Dunn.

“He didn’t have much of a two-year-old season, but, obviously, Josert and Nancy are a great team because they got him figured out and he’s peaking right now,” Aerenson said. “Last week was very impressive.”

No Lou Zing ranks fifth among all three-year-old male pacers in purses this season.

“My expectations were for him to be a good sire stakes horse, not at the level he’s at right now,” Aerenson said. “The horse started out the year nicely, but they still were not against the top caliber. I did not expect to be where we are right now. This is very exciting.

“Nancy has done a fantastic job keeping this horse in the right place.”

Racing begins at 4:30 p.m. (EST) Wednesday at Dover Downs. The card also includes $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund championships for two-year-old male and female pacers.

(USTA)