Crown Still Up In The Air For 'Peelers'
After having been away from charted races since September 4 due to a heart issue, See You At Peelers, the queen of this year's three-year-old female pacing class, made her return to the track Friday, October 14 during Freehold Raceway's qualifying session
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With regular pilot Marcus Johansson at her lines, See You At Peelers went out and made her return to the track a triumphant one.
The pair started from Post 3 in the six-horse dash and wanted the lead early. Johansson and See You At Peelers clicked off the opening quarter in :27.4 while clearing to the lead.
From there, See You at Peelers opened up two lengths before whizzing past the half-mile station in :56.4. The filly with the big motor had opened up another five lengths on the field by the time she hit the three quarters in 1:25.2. The outcome wasn't in much doubt from there, but See You At Peelers still finished off her mile with a :28.4 final panel and tossed up a 10-length margin of victory for good measure.
Johansson steered the millionaire Bettors Delight filly to a 1:54.1 victory for trainer Jimmy Takter and owners Christina Takter of East Windsor, New Jersey and John and Jim Fielding of Toronto, Ontario.
See You At Peelers has put her dominance on display during the last two years, as she has triumphed in 22 of 24 career starts, bagged a slew of stakes, taken a record of 1:49.2 and banked a total of $1,491,900 in purses.
Ken Weingartner of the USTA's Harness Racing Communications department has reported that See You At Peelers wore a heart monitor during her qualifier and that Jimmy Takter is expected to get the results from the monitoring tonight.
Weingartner also reported that Takter was told by Johansson that the filly raced fine and that she probably had another second left in the tank.
Takter couldn't give the HRC a definite answer in regard to whether See You At Peelers will be racing in the upcoming Breeders Crown at Woodbine Racetrack or not, but he didn't appear to be encouraged by the prospect.
“Probably not, but I don’t know,” Takter was quoted as saying. “It’s very optimistic to go up there, and maybe not fair to her to do that eight days from today. It’s something I really have to think twice about.”
The HRC article also cites Takter as saying that the filly could just race in an overnight next, and then either the Messenger or Lady Maud at Yonkers.
(With quotes from HRC)
"By the way, I guess Pastor
"By the way, I guess Pastor Stephen looked perfect in his Sept 10th warm-up and start, and although he hasn't raced since, St. Jimmy couldn't possibly have erred there....could he?"
Talk about a cheap shot!
Well said Dante and good
Well said Dante and good luck Peelers! Bettors, fans, trainers, drivers or owners - we need to put the horse first or we'd all have nothing.
I am sure you are not prone
I am sure you are not prone to cheap shots, Mr. Fisher, and I'm sure your heart is in the right place, but it just looks to me that you are chastizing someone who is obviously following the drama closely and cares about the outcome for giving his opinion. I'm certain that Mr. Takter has deliberated long and hard and come to his own conclusion, and what Mr. Schott says will have absolutely no bearing on his decision. The man knows this (I hope) and he simply wants to give his 2 cents, as do I. We saw how badly she faltered in her last two outings, and her qualifier was less than impressive. She has been diagnosed with heart issues... We care.
SORRY, we must be crazy giving our opinions without being the horse's trainer. Mr. Takter HAS to be making the right decision. Why do we bother giving a comment or an opinion on a forum set up for it? Broodmare duty may be a little impulsive as I would love to see this great filly do what she was born to do, and return to her dominant self, but Alan should not be chastized for his opinion.
By the way, I guess Pastor Stephen looked perfect in his Sept 10th warm-up and start, and although he hasn't raced since, St. Jimmy couldn't possibly have erred there....could he?
Mr. Takter's commented that she may be "a little short". I hope she races well and makes the final. Here's wishing you a safe journey, "Peelers" and Marcus Johansson.
Got to agree. He would not
Got to agree. He would not put her in the box if he did not think she was fit or healthy enough. People love to takes shots at Takter, but that goes with the territory when you are at the top of this sport. Great filly & I hope she completes an amazing 2 years with a BC win!
Everyone makes bad decisions
Everyone makes bad decisions sometimes and Jimmy might too...we're all human. But I'm not sure why people that don't have all of the information that the trainer does, feel comfortable telling him he should just send her off to broodmare duty?
P.S. Not sure why you consider that a "cheap shot" but people that know me will tell you that I'm not one to take cheap shots.
Im pretty sure that an HOF
Im pretty sure that an HOF trainer like Jimmy Takter is a human being and can, and has made bad decisions like everybody else, Dan. God forbid that anyone should try to second guess this immortal because he's in the HOF. The filly has not done enough in her three year old season to err on the side of caution and not enter her? I think it is a mistake, even if she wins.
P.S. I thought that was a cheap shot against a very knowledgeable and caring harness racing fan.
I'm pretty sure that a HOF
I'm pretty sure that a HOF trainer like Jimmy Takter will be able to figure out whether or not she'll be ready to race in the Breeders Crown Allan.
Wonder what the "heart
Wonder what the "heart issue" was that seems to have disappeared--or has it?
There should be no thought
There should be no thought about racing in the BC, but whether to bring her back at four or send her off to broodmare duty. She missed too much time to be competitive in the crown. Why cheapen her?