Crazed Takes Break Before Futurity
While his rivals raced, Crazed enjoyed time off before Saturday's Kentucky Futurity at The Red Mile.
Crazed is coming off a third-place finish in the Canadian Trotting Classic on September 13 at Mohawk Racetrack. A week earlier, in his elimination, he handed Deweycheatumnhowe the first loss of his career.
He has won six of nine races and $813,150 for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Frank Antonacci Jr. and owners Lindy Racing, Gary and Ellen Hoffman and Robert Rudolph.
"I decided to let him relax for a couple weeks here (in Lexington)," Antonacci said. "He races pretty good off two or three weeks. When he was able to beat 'Dewey' in the eliminations, it was off three weeks, so I don't think we have to worry about tightness or anything like that for the Futurity."
The Kentucky Futurity is the final jewel in the Trotting Triple Crown. Napoleon won the first leg, the Yonkers Trot, while Deweycheatumnhowe claimed the second, the Hambletonian.
In the Canadian Trotting Classic final, Crazed raced on the outside through the early going before getting the top spot at the halfway point. He remained on top until Deweycheatumnhowe and Clerk Magistrate rallied in the stretch to pass him.
"It definitely didn't work out his way, but that's racing," Antonacci said. "I was very happy with how he raced, and he came out of it good. He's pretty sharp right now here in Kentucky. We're excited for Saturday, for sure."
Following the Futurity, Crazed is eligible to the Matron Stakes at Dover Downs (elims on November 2; final on November 9) and the Breeders Crown at The Meadowlands (elims on November 22; final on November 29).
"We'll keep taking as we have all year; just go start by start, day by day, and make decisions," Antonacci said.
(Harness Racing Communications)