One of the mainstays on the Ontario Sires Stakes trail, Wayne Henry, has started his quest to follow up his career best year in the bike while campaigning from his winter training base in Florida
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The 48-year-old horseman from Arthur, ON needed just four starts in the bike at Pompano Park to break into the win column for 2012. In a maiden pace event on January 10, Henry followed the cover of first race favorite Tough Chief and driver David Ingraham to score with To Tell The Truth in 1:56.4. The Tell All-Living With Art filly was a modest $3,000 purchase as hip 676 at the 2009 Harrisburg Sale, and she was making the first start of her three-year-old season.
Last year, Henry turned in his top earning year in the bike with close to $600,000 in purse earnings with 202 starters and 31 winners from a stable which included OSS performers Counter Pointe and Major Herbie. Henry is also a two time winner of the Johnston Cup saluting the top annual trainer in the Ontario program from 2006 and in 2007 when his training statistic topped the $1 million earnings plateau for the first time in his career.
On the same day she was named a 2011 category award winner by the Florida Standardbred Breeders And Owners Association (FSBOA), trotting mare Wildfire responded with a life's record performance.
The five-year-old daughter of Famously-Giant Wonder was positioned perfectly second over by Dan Clements on the cover of favourite Feel L A and driver Tom Sells in a $4,000 conditioned trot. In the stretch, Wildfire was the best of her career as she stormed home when shown open road to stop the clock in 1:56.3. Feel L A held the place position and Dukester in rein to Doug Brown was third.
Joe Kroll trains Wildfire for owners Leah and Ron Schaefer of Weirsdale, FL. She was named the top state-bred older trotting mare of 2011 on the strength of 9 wins from 33 starts for earnings of $34,340. The FSBOA annual awards will be presented at the annual Hall Of Fame gala on February 19 hosted by the Florida chapter of the United States Harness Writers' Association.
(Pompano Park)