Two years ago, owner/trainer Larry Johnson was at his home, browsing online when he noticed an auction site dedicated to standardbred racehorses. While there, he came upon a yearling catalogue and spotted a few interesting prospects.
Shortly after, with the click of a mouse, Johnson spent $11,000 and was the winning bidder of two yearlings.
Johnson paid $8,000 for Island View and $3,000 on Conflict Diamond, each by sire Badlands Hanover.
Now sophomores, both horses have provided many thrills for the London, Ont. resident with combined earnings of $44,222.
Conflict Diamond, a well proportioned son of Badlands Hanover, has tasted just defeat just once in his career from five starts and has $17,700 in the bank along with a 1:54.1 lifetime best taken at Woodbine Racetrack.
Island View, a three-year-old filly, is the richer of the two with $26,522 in earnings along with a record of 2-4-3 from 13 starts.
“She’s been very consistent all year and she’s very tough. The only bad start was her effort at Georgian Downs (August 20), but she scoped sick, so she had an excuse.”
Johnson elected not to race his youngsters as two-year-olds and the results have provided healthy dividends.
“We’re looking long term with both of them and that’s why I didn’t race them last year. I broke them and turned them out and got them ready as three-year-olds.
“Island View is a tall mare that is still filling out. She has the speed, is very tough and can take a lot of air. There’s really nothing not to like about her. It’s been a lot of fun racing both horses all summer and knowing your going to get a top effort.”
Johnson hopes that his filly will follow in her older sister's footsteps.
“She’s a half sister to Ole Miss, who won the Damsel last year and has over $300,000 in earnings,” Johnson recalls. “Hopefully she can become like her older sister.”
Island View will contest in the opening leg of the Autumn Series on Thursday evening at Woodbine. The brown filly will start from Post 4 in Race 5.
“She got locked in the two-hole and didn’t get out until it was too late, but she raced very well,” Johnson said, of Island View’s latest start at Western Fair. “She’s very versatile and has gone some tough trips this summer. She’s been on the outside a lot and continues to dig in and fight.
“I think she fits into this series nicely,” Johnson continued. “She paced in (1:) 53 earlier this year at Mohawk so I don’t think she will look out of place in here.”
To view the harness racing entries for Thursday at Woodbine, click the following link: Thursday Entries – Woodbine Racetrack.
(With files from WEG)