Sly Little Fox is proving to be a quick bay horse. After her career was stalled by tendon issues following her debut at age two, the now four-year-old female trotter has won eight of 10 races since returning to action this past November.
On Wednesday, Sly Little Fox competes in the $25,000 Ray Paver Sr. Memorial Series championship at Miami Valley Raceway. The mare, bred and owned by Kentucky-based equine veterinarian Dr. Bambi Fox, is the 2-1 morning-line favourite with Brett Miller driving for trainer Mike Hollenback.
Sly Little Fox enters the final of the conditioned series off a career-best 1:55 triumph in the opening round of the event on March 2. She has won four consecutive races (by a total of 13-1/4 lengths) and is a head from being unbeaten in seven in a row.
“I’m ecstatic,” said Dr. Fox. “So far, it’s been a wonderful ride. I’ve got great people around me, great people that help me. There is a whole contingent of people in the area that have known me for years and everybody is having a really good time watching her race. It’s a lot of fun. I’ve just been blessed to have this wonderful mare.
“I don’t know what her potential is. Mike didn’t think she was all out when she won in (1):55. He felt there was a little more speed there, especially if she has a horse next to her challenging her. The driver has not really had to ask her. That may happen on Wednesday. It will be interesting to see what she does when she really has to put out and get with it down the stretch.”
Sly Little Fox made one start in July 2020, a third-place finish at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, before being shut down because of her tendon troubles. She did not race again until November 2021, when she won at Hoosier.
“I rehabbed her for a year,” Dr. Fox said about the daughter of Swan For All-On Center Stage. “That does make a difference. I gave her time. When she came back, I told Mike he didn’t have to get in a hurry, let’s just see what she can do.
“I didn’t have any expectations. She didn’t look like much until she turned three. Then, she started looking like a racehorse. She got a lot more muscle and looked more sure of herself. She was a late bloomer, and she seems to be getting stronger now. There again, I think she is physically maturing. For the most part, she is still very green, but I think she’s figuring out what her job is and has really done well.”
Dr. Fox, who has Thoroughbred jumpers and cares for pleasure horses primarily at her equine practice, has two Standardbred broodmares and two horses with Hollenback. She developed a passion for harness racing with her husband, Jim, who passed away in 2015.
“He was the trainer, and I was the groom,” said Dr. Fox. “We did the Illinois circuit and had some success. I learned how to train horses from him. I guess I got the disease and can’t get rid of it now. I enjoy the babies and teaching them things at home.
“I’ve got a great rapport with Mike and he’s kind of got the same philosophy as far as taking his time and taking care of the horses. So, I’m really excited about having more babies and staying in the business for as long as I physically can.”
When Sly Little Fox was born, she made an immediate impression upon Dr. Fox. Not for her appearance, but her loquaciousness.
“When she was a baby, even the first day she was born, she would always nicker at you,” said Dr. Fox. “She stayed that way up through her yearling year, so we called her Chatterbox. It was funny; I’ve never had a baby so vocal. Every so often you’d get one that would nicker at you randomly, but this little filly, she just had a lot to say.”
She might have been chatty, but she was well mannered when Dr. Fox began to train her.
“I’m an amateur trainer, that’s what I do for fun, because I have to make a living as a vet,” said Dr. Fox. “But she never wanted to run. When you put her up there next to another horse, it was like, ok, here I am. She was perfectly content to ride behind another horse and when you pulled her, she was ready to go. She would do what you asked and was very workmanlike.
“That’s a big benefit, especially with mares. Fillies can be very sensitive, but she didn’t ever seem to be that way.”
Following Wednesday’s start, Sly Little Fox is expected to enjoy some time off.
“We’re going to give her a little bit of a break and then probably take her to Oak Grove,” said Dr. Fox. “I don’t want to put her in over her head, but with the number of wins she’s got it’s going to be difficult to find a place for her to race. We’re just going to have to pick and choose and see what we can do about coming up with races for her.”
Racing begins at 4:05 p.m. EDT at Miami Valley. For complete Wednesday entries, click here.
(USTA)