Given his past success with top trotters, trainer Jeff Gillis is well aware of what it takes to lead a talented square-gaiter to racing's top levels. Although he has lost time to make up for, the conditioner has been liking what he has been seeing from Knows Nothing
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The three-year-old son of Kadabra is a perfect two-for-two so far in his fledgling career, with an impressive mark of 1:56.4, which was taken when he romped by seven lengths in his first lifetime start on April 5.
“We always thought a lot of him, but we had to wait on him,” Gillis said. “We had to take a chip out of him last year, so instead of getting him ready for the fall, we wanted to give him the time and get him ready for the summer.”
With a victory in the second leg of the Tie Silk Trotting Series, Gillis remains optimistic about Knows Nothing's chances in the $50,000 final, slated for Thursday at Woodbine Racetrack.
“He has progressed very well so far and is building off each effort,” he said. “We have an unfavourable post (Post 9) in the final, but I think he can overcome that.”
Knows Nothing was scheduled to sell as Hip No. 805 at the Harrisburg Yearling Sale in 2010, but was pulled out.
“We waited around for him to sell and passed on a few horses because we wanted to see him sell,” Gillis said. “On the morning of the sale, we found out he was pulled out and was on his way home to New Jersey. We immediately called the owner and we were lucky enough to buy him privately.”
Gillis is hoping Knows Nothing can be something special, just like a top trotter he had a few years ago, when Federal Flex ($840,643) captured the 2009 edition of the Goodtimes Trot.
“That would be pretty incredible,” he said. “It’s still early in the season, but he acts like a professional on the track. Off the track, he’s like a big, goofy teenager at home, but he makes up for it with his looks. He’s big and beautiful. That’s the best way to describe him.”
Knows Nothing, who has banked $24,000 in earnings so far, is co-owned by Gillis, along with Al Libfeld, Marvin Katz, Gerald Stay, and Mac Nichol.
Along with being eligible to the Goodtimes Trot, Knows Nothing is also eligible to the Breeders Crown, Hambletonian, Canadian Trotting Classic, Simcoe and Canadian Breeders, just to name a few.
Stablemate Windsong Ingenious (Post 4) will also contest the rich final.
“He will need some good fortune,” Gillis said. “He’s better than he’s shown and he’s shown some flashes of quick speed. Hopefully, we have some racing luck on Thursday.”
Gillis also provided an update on pacing sophomore Speed Again ($497,421), who is being pointed towards the $1.5-million Pepsi North America Cup, set for June 16 at Mohawk Raceway.
“He is a few weeks away,” Gillis said. “His first test will be the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes, then the ‘Cup.’ He will qualify a few times, likely, but he’s right on schedule.”
Also, on Thursday’s 11-race program, the Swing Into Spring Trotting Series continues with a pair of second leg divisions. First-race post time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
To view the harness racing entries for Thursday at Woodbine, click the following link: Thursday Entries - Woodbine Racetrack.
(With files from WEG)