Who would harness racing's sharpest minds select in the 2021 TROT Magazine Fantasy Stable? Trot Insider will feature 'expert picks' in advance of the deadline for this year's contest.
New to the panel of experts is multiple O'Brien Award winner both as a breeder and an owner, Al Libfeld. Libfeld provided some added insight regarding his picks for the 2021 Fantasy Stable as the breeder and co-owner of two highly-touted trotting colts, Bonanza (pictured below) and Knights Guard.
"We [Marvin Katz and I] raised him and actually bought back in with Bud Hatfield and Brixton Medical," Libfeld told Trot Insider. "Same thing with Knights Guard; I raised him, he was purchased by Andy Miller, Marvin came in for a piece and I did as well."
Bonanza (Muscle Hill - Designed To Be) is a half-brother to 2019 U.S. Trotter of the Year Greenshoe. The $600,000 yearling is currently under the tutelage of Nancy Takter. Knights Guard (Muscle Hill - Stubborn Belle) is a a full sibling to stakes winner Ms Savannah Belle and promising sophomore Really Fast, being developed by Team Orange Crush, Andy & Julie Miller. He was collared for $400,000.
"Nancy really likes Bonanza, and thinks he is or should be special. And Andy really likes Knights Guard."
Group A:
Venerate
Group B:
Amigo Volo
Group C:
No Lou Zing
Group D:
Love A Good Story
Group E:
Back Of The Neck
Group F:
Captain Corey
Group G:
Splash Brother
Group H:
JK Going West
Group I: Two-Year-Old Colt Pacers:
Mikey Sea Mikey Do
Captain Mike Deo
Group J: Two-Year-Old Filly Pacers:
Style For A Mile
The Big Hen (sold as Lightnier)
Group K: Two-Year-Old Colt Trotters:
Bonanza
Knights Guard
Group L: Two-Year-Old Filly Trotters:
Tippet
Elegant Charm
Group M: Trainers 1:
Nancy Takter
Group N: Trainers 2:
Ben Baillargeon
Group O: Drivers 1:
Dexter Dunn
Group P: Drivers 2:
Aaron Merriman
Group Q: Drivers 3:
Doug McNair
Group R: Drivers 4:
Louis-Philippe Roy
Contest entry is now open until 5:00 p.m. (EST) on Sunday, May 16. Stables cannot be altered once submitted. Click here to enter!
The contest is based on total earnings of selected horses and five percent of the earnings of selected trainers and drivers between May 16* and December 31, 2021..
For the purposes of the fantasy bankroll, the winners (horses only) of the 2021 Breeders Crown Finals will each receive a $200,000 contest bankroll bonus. Also, in the two-year-old categories, contestants are once again asked to select TWO horses.
At the end of the year, the winner of the contest will receive entry into and travel to the 2022 World Harness Handicapping Championship, a prize valued at (approx) $1,300.
* PLEASE NOTE: TROT/SC retain the right to possibly cancel, or change the end date of this contest depending on how the COVID-19 pandemic affects the 2021 racing season. Stay tuned to the Standardbred Canada website for more details.
Previously Featured Expert Picks: