It is interesting to speculate what is to come with the Pepsi North America Cup-eligible Shadyshark Hanover this season. Even though he triumphed in 1:51.3 last Saturday at Chester Racetrack in his seasonal pari-mutuel debut, his trainer, Erv Miller, has said that the colt wasn't really asked
.
"He was never really asked last week," Miller told the Meadowlands Racetrack during a recent interview. "His debut was excellent. The way he was put away at two is the way he's come back at three. He's a very, very good horse. He was already a big colt at two and he's grown into himself."
There is a pretty good chance driver Tim Tetrick will be asking the colt this Saturday evening in the $400,000 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic at the Meadowlands Racetrack (Race 6, 8:44 p.m.). Shadyshark Hanover has been rated as the 3-1 second choice from the rail. The James 'Friday' Dean-trained and Phil Hudon-driven Big Jim has been given the status of morning line favourite for the final. The duo will start from Post 8 and will open up at odds of 8-5.
Big Jim and Shadyshark Hanover have been gauged No.1 and No. 2, respectively, in Trot Magazine's 2011 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book.
In regard to Shadyshark Hanover, Miller said, "He's the odd horse who steps on to the track and goes a mile or two before he starts bucking and playing. Almost all horses would do so before the first mile. He really loves going out there and doing his work."
Shadyshark Hanover was first or second in nine of 12 starts last season for earnings of $532,832. He won his eliminations for the Governor's Cup and Breeders Crown, but was bested in both finals by Big Jim, who went on to win an O'Brien Award and Dan Patch Award for his campaign. Shadyshark Hanover will face his rival for the first time this year in the Jersey Classic.
"We trained at the same farm (Southern Oaks Training Center) in Florida this winter," Miller noted. "At the end of last year, we came out on the short end. Hopefully we can reverse that this year at three."
Shadyshark Hanover, a son of Cams Card Shark--Shady Past, was purchased as a yearling for $90,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He is a full brother to hard-knocking older pacer Sharky Osborne, who has earned $800,000. Miller shares ownership of Shadyshark Hanover with partners Jim Fielding, John Fielding, Ronald Michelon, Heidi Miller, Jerry Silva and Richard Strachan.
The field for the $400,000 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic:
PP, Horse, Driver, Trainer
1, Shadyshark Hanover, Tim Tetrick, Erv Miller, 3-1
2, Roll'em Up, Andy Miller, Joe Holloway, 8-1
3, Lizard King, David Miller, Ross Croghan, 12-1
4, Ru Ready To Rock, Yannick Gingras, Chris Ryder, 20-1
5, High Noon, Ron Pierce, Jimmy Takter, 15-1
6, Doin Time Together, Simon Allard, Lou Pena, 15-1
7, Lookinforadventure, Brett Miller, Bruce Saunders, 12-1
8, Big Jim, Phil Hudon, James Dean, 8-5
9, Grams Legacy, Brian Sears, Jimmy Takter, 5-1
10, Jo Pa's Pe III, John Campbell, John Campbell, 20-1
(Meadowlands)
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