As the calendar flips to May, many of harness racing's top performers from 2021 have started to return to the racetrack for the upcoming stakes season.
Many of those horses comprise the 2022 TROT Magazine Fantasy Stable, with entries closing on Friday, May 27. Trot Insider will break down the contenders in each category as the deadline approaches. (All entries and results information is up to date as of publication, with the May 7 opening leg of the Graduate yet to be published.)
Our first feature examined the participants comprising Groups G and H. This feature looks at the contenders in Groups E and F, with the remaining groups to be profiled in advance of the contest deadline.
GROUP E
Whichwaytothebeach (Somebeachsomewhere – Swinging Beauty) snuck onto the Grand Circuit scene last year after wins in the Reynolds Memorial and two divisions of The Stallion Series. By August, he butted heads with some of harness racing's top sophomores to win an $86,250 division of the Somebeachsomewhere, finish third in the $1-million North America Cup and third in the $397,080 Little Brown Jug. Richard “Nifty” Norman now trains the gelding for owner Gino Toscani. He last raced in the $100,000 Borgata Consolation on April 25 at Yonkers Raceway, finishing fifth.
With her first foal on the ground via embryo transfer, Atlanta (Chapter Seven – Hemi Seelster) returns to the track for her seven-year-old season. The world champion mare, trained by Ron Burke, scored wins in the $156,000 Joie De Vie and $187,400 John Steele Memorial along with a second in the $300,000 Breeders Crown Mare Trot and a third in the $233,000 Armbro Flight. She is owned by Crawford Farms Racing, Brad Grant and Howard Taylor and made her first steps onto the track on April 30 with a sharp qualifier at The Meadowlands, trotting in 1:56.1.
Another pupil for Ron Burke, Southwind Gendry (Always B Miki – Gamblers Passion) started the season strong with wins in Pennsylvania Sires Stakes and a Meadowlands Pace elimination before hitting snags in his form but nonetheless cashing cheques in the Meadowlands Pace Final, Adios Final and Breeders Crown. He is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Phillip Collura, Knox Services Inc. and JandT Silva-Purnel And Libby. He has qualified twice as a four-year-old in 2022 with his most recent mile coming on April 23 at The Meadowlands, a 1:50.4 effort.
Katies Lucky Day (Uncle Peter – Yansky) surprised on the national stage following a campaign in Ohio when she scored an upset victory in the $351,000 Kentucky Filly Futurity for trainer Todd Luther and brother Greg Luther, who co-owns the mare through Black Magic Racing LLC with Patrick Hoopes. She also finished second in the $300,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Championship and third in the $414,000 Elegantimage. She has raced twice in 2022 with her most recent start coming on April 23 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, a third-place finish in 1:53.4.
Rebuff (Muscle Hill – Meucci Madness) stamped himself a favourite for the Hambletonian with a 1:55 win in the $600,000 Breeders Crown at The Meadowlands. Aside from that crowning achievement, the Lucas Wallin trainee also won a $76,000 International Stallion Stakes split at The Red Mile and finished second in the $250,000 Kentucky Championship Series. He is owned by Kjell Andersen, Lucas Wallin and Pieter Delis. He has yet to race as a three-year-old in 2022.
Joe Holloway’s Early Action (Huntsville – Fashion Katie) fired onto the stakes scene last fall in Lexington off wins in the New York Sires Stakes and Kindergarten Series. There, he sped to a 1:49.4 win in a $110,00 Bluegrass division and followed with a 1:50 win in a $92,300 International Stallion Stakes split. He capped the year – including a fifth in the Breeders Crown and second in the Kindergarten Final – with a win in the $386,600 Governor’s Cup at The Meadowlands. He is owned by Val D’or Farms and Ted Gewertz. He has qualified once as a three-year-old in 2022, pacing a 1:53.2 mile on April 30 at The Meadowlands.
Off a green two-year-old season, Winning Ticket (Triumphant Caviar – Lotto Winner) all one but one of his 12 starts as a three-year-old. His wins included the $40,000 James Hackett Memorial at Miami Valley and the $300,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Championship. His lone Grand Circuit appearance came in the $606,500 Canadian Trotting Classic, where he finished third. Chris Beaver trains and co-owns the gelding with Steven Zeehandelar, Tim Homan and Jim Burnett. He has yet to start as a four-year-old in 2022.
Part of an Ake Svanstedt contingent last season, Ambassador Hanover (Chapter Seven – Angel Eyes Hanover) hit the board in two of three Trotting Triple Crown events, finishing second in the $500,000 Yonkers Trot and third in the $1-million Hambletonian. He remains in the Svanstedt Stable but now races for M3 Racing Stable. He has qualified once as a four-year-old in 2022, trotting a 1:54.3 mile at The Meadowlands on April 23.
A star trotter overseas, Ecurie D (Infinitif – To Soon) shipped to the states in 2021 and took his time to get to the races, eventually making his North American debut in the $136,000 Allerage Trot at The Red Mile. He won that race in 1:50.4 and followed with a 1:52 victory in the $650,000 Breeders Crown Final. Trainer Ake Svanstedt co-owns the stallion through his Ake Svanstedt Inc. along with partner Marko Kreivi Stables Inc. and Suleyman Yuksel Stables. He has yet to start as a six-year-old in 2022.
Herculisa (My MVP – Herculotte Hanover) set a world record over a half-mile track last season with a 1:52.3 win in the $300,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Championship at Northfield Park. After the Ohio Sires Stakes season, she hit the Grand Circuit, where she won a $74,200 Bluegrass division at The Red Mile and finished fourth in the $650,000 Breeders Crown. Virgil Morgan Jr. trains the mare for owner Jesmeral Stable. She has one start as a four-year-old in 2022: a 1:54.3 win at Miami Valley Raceway on April 25 in a conditioned Trot.
GROUP F
Spy Booth (Muscle Hill – Amour Heiress) finished second in the $1-million Hambletonian as a maiden. He collected his first – and only – win at Vernon Downs in the $235,000 Zweig Memorial. He has since entered the barn of Lorenzo Di Simone, who trains the gelding for owner Joseph Riad. He has qualified once as a four-year-old in 2022, trotting a 1:55.4 mile at Harrah’s Philadelphia on April 26, and is entered on May 5 at Philly.
Fly Light (Father Patrick – Hustle Heart) earned two of his three wins last season, winning the $200,000 Earl Beal Jr. Memorial Consolation and upsetting in a $104,500 Bluegrass division. He collected major chequeits with a third in the $561,000 Kentucky Futurity and a second in the $650,000 Breeders Crown. Ake Svanstedt trains the gelding now owned by Stable Why Not. He has not yet raced as a four-year-old in 2022.
Hellabalou (Sweet Lou – Magestic Blue Chip) made a name for himself when pulling an 81-1 upset in winning an elimination for the Meadowlands Pace. He then went on to win the $375,000 Adios Final and finish third in the Max Hempt Memorial. Richard “Nifty” Norman now trains the stallion for owner Eric Good. He has raced once as a four-year-old in 2022, finishing ninth and pacing a 1:50.4 mile in a $20,000 conditioned pace at The Meadowlands on April 30.
Cuatro De Julio (Trixton – Clarabelle), the enigmatic trotter for owner-trainer Marie Ortolan Bar and D Farm LLC, continued to show his talent through his three-year-old season, though he famously went a parked trip in the $1-million Hambletonian. He won an elimination for the Breeders Crown and finished fourth in the $650,000 Final while also finishing second in both the $250,000 Kentucky Championship Series Final and $561,000 Kentucky Futurity. He has qualified once in 2022, trotting a 1:57.2 mile on April 22 at Miami Valley Raceway.
Donna Soprano (Donato Hanover – Windsong Soprano) had a turbulent sophomore season. She battled to a 1:51.3 victory in the $142,000 Del Miller Memorial, cruised to a 1:53.3 win in the $160,260 Simcoe and followed that with a gutsy performance to best Bella Bellini in the $414,000 Elegantimage at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Luc Blais trains the mare for Determination. She has yet to start as a four-year-old in 2022.
Its Academic (Uncle Peter – Annapolis) thrived with his speed to pump his earnings through the Grand Circuit. He won the $135,000 Charlie Hill Memorial and three Graduate prelims while also finishing third in the $250,000 Graduate Final, second in the $210,000 Caesar’s Trotting Classic and third in the $136,000 Allerage Trot. Ron Burke trains the stallion for owner Brad Grant. He has qualified twice as a five-year-old in 2022 with his most recent mile being a 1:52.3 effort on April 23 at The Meadowlands.
You Ato Dream (Donato Hanover – Dream Child) was a stalwart of the sophomore trotting filly division with wins in the $139,500 Del Miller Memorial and $60,470 Currier & Ives. She also finished second in the $253,000 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes Championship and fourth in the $351,000 Kentucky Filly Futurity. Jeff Gregory trains the mare for owner Steve Jones. She has yet to make a start as a four-year-old in 2022, and was reported to be bred by her new connections.
Chase H Hanover (Captaintreacherous – Calgary Hanover) flew under the radar through his glamour boy season, finishing third in the $500,000 Messenger Pace, fourth in the $700,000 Meadowlands Pace and third in the $600,000 Breeders Crown Final. He landed a Grand Circuit victory with a 1:49.2 win in the $130,000 Jennas Beach Boy at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Virgil Morgan Jr. now trains the four-year-old for owners Bottom Line Racing LLC and Carl Howard. He has raced six times in 2022, most recently finishing second in the $100,000 Borgata Consolation on April 25 at Yonkers Raceway.
Logan Park (Archangel – Rite Outa The Park) landed several wins on the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold circxuit and just missed the crown in the $225,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final. He strutted his speed in his first start south of the border in the Breeders Crown, where he rode pocket to a second-place finish in the elimination but broke stride when trying to leave from post 10 in the final. Rob Fellows trains the gelding for owners Outofthepark Stable, Reg Higgs and Arpad Szabo. He has qualified once as a four-year-old in 2022, trotting a 2:00.2 on April 15 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Pebble Beach (Downbytheseaside – Santa Rosa) hit the board in all 11 of his starts as a two-year-old. His wins include a 1:48.4 win in the $250,000 Kentucky Championship Series and a $93,300 International Stallion Stakes split. He won his Breeders Crown elimination but finished third in the $600,000 final. Noel Daley trains the colt for owners Patricia Stable, Joe Sbrocco, Country Club Acres Inc. and Laexpressfoderadeovolente. He has qualified once as a three-year-old in 2022, pacing a 1:53 mile on April 30 at The Meadowlands.
To enter the 2022 TROT Magazine Fantasy Stable contest, click the following link: 2022 TROT Magazine Fantasy Stable Entry Form.