With the first round of New Jersey Sire Stakes for two-year-olds set to kick off this week at Meadowlands Racetrack, some of the sport's leading trainers and drivers have shared their insights on picking out
future superstars.
In the Meadowlands Racetrack's latest video feature, Bob 'Hollywood' Heyden asks the horsemen when and how they can tell a two-year-old in training is a future superstar.
"As far as the talent, you're going to have to go a few miles, a few races with them before you can really tell," said trainer Trond Smedshammer when asked how early true talent shows. "Obviously, if you've got a freak and it comes out in the baby races you're going to have a good idea, but a lot of times I think - at least the way I get my babies ready - you're not going to be able to tell until at least two or three starts."
"We always knew she had ability and all that, but that she was that calibre of horse that she turned out to be, no," said driver Marcus Johansson of undefeated pacing filly See You At Peelers. "No one can really say that or dream about that when you're sitting and training one. She had ability, yes, but she proved the first time in the baby race when she came a good last quarter there that she wanted to do it."
When asked if it's easier to tell early on whether a trotter or pacer will be a standout, Johansson said, "Definitely with a trotter, I think."
Driver Daniel Dube knew the first time he drove the Bruce Saunders-trained double millionaire Rock N Roll Heaven that the pacer was extra special.
"The first time I drove him in the Sire Stake," said Dube. "I was last and I swept the field. He showed me so much speed and that's when I told Bruce I wanted to follow him everywhere."
In contrast, it took driver Yannick Gingras a few tries to figure out that pacing mare Darlins Delight would develop into a $3 million earner.
"I had no idea, I picked off of her twice," he admitted.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)