See You At Peelers and Arch Madness are No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown weekly Top 10 poll. Although different in gait, sex and age, the two share qualities that enable them to excel, says the only person to drive them both – Brian Sears
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Unbeaten in 19 career races, three-year-old filly pacer See You At Peelers received 30 first-place votes in this week’s Top 10. She will be in action again Saturday night at Meadowlands Racetrack, facing 10 other fillies in the $127,000 Tarport Hap.
Arch Madness has won seven of eight races this season, with his only setback coming in the final of the Elitlopp in Sweden. He is five-for-five on U.S. soil, including a world record 1:50.2 performance in his most recent race, an eight-length triumph in the $220,750 Titan Cup on July 2 at the Meadowlands. The seven-year-old gelding trotter received five first-place votes in the Top 10.
“Right now they’re each the best horse in their division,” Sears said. “They don’t have to go up in class, which enables them to remain sharp. As long as they stay healthy and sound, and are able to beat up on the same bunch every day, it increases their confidence even more. They know. They know what it is all about and they like it.
“When they’re winning, they really enjoy it and it kind of snowballs a little bit. They have very competitive personalities. They know what it’s all about and what we’re trying to accomplish out there. They work with you. They know what we’re trying to do; we’re trying to win a race. There are different ways to go about it, but it’s all about finishing first at the wire. They’re blessed with that mentality, plus the speed and gait.”
See You At Peelers went 13-for-13 in 2010, when her victories included the $600,000 Breeders Crown and the $200,000 New York Sire Stakes championship. This year, her six wins include the $601,000 Fan Hanover Stakes and the $307,734 Art Rooney Pace, where she defeated five male rivals to become the first filly to win the Rooney as well as the first filly pacer since 1990 to beat the boys in a race worth more than $100,000.
For her career, See You At Peelers has won $1.2 million for owners Christina Takter, John Fielding and Jim Fielding. She is trained by Jimmy Takter.
“She always impressed me, but to drive her, she was every bit as impressive as I thought she was – and more,” Sears said. “She’s all racehorse. She’s ready and willing.”
Sears has driven See You At Peelers twice, in her Fan Hanover elimination race and the final. Marcus Johansson has driven the filly in her other victories this season, but Sears will be back in the sulky Saturday for the Tarport Hap (see field below).
“It’s a job, but it’s a lot better to drive her than race against her,” Sears said. “I enjoy racing her, that’s for sure.”
Arch Madness, who was limited to nine starts last year because of a broken splint bone, has won 26 career races and earned $2.9 million for owners Marc Goldberg and Barry Goldstein’s Willow Pond LLC. In addition to the Titan Cup, his wins this season include the Oslo Grand Prix and his elimination for the Elitlopp. He finished sixth in the Elitlopp’s same-day final at Solvalla.
“It’s really a shame he tied up in the Elitlopp because he had a real chance to win,” trainer Trond Smedshammer said. “You don’t get those opportunities very often.”
Sears has driven Arch Madness in 31 of his 66 career starts, guiding him to 11 wins and 10 second-place finishes. Their victories together, in addition to the Titan Cup, include the 2007 Breeders Crown and 2008 Maple Leaf Trot.
“He has matured over the past few years,” Sears said. “He used to be a little nervous and a little up on the bit. Now he’s kind of figured it out. He used to be a handful to drive, and now he’s pretty much a gentleman to drive. The trotters seem to have their careers go longer and keep maturing. It kind of clicks.”
Arch Madness is racing in Friday’s $60,000 Open at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in preparation for the $730,000 Maple Leaf Trot on July 23. Tyler Buter is listed to drive Arch Madness because Sears will be at the Meadowlands.
Here is a look at the field in post position order for the $127,000 Tarport Hap, with listed drivers and trainers.
1. I Kill Time, Simon Allard, Robin Schadt
2. Whats New Pussycat, David Miller, Nicholas Surick
3. Pardon, Tim Tetrick, Linda Toscano
4. Honky Tonk Woman, Yannick Gingras, Ross Croghan
5. Idyllic, David Miller, Casie Coleman
6. Rocklamation, Andy Miller, Mark Harder
7. See You At Peelers, Brian Sears, Jimmy Takter
8. Krispy Apple, Tetrick, Mark Kesmodel
9. Emilios Stride, Gingras, Harder
10. Pretty Katherine, D. Miller, Coleman
11. Myluvmylife, Tetrick, Joseph King
This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.