It’s not unheard of to find a horse that’s eligible for non-winners of two races in a big stakes event
like the Delvin Miller Adios. But a horse that fits that condition – and who has already amassed $576,216 in earnings with just one win in 24 starts – catches everyone’s attention.
The Jimmy Takter-trained Vintage Master is just that horse. After closing to miss by a nose to Mr Wiggles in his elimination last week, the one-time winner will leave from the rail in Saturday’s $677,665 final of the Adios at the Meadows. First-race post time on Saturday is 12:15 p.m., with the Adios slated to go to post between 4:15 and 4:30 p.m.
Takter, one of the top trainers of trotting talent in North America, is making his Adios debut. The reference to Vintage Master’s non-winners of two status makes him chuckle. “I’d rather have a horse with one win and high earnings over a horse that has a lot of wins, and little money,” he said.
“The calibre of races he’s been in, those are tough to win,” he said.
The Western Ideal colt races as a homebred for Brittany Farms of Versailles, Kentucky, and the estate of longtime Brittany partner Brian P. Monieson.
As a two-year-old, Vintage Master was winless in 12 starts, but had three seconds and four thirds. After racing with the toughest of his division all this season, he finally broke his maiden on July 2 in a conditioned pace at the Meadowlands. For the year, he has seven seconds and a third in addition to his win. Most of his 'bridesmaid' finishes have come in some of the sport’s biggest events.
He was second, six lengths behind Well Said in the $1 million Meadowlands Pace; second in both his elim and final of the $500,000 SBOA/Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic; and runner-up in the $200,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final on May 30.
“At two, he was just a baby, and he’s still a little bit that way,” said Takter. “He’s a very lazy horse – not aggressive at all. He’s always had a lot of ability. He just needed time and maturity.”
Vintage Master drew the rail in the nine-horse final, with regular pilot Daniel Dube to drive. Well Said, the standout leader of the three-year-old pacing division, drew the outside Post 9. Last week, Well Said set an all-age track record of 1:49 in winning his Adios elimination.
Takter said the rail was fine by him. “It’s certainly the closest way to the finish line, and we’re going to save a lot of ground,” he said. “With Well Said drawing the nine hole, that will make the race a little more even. I still think he’s probably going to win it, but the draw makes it more interesting.”
Takter, 48, trains from his own complex, Millennium Farm, in East Windsor, New Jersey. He got his start in harness racing through his father Bo W. Takter, one of the most successful trainers in Sweden. His resume is sprinkled with top trotters, including two Horse of the Year honourees, Moni Maker and Malabar Man.
He’s no stranger to top pacers either, having trained 2005 divisional winner Cabrini Hanover, 2006 Little Brown Jug winner Mr Feelgood, and last year’s Jugette winner Good News Lady.
Win, lose or draw on Saturday, Takter won’t be hanging around in Pennsylvania. He and a number of drivers have chartered a plane in order to make it back to the Meadowlands for a number of stakes events on the evening card, including the eliminations for the Hambletonian.
(Meadows)