Two years ago, when Ontario-based trainer Jeff Gillis attended the Harrisburg Yearling Sale, he never dreamed of having a Hambletonian contender, let alone buying Knows Nothing.
After his Hambletonian elimination victory in 1:53.1, Knows Nothing has been installed as the 7-2 second choice on the morning line to win the $1.5-million final at The Meadowlands in New Jersey on Saturday. The Hambletonian final is harness racing’s richest trotting event.
“We have a legitimate shot to win it,” Gillis said. “We got to pick our post first and we took Post 3. It gives Jody (driver Jody Jamieson) options from that spot. There are a lot of quality colts in the race, so anything can happen.”
Gillis, a resident of Hillsburgh, Ont., admits that Knows Nothing was not on his radar until he arrived at Harrisburg Yearling Sale in 2010.
“He was not a horse I had marked in my catalogue,” Gillis said. “To be honest, I don’t even really remember how I stumbled across him. What I can tell you is that my partners and I passed on a few other yearlings in preparation of buying him.”
Gillis was eagerly anticipating Knows Nothing going through the auction ring, but the horse didn’t sell as scheduled.
“He was supposed to sell as number 805,” Gillis recalls. “But on the morning of the sale, we found out he was pulled out and was on his way home to New Jersey. We scrambled around and we were lucky enough to get in touch with the owner to buy him privately.”
Knows Nothing was also praised as the ‘complete package’ in Gillis’ eyes.
“He had a flawless [yearling] video and was a tremendous individual with a lot of presence. He’s a horse that I really wanted. I didn’t want anyone bidding against me.”
Now, two years later, Knows Nothing is proving his worthiness on the racetrack.
The son of Kadabra has tasted defeat just once in eight career starts and has earned $218,609 for Gillis, who co-owns the bay with co-owners Mac Nichol, Al Libfeld and Marvin Katz from Ontario, and Gerald Stay, a resident of Buffalo, New York.
Unraced as a two-year-old, Knows Nothing will be Gillis’ second Hambo starter. Gillis sent out Federal Flex in 2009, but finished a disappointing ninth.
“I think we have a better shot to win it this year compared to (Federal Flex),” he admitted. “He is coming into the race as good as you could expect. He came out of his elimination just fine and all we can do is hope for racing luck in the final.”
To this day, Gillis has a hard time faulting his lightly-raced trotter.
“He’s such a professional,” said Gillis. “He’s a big horse with a big gait and he seems to have terrific stamina. He’s not a horse that gets tired and he finishes up his miles very strong. He was superior colt training down and nothing has changed.”
Knows Nothing can only wish to bring the Hambletonian back to Canada on Saturday.
Other Canadian entries include Prestidigitator, who is trained by Dustin Jones of Campbellville, Ont. for owner Ecurie Synergie of Montreal. Sylvain Filion of Milton, Ont. will handle the lines.
The son of Kadabra has earned $451,156 in his career with a 3-0-2 record from six starts this season. Despite a tough trip in his elimination, Prestidigitator finished third to advance to the final.
Brothers John and Jim Fielding of Toronto will send out two Hambo starters: the 5-2 morning-line favourite, Uncle Peter, and Guccio (8-1).
Uncle Peter, who captured last year’s Breeders Crown as a two-year-old at Woodbine, captured his elimination in 1:53.3 for driver Ron Pierce. The bay has banked $535,340 in his career with a 4-1-0 record from six starts this season.
The field will line up as follows:
$1.5-Million Hambletonian
PP - Horse - Driver - Morning-Line Odds
1 - Uncle Peter - R. Pierce - 5-2
2 - Market Share - T. Tetrick - 4-1
3 - Knows Nothing - J. Jamieson - 7-2
4 - Archangel - J. Morrill Jr. - 9-2
5 - My MVP - M. La Chance - 15-1
6 - Prestidigitator - S. Filion - 12-1
7 - Guccio - J. Takter - 8-1
8 - Stormin Normand - D. Palone - 15-1
9 - Money On My Mind - A. Miller - 15-1
10 - Gym Tan Laundry - G. Brennan - 30-1
(WEG)