It was two years ago during a dinner in Lexington when trainer Frank Antonacci and driver Scott Zeron first discussed the idea of Zeron wearing the Antonacci family’s Lindy Farms colours sometime in the future. Antonacci and Zeron both thought it would be a fun idea with the right horse at the right time.
International Moni proved to be the right horse. The Hambletonian trail proved to be the right time. And on Saturday, Zeron will put aside his own blue, white and red colours for the black, blue and white of Lindy Farms and sit behind International Moni in the first of two $100,000 Hambletonian eliminations as the 5-2 morning-line favourite at the Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey.
“A lot of times it doesn’t work out this way,” Antonacci said with a laugh, “but so far it’s been ok.”
International Moni, who is undefeated in three races this year, is a son of French stallion Love You out of the two-time Horse of the Year Award-winning mare Moni Maker.
Moni Maker was a star for the Antonacci family and owned by the Moni Maker Stable until her passing in 2014. International Moni is also owned by the Moni Maker Stable, which bred the colt. The Moni Maker Stable includes Antonacci’s father, also Frank, Gerald Antonacci, and David Reid.
The Antonacci family and/or its Lindy Racing have been involved in the ownership of five Hambletonian winners: Lindys Pride (1969), Speedy Crown (1971), Probe (1989), Harmonious (1990) and Victory Dream (1994).
“This horse means so much to them, he’s such a global horse,” Zeron said about International Moni. “We both agreed (wearing the Lindy colours) would be something cool. It was never an issue. I don’t mind representing them. I’m racing for them and they’ve been so good to me over the years. I love driving for them and this means a lot to them.”
“This is a collaboration,” said Antonacci. “Scott has been a great sport about it and is willing to try new things. This is a fun endeavour that I think is one worth talking about as a sport and put out there as an option for owners. Not everybody has to do it, but it should be something that’s on the table for people, especially with their very good horses.”
Scott Zeron, pictured in the Lindy Farms colours after winning the Goodtimes Stakes final at Mohawk Racetrack (New Image Media)
Harness racing drivers typically wear their own colours, unlike Thoroughbred jockeys who wear the colours of each horse’s owner. The Lindy colours worn by Zeron are similar to jockey silks in that they are skin tight rather than the looser fitting colours worn regularly by drivers.
“(Antonacci) said our racing colours are like parachutes, and they are kind of baggy,” Zeron said. “He’s looking for every inch he can get on that racetrack. He said, if this will give us one extra inch, it’s worth it.”
Of course, the first time Zeron wore the Lindy colours with International Moni, the colt won his elimination for the Goodtimes Stakes at Mohawk by a neck after charging through the stretch to overcome a six-length deficit.
“That was irony,” Zeron said with a laugh.
International Moni won the Goodtimes Stakes final on June 17, but suffered a bout of colic in early July that forced him to miss the Stanley Dancer Memorial, expected to be the colt’s final Hambletonian prep, at the Meadowlands on July 15.
He bounced back with a career-best 1:52 win July 22 in a three-year-old open at the Meadowlands.
He will start his Hambletonian elimination from Post 5.
“It’s nice to be in the middle of the pack,” Antonacci said. “I think we’re in a good spot. He’s a really handy horse, so whatever Scott is going to want to do he’s going to be able to do from there, which is nice.
“He’s just a really, really good horse, hopefully on his way to being a great horse. The great ones, and the very good ones, they overcome adversity. He did that. I think that bodes well for his future.”
Zeron won last year’s Hambletonian, and eventually the Trotting Triple Crown, with Marion Marauder. He is attempting to become the first driver to win the Hambletonian in consecutive years since John Campbell in 1987-88.
Antonacci will also send out Shake It Off Lindy, who will take part in the second Hambletonian elimination. Shake It Off Lindy and driver Brett Miller will start from Post 4 and are 20-1 on the morning line.
“He’s just an honest, good horse,” Antonacci said. “He’s never really gotten a spot where he’s gotten a trip. I think he’s the type of horse that if he trips out he could grab a big piece. Hopefully we make the final and get a good trip worked out and maybe surprise people or pick up a bunch of pieces.”
The Hambletonian format calls for eliminations to be contested the same day as the final. A total of 19 horses entered this year’s event, requiring two $100,000 eliminations from which the top five finishers in each division advance to the final. Elimination winners draw for inside Posts 1-5 and all other finalists will then be placed in an open draw. The winner of the $1 million final is the Hambletonian champion.
CBS Sports Network will air live coverage of the Hambletonian from 4:00-5:30 p.m. (EDT) Saturday. The Sam McKee Memorial (formerly U.S. Pacing Championship) and Hambletonian Oaks also will be featured during the 90-minute broadcast. First-race post time on Hambletonian Day is noon. The Hambletonian final is 5:11 p.m.
Following are the Hambletonian elimination fields.
Hambletonian Elimination (Race 8)
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Line
1-Southwind Woody-Matt Kakaley-Ron Burke-12/1
2-Bill’s Man-Corey Callahan-John Butenschoen-5/1
3-Guardian Angel As-Jason Bartlett-Anette Lorentzon-10/1
4-Giveitgasandgo-Corey Callahan-John Butenschoen-8/1
5-International Moni-Scott Zeron-Frank Antonacci-5/2
6-Stealth Hanover-Francisco Del Cid-Francisco Del Cid-30/1
7-Victor Gio IT-Yannick Gingras-Jimmy Takter-6/1
8-Long Tom-Tim Tetrick-Marcus Melander-3/1
9-Jake-Dan Dube-Luc Blais-8/1
Hambletonian Elimination (Race 9)
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Line
1-What The Hill-David Miller-Ron Burke-3/1
2-Seven And Seven-David Miller-Tom Durand-8/1
3-Sortie-Andy McCarthy-Noel Daley-10/1
4-Shake It Off Lindy-Brett Miller-Frank Antonacci-20/1
5-Dover Dan-Brian Sears-John Butenschoen-8/1
6-Enterprise-Tim Tetrick-Marcus Melander-9/2
7-Southwind Cobra-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke-15/1
8-Achille Duharas-Yannick Gingras-Jimmy Takter-20/1
9-Devious Man-Andy Miller-Julie Miller-5/2
10-Perfect Spirit-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt-12/1
This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.