Following an injury sustained during his four-year-old season, it seemed a longshot that Longshot would make it back to the races. But with time, patience and resilience, the connections are starting to see the son of Long Tom looking like his old self heading into the $100,000 USD Tom Aldrich President’s Trot on Saturday, Aug. 9 at Northfield Park.
As a two-year-old Longshot raced most of his starts on the Ohio fair circuit. Trainer Scott Cox acquired Longshot from Wes Hershberger at the start of his three-year-old season.
“When Wes had Wayne Mast Jr. (owner) ask if I would take the horse, I was honoured,” said Cox. “Once I started training him down, it was clear Longshot had a lot of ability and I knew we had something special.”
Earning $306,974 as a sophomore with victories in the $300,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Championship and $53,808 Ohio Breeders Championship, it was clear his trainer’s intuition was right, this was a special trotter. With the gelding being dual-eligible, Longshot’s team sent him to Oak Grove to compete in the Kentucky Sire Stakes as a four-year-old in 2023. It was in Kentucky that Longshot’s luck began to change and something appeared to be off.
“We couldn’t get a strand of good starts together for him and while he would race good sometimes, it was clear that there were issues with him as a four-year-old,” said Cox.
In September, Longshot tore a suspensory, and it put him on the sidelines for rehab with hopes he would make a full recovery for a strong return to the races. Cox sent Longshot back to Wes Hershberger for help with getting the gelding back into shape.
“We put a lot of miles in him the old fashioned way, and didn’t rush getting him back to the races,” said Cox.
Cox also gives credit to his owner for getting Longshot back to the races.
“Wayne would do whatever his horses needed, it’s been tough getting Longshot back, but we had all the time in the world,” said Cox.
After an eight-month layoff, Longshot returned to the races, but, it took some time to start seeing signs of his former ability. He earned a two-length win over conditioned company in his fifth start back on July 2 at Northfield and hasn’t lost since. He has moved up in class every start while facing some of the sport’s top Open trotters.
Saturday will be the toughest test of his return, but his connections think that he is up to the task.
“He is rounding right back into form at the right time, we couldn’t be prouder of him,” said Cox.
(with files from Northfield Park)