Trainer Jimmy Takter has an entrant in the World Trotting Derby as well as the filly companion race for a purse of $130,000 on Friday at the DuQuoin State Fair
. His entrant in to Saturday’s Trotting Derby is the lightly-raced Windshear, which will make just its 11th lifetime start this weekend. The colt is two for 10 and is 15-1 from Post 2 with Daniel Dube driving.
“I haven’t had this horse long,” says Takter. “I got him (Windshear) from Ron Gurfein about a month ago. He’s been coming home good, he raced good in an open trot at the Red Mile on Monday. He’s getting better. Of course, he’s not in the class with Muscle Hill; he stands out by himself in that race. Luckily, he got a good post and I think he’s going to get a decent cheque.”
Asked if he thought any horse in the field had a chance to beat Muscle Hill, Takter, who trained Trotting Derby winners Tom Ridge (2004) and Enjoy Lavec (1999), didn’t hesitate.
“No. I don’t think he (Muscle Hill) can lose. I think he can fall down and win. They asked me if I wanted to bring Judge Joe (who won the Yonkers Trot, second leg of the Trotting Triple Crown on August 29) out there, but we’re going to Canada (for the Canadian Trotting Classic with eliminations on September 12) and we’ve been racing a couple weeks now at Yonkers. It’s a long way to go out there for a race you most likely have no chance to win.”
Missys Doubtfire will race for the Takter stable in the filly World Trotting Derby. The filly is two for 11 this year, but turned in a very fast :27.3 last quarter in finishing fourth in the American National at Balmoral Park on August 29.
“She had a very good start in Chicago,” says Takter. “I was really happy with her performance there. She ended up behind a tired horse in the last part and lost a couple lengths. She’s a nice horse, but she had not worked out so good this year. Last year she was much better, but I thought she raced quite well in Chicago and she’s got a decent post (four), too.
“She hasn’t been coming home good this year and she’s been having some issues with her muscles and she had a little problem with heart rhythm, so hopefully she’s on the way up. She’s [basically] a pretty good horse. She was a top horse last year and made pretty good money and hopefully, she’s coming around now.”
(With files from Harness Racing Communications)