It didn't take long for trainer Erv Miller to determine trotter Swan For All was a beauty. The two-year-old son of Andover Hall, purchased for $300,000 as a yearling, has done nothing so far to change Miller's opinion.
On Tuesday, Swan For All won the $114,000 American National by two and a half lengths over Dr McDreamy in 1:54.3 at Balmoral Park. The time was the second fastest of the season for a two-year-old trotter and gave Swan For All his third win in as many races.
"He's a really nice horse," Miller said. "I picked him out at the farm. He was one that caught your eye in the paddock. He really moved well. They've got to look good and stand good and all that good stuff, but in the paddock he just moved really exceptional. He's a big horse, but really light on his feet. He got around real easy, and he was real good gaited."
Swan For All is a half brother to Swan Image, who was second to Before He Cheats in the Su Mac Lad final earlier this year, and Magic Swan, who won the 2005 Galt and was a two-time New Jersey Sire Stakes champ. Swan For All is owned by John Carver and Mystical Marker Farms.
"Several people are calling and asking about the horse, and that's why. He's out of a really good family," Miller said. "He was expensive. Too expensive. But today he looks fairly cheap."
Swan For All isn't the only expensive two-year-old in the Miller Stable. Mr Cantab, a half brother to Passionate Glide, Maritas Victory and Mr Vic who was purchased for $350,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale, debuted Monday with a third-place finish at the Red Mile. Mr Cantab (Cantab Hall-Miss Marita) is owned by Carver and breeder Brittany Farms.
"We're coming along slowly," Miller said. "That's what our goal is with all of those two-year-old trotters."
Although Miller is bringing along his horses slowly, Swan For All is learning quickly.
"He just does what you ask of him, and that's all he does," Miller said. "He doesn't try to do more than he should, and he doesn't shy away from the work. You can tell when you break them if they're a little smarter. As they get older, they'll get a little smarter if you give them the time, but some two-year-olds that are just a little smarter seem to be the better horses because they're smart earlier."
(Harness Racing Communications)