Tim Torbert got to race New Zealand-bred mare Terro Franco only a handful of times, but he has enjoyed a good deal of success with her offspring. The most recent of the group, filly pacer Roddys At It Again, was a Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund champion last year at age two and will try to add another title Wednesday (April 3) at Dover Downs.
Roddys At It Again, co-bred by Torbert and owned by his fiancée, Katie Killen, is by stakes-winning stallion Roddys Bags Again. Torbert trained Roddys Bags Again for much of his career for then-owner Robert Messick. He also trained the stallion’s mom, Get The Bags, so he’s well connected to Roddys At It Again’s family.
“Roddy’s mother was the first horse I bought for Mr. Messick,” said Torbert, a 43-year-old resident of Harrington, Del. “With me training Roddy and all, it all works out nice.
“If she has any qualities from either one (of her parents) it’s her versatility. I could leave and put her on the front or she’s just as happy to race from off the pace. I’d have no problem with her getting away in the middle of the field and pulling early. She’s pretty good either way.”
Roddys At It Again is the sixth foal out of Terro Franco, who saw her career ended by injury after only five starts for Torbert, and the fourth to reach six figures in purses. Two of Roddys At It Again’s siblings, Roddys Girl and Fran Luck, were runners-up in DSBF finals for Torbert.
Last year, Roddys At It Again won four of nine races and earned $94,500. She was third in the DSBF final for two-year-old filly pacers at Harrington in October and captured the DSBF championship at Dover Downs in November.
“It was about what I expected,” Torbert said of the filly’s 2018 campaign. “I think I got a little lucky winning the final last year. It seems like all the better ones got sick and I got over it a little sooner than they did. In my opinion, there are like four of us in there that are very equal. It’s just going to depend on the trip.”
This season, Roddys At It Again has started twice and finished second both times. She enters the $100,000 DSBF final for three-year-old filly pacers off a neck setback to The Lady Sheriff in 1:54. She will start Wednesday from Post 4 with driver Art Stafford Jr. and is 9-2 on the morning line. In And Out Again, a winner in both her DSBF eliminations, is the 5-2 favourite for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Jason Skinner.
“I had some issues with (Roddys At It Again) early but I’ve got that all straightened out,” Torbert said. “I was tickled with her mile last week and I think she’s heading into the final the best she can be. I expect a little better effort. If we get beat, we get beat. But they’re going to know we’re there.”
The DSBF championship has been carded as Race 8 on Wednesday’s card. Racing will begin at 4:30 p.m. (EDT).
(USTA)