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Friday, January 23, 2015
Maven ‘Sharp and Smooth' in Vincennes Work
By Lucas Marquardt
PARIS--Well beaten in both of her local preps, Maven
(Glidemaster) might well be sitting on a big performance in
Sunday's €1 million Prix d'Amerique. That's if her work at
Vincennes yesterday is anything to go by. How did her
trainer, Jimmy Takter, assess the move? "Ready to kick
some ass," Takter said via Twitter afterward, and while the
‘lol' he tagged on meant he was joking on some level, it
wasn't a tweet that suggested a lack of confidence.
In her last start, she had just a little touch of mucus, so I
don't think she was at her very best. I think we'll have her at
her best."
Takter added that he will race Maven barefoot Sunday.
She wore shoes in her two prior starts in France
Maven will be program No. 14 in the 18-horse field. Other
notables include last year's Elitloppet winner Timoko (Fr),
who is program No. 17
Maven is owned by John Fielding, Herb Liverman and
Joyce McClelland.
On a foggy morning at Vincennes, Maven and Jimmy
Takter hit the track (photo by Lucas Marquardt)
Stabled beyond the suburbs of Paris at the training
center at Chamant, Maven shipped in to Hippodrome
Vincennes on a raw, cold morning and stepped out onto
the track roughly two hours before the day's 1:50 p.m. first
post.
She took a relaxed clockwise tour of the track, turned in
front of the gap leading to the stables just beyond the finish
line and, gradually picking up steam down the backstretch,
put in an energetic drill once into the home straight. Takter
gave her plenty of time to catch her breath, then sent her
around a second time, encouraging her with a few yells as
she finished strong to the line once again.
"I was really happy with Maven," he said in another
tweet. "She felt very sharp and smooth."
Maven's pilot for the Prix d'Amerique, Yannick Gingras,
touched down at Charles de Gaulle Airport at 11:30 a.m.
yesterday morning and headed straight for Vincennes to
both catch up with Maven and Takter, and to get a feel for
Vincennes quirky course. Gingras said he was going to
ask permission to watch the gateless, free-form starts with
the starter. Gingras also picked up three drives on
Saturday's card at Vincennes.
Takter admitted that Maven's preparations for the Prix
d'Amerique haven't been ideal, but rates his charge as one
of several with a big chance Sunday. "The race is super
wide open," he said. "I think five or six horses could win it,
us included. We need to get the perfect trip, but so does
anybody else to win it. If you're not in it, you can't win it,
and you have to take chances. I know the filly's very good.
Watch a video of Maven working at Vincennes today.
Paris Diary
By Lucas Marquardt
"Paris in the winter is rainy, cold, beautiful and cheap."
This was the first line from a dispatch Ernest Hemingway
wrote for The Toronto Star Weekly back on Feb. 22, 1922.
It isn't post-war France, and with temperatures in the low
30's today, any precipitation would probably have come as
snow. So it is cold, and it is beautiful in Paris, and two out of
four isn't bad.
I'm on the road again for HRU, this time to cover Sunday's
€1 million Prix d'Amerique, the biggest trotting race in
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 1/23/15
France and one of the biggest in all of Europe. America's
hopes will rest on the withers of the 6-year-old mare
Maven, who is becoming something of a travel buddy. Her
participation in the Elitlopp last May meant I got to go to
Sweden, too. Like last time, I'll mix race coverage with
some random reports on what I've been up to.
I took a relatively uneventful redeye out of New York City
on Tuesday night, stopping in Reykjavik--we deplaned,
had our passports stamped, then re-boarded the same
flight--before going on to Paris. I say relatively because
there were some solid bumps in and out of Iceland, and for
some bizarre reason, Icelandair thought it was a good idea
to name the plane "Eldborg." There was a sign adhered to
the fuselage just as you ducked through the main cabin
door that explained the word means ‘Fire Castle,' and that
Eldborg is a volcano known for its
‘beautiful crater.' I'm glad my
younger, more imaginative self,
the one who got white knuckled at
the slightest unidentifiable noise or
smell while airborne, didn't fly on
Eldborg.
Once in Paris, I collected my
luggage at Charles de Gaulle,
hopped on the RER train that runs
into the city center, and switched
over to a Metro line that got me
close enough to my hotel in the
Lucas’ first dinner in
Bastille area. Then I did what any
Paris. Guy must think
he’s on an unlimited good journalist would do: I spent
the next eight hours in my hotel
expense account
room, finishing work that I
probably should have done the week before. But I shook
free in time to catch the small bistro down the street before
it closed and got a terrific first Paris meal--an artichoke
heart salad with smoked duck and green beans, along with
an appetizer of soppressata and croutons.
I read more from the book I stole from my partner Ada,
Hemingway on Paris--that's where that opening line came
from--and learned about Monsieur Deibler, a plump, jovial
man who was also France's "permanent executioner."
Deibler traveled around with three large men and a
portable guillotine, going to whatever part of the country
that needed his services. I looked it up later--France, which
by law could act out capital punishment in no other way,
used the guillotine until 1977. I suppose you didn't expect
to learn in today's HRU.
As I was finishing up an excellent Bordeaux the waitress
recommended, with the place just about empty and the
chef sitting a table over, eating some pasta he'd made for
himself, a Serge Gainsbourg song came on. If you don't
know him, YouTube a few songs (and avoid the Whitney
Houston interview); he's one of those rare artists that
appeals to fans of everyone from the Sex Pistols to
Sinatra. The song was one of his best, too. "Je t'aime...moi
non plus"--French for "I love you… me neither."
In all, a very good first day in Paris.
-Lucas Marquardt
Prix d’Amerique Field
€1,00,000 (US$1,136,311), Prix d'Amerique, 2700m
PN
Horse
Trainer/Driver
1
Vulcain de Vandel
Nivard/Nivard
2
Tumble Dust
Malmqvist/Verbeeck
3
Voltigeur de Myrt
Donati/Gelormini
4
Solvato
Denberger/Kihlström
5
Olmo Holz
V. Martens/C. Martens
6
Linda di Casei
Gocciadoro/Gocciadoro
7
Aladin d'Ecajeul
Guarato/Abrivard
8
Kadett C.D.
Bergh/Bergh
9
Mosaique Face
Kolgjini/Vercruysse
10
Uhlan du Val
Megissier/Megissier
11
Severino
Bigeon/Bonne
12
Napoleon Bar
Savarese/Bellei
13
Texas Charm
Moulin/Dubois
14
Maven
Takter/Gingras
15
Up And Quick
Leblanc/Bazire
16
Tiego d'Etang
Bigeon/Bigeon
17
Timoko
Westerink/Goop
18
Roxane Griff
Guarato/Raffin
Though Payments Have Been Made, Traceur
Hanover Will be Banned from Meadowlands
Pace
By Bill Finley
There's generally been an unwritten rule in harness racing
that once an owner has made staking payments for a race
there's nothing that can be
done to keep them out of
the race. But in the case of
Traceur Hanover track
owner Jeff Gural is about to
rewrite the "rules."
Though payments for
Traceur Hanover were
Traceur Hanover will not be
received by the
allowed to compete in the
Meadowlands for the
Meadowlands Pace (Lisa
Meadowlands Pace during
Photo)
the colt's yearling and
2-year-old year, Gural said
yesterday that under no circumstances will he allow the
horse to compete in the track's signature pacing race as
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 1/23/15
long as he is owned by Richard Berthiaume. Berthiaume
has thus far paid $425 to keep his horse eligible to the
race.
"I am not going to let him race," Gural said. "What makes
this case different is that he embarrassed the industry by
sticking with a trainer who I guess knew he was going to
lose his license anyway so he raced both of his Breeders
Crown horses on cobalt. The conditions for the
Meadowlands Pace give us very wide latitude and we can
do this. (Berthiaume) hasn't asked about this and I have
not been in touch with him."
Traceur Hanover's trainer Corey Johnson was hit with a
TCO2 positive in Ontario prior to the Breeders Crown and
his license was suspended indefinitely by authorities there,
but the ban could not be honored in New Jersey at the
time. The suspension occurred after Traceur Hanover won
a Breeders Crown elimination and Gural said he asked
Berthiaume to replace Johnson before the Breeders Crown
final and that the owner refused. After the Breeders Crown,
the Meadowlands announced that both of Johnson’s
horses that competed in the finals tested for an excess
level of cobalt.
It was not immediately clear what other races
Berthiaume has staked his horses to at Gural-owned
tracks, but the same rules will apply, meaning he also
won't be able to compete in the Cane Pace.
Gural has vowed that he is going to be tougher than ever
on owners this year who he believes employ dishonest
trainers.
"In the future if a trainer enters a horse in a stakes that is
not allowed to participate here we won't take the entry," he
said. "We cleaned up our conditions to make it clear you
can't race in any of our stakes races unless you are using
a trainer who is approved to race at the Meadowlands."
In a related development, Voelz Hanover, the other
horse Berthiaume/Johnson started in the Breeders Crown
was scratched by the judges last week at Yonkers.
Berthiaume said officials there told them they wanted
blood tests taken on the mare to make sure her system
was clean before they would let her race. Berthiaume said
that the blood tests showed she was clean and that she
can now compete at Yonkers.
As for the Meadowlands Pace ban, Berthiaume was
upset but seemed to understand there probably isn’t much
he can do about it.
"What can I do to change his mind?" he said. "I don't
know why he doesn't want my horse to race there, but he
is the owner of the track. I had nothing to do with this and I
don't think he should have the right to keep me out. I used
a trainer to take care of my horse and I don't know what he
is doing with the horse. I am in Montreal and he is in New
York with the horse. I don't know what he is doing. I didn't
know anything about cobalt. I didn't know anything about
what was going on until I read about this in the newspaper.
There's nothing I can do when my trainer is doing
something behind my back."
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Sweet Lou’s Book Full and Closed
Diamond Creek Farm has announced that the initial book
for 2014 Pacer of the Year and runner-up for Horse of the
Year, Sweet Lou, is now full and closed.
“We expected a great response, and that’s certainly what
we got,” said Diamond Creek’s owner Adam Bowden. “It
seems like this horse’s charisma equals his credentials, and
his popularity on the racetrack pretty much
just transferred over straight to the breeding shed.
“With the quality of the mares he’ll be bred to, his first crop
of yearlings should rival those of
any horse out there,” he added.
Sweet Lou retired to stud at
Diamond Creek Farm of
Pennsylvania after his 5-year-old
season with earnings of more than
$3.4-million and a World Record
mark of 1:47 taken on a five-eighths
Sweet Lou’s book is
mile track. He is a son of Yankee
full and closed
Cruiser from Sweet Future, also the
dam of $2.7-million
winner and World Champion Bettor Sweet.
“I think that sometimes people primarily see Sweet Lou as
a champion free for all pacer, which is true of course, but
the fact that he was also a World Champion, Breeders
Crown winner, and divisional Pacer of the Year as a
2-year-old is sometimes overlooked,” Bowden said. “We
think he has everything it takes to be a tremendous sire.”
The multiple World Record-holder--and first horse to ever
pace six consecutive sub-1:48 winning miles--was
campaigned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi,
Lawrence Karr and Phillip Collura and trained
by Ron Burke.
Breeders and fans may follow the continuing career of the
horse many called “The Great White Blaze” on Twitter
@greatwhiteblaze.
The Ultimate Dance Competition
Name the first A Rocknroll Dance foal born at Diamond
Creek and win $10,000 in yearling
credits! We are anxiously awaiting
the first foal's arrival and will
announce the mare's name and sex
of the foal as soon as he/she
arrives (expected in mid February).
Contestants will submit names,
Adam Bowden will choose his top 3
A Rocknroll Dance’s
favorites, and the winner will be
first baby will soon hit
chosen by a public vote. All are
the ground
welcome to submit their
suggestions, and all will be welcome to participate in the
voting. Please check our website
(www.diamondcreekfarm.com ), Facebook page, or A
Rocknroll Dance's twitter @arocknrolldance for contest
news and updates.
We will post the submission form and contest dates as
soon as we have a foal on the ground!
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 1/23/15
disingenuous, but the game was not disappointing. After
being behind most of the game, Green Bay had just taken a
26-21 lead, but Dallas was charging for a go ahead score,
on the Packers 30-yard line. After three plays, a pivotal 4th
and two play was not your average, every day fourth down.
It caused quite a bit of controversy that will probably last a
long time; possibly resulting in rule changes.
The play was a fly pattern from quarterback Tony Romo to
Dallas wide receiver Dez Bryant. Mr. Bryant went up,
caught and controlled the ball, took three steps and
SRF Breedings Now Available
appeared to reach for the goal line. Was it a go ahead
Millstone Twp., NJ - The Standardbred Retirement
touchdown? No, it did not look like it, but Dallas was in
Foundation's (SRF) most important and consistent source business at the one - first and goal. Not long after, however,
of funding comes from yearly and lifetime breeding
a challenge flag came out, and upon further review, the ball
donations, and sales. This year's list includes the fabulous seemed to hit the ground at the very end of the play (it
Sweet Lou, Mach III, Lucky Chucky, Possess The Will,
popped up, so it likely did, anyway). The new NFL
McArdle, Chapter Seven, and many more.
parsed-replay-catch rules read like Swahili when it comes to
Breedings are being sold, not auctioned and are
catches and non-catches, but in a nutshell: If a receiver
available all season to purchase. Donations, which are
catches the ball - even if he takes three steps - but fails to
tax-deductible, are gratefully appreciated to assist SRF in
make some sort of "second move" and the ball comes free,
caring for the 204 Standardbreds in need of homes, 121 of it is no catch. If he makes a "second move", it is a catch,
which are retired for life under SRF's full care, due to age
and if the ball comes free later on it's a fumble, or down by
or injury.
contact, depending on the situation. A second move is
This is SRF's 26th year as the only organization of its
simply some sort of move that involves avoiding a defender,
kind, solely dedicated to the Standardbred, which also
reaching the ball out to get a first down or score, anything
follows all of its adopted horses diligently for life. SRF has really that would be considered a "football move."
served thousands of Standardbreds and helped hundreds
After a long replay review, the biggest play of the game of children through its award winning programs.
the biggest play of the entire season for either team - was
SRF's sale of breedings makes a substantial difference.
reversed. No catch. After the game, league officials
To purchase a breeding, as well as to donate a breeding,
explained they didn't think Dez Bryant made a football move
please contact Tammy Hollock at 732-446-4422 or email
by trying to score, thus it
admin@srfmail.com . SRF is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit
was no catch. Many in
organization, gifts to SRF are tax-deductible.
the league's media, like
NFL Network's Rich
Eisen and Fox's Howie
Long thought it was
obvious he wanted to
score by extending for
Our Dean Towers thinks NFL
the goal line, and the
“judges” could learn something evidence of that is if the
from harness racing judges
catch was made at the
ten, he would've just
gathered the ball in, like a regular in-field play, thus making
it a legal catch. The referees, one way or another, had to
judge whether someone's intent met what was shown on
the video, and they disagreed. By definition and
consistency, they don't reverse plays on the field when the
word "think" is involved, but this time they did. Green Bay
Racing's Judging Just Might Have it Right
was given the ball on downs, and ran out the clock.
I'm about to submit an article in support of the judging
Horse racing has a lot of experience with this already.
system. You read that right. For the few of you not so
Video evidence has been judged on a daily basis since
perplexed who plan to keep on reading, I promise, it will at video was invented. It's old hat. And boy, oh boy, the NFL
least make a bit of sense.
can learn something from this sport.
Two Sundays ago, an NFL game occurred between the
Horse racing judges call fouls not by the letter of the law,
Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers. It was a dandy
but if they are sure the outcome of the race, or a placing
affair with the underdog Cowboys playing inspired football warrants it. There are dozens of infractions a day when a
against a hobbling Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. The
horse might get shoved out a little bit, or someone shuts a
NFL was dubbing the game "Ice Bowl II" which was a little
hole a little late, or who drifts out sideways a little in the
Sunshine Entrants to Sell Sunday via
Ongait.com
Just a reminder that those remaining Sunshine Select
Sale entries are now listed on ongait.com and will be sold
via the internet auction system on Sunday January 25th.
Pedigrees, photos and particulars about the remaining
gaited and going 2-year-olds can be found at the Sunshine
Select sale website or of course the On Gait website.
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 1/23/15
stretch. These don't cause placing's because things
happen in a horse race with 1,000 pound animals pulling
sulkies, or having a 120-pound man or woman on their
backs, and most of them have no bearing on the placing's.
They're only called when they are blatant and obvious.
I guess the biggest example of that this season was the
$5 million Breeders' Cup Classic, televised on NBC. At the
beginning of that mile-and-a-quarter race, eventual winner
Bayern broke inwards at the start, bothering race favorite
Shared Belief. Was that interference so bad and malicious
that it changed the race finish? Was Shared Belief so
bothered that he lost all chance to hit the board? After
review, there was no change. The stewards said they
could not tell for sure if it affected the outcome, and
Shared Belief had the entire race to make a move to
improve his position, which he never did.
Probably half the people who watch that race agree, the
other half don't. But the stews never bowed to pressure.
They kept to racing's judging mantra: Unless we are sure,
we have to let the athletes decide a five million dollar race.
Compare that to the NFL call from the Green Bay-Dallas
game. Half the people believe the receiver was making a
football move, half don't, but the officials changed the
result. They did not let the players on the field decide.
In harness racing - as much as we get upset with judges
- when a horse in the stretch is bothered, but the horse is
losing ground and unable to keep pace with any closer or
the leaders, there is no placing even though a rule was
broken. Meanwhile, if a horse is charging hard on the
outside, decelerating slower than the lead horse and he or
she suddenly stops because of interference, it's an
autopitch. In another case, if two horses are slugging it out
and there is some movement, but the judges can't tell for
sure that the outcome is altered, judgments are left with the
participants on the track, and the result stands.
There are some people who do not like this form of
judging, but to me, the alternatives are much worse. We as
horse owners or bettors do not want judges to use a crystal
ball, to try and surmise what might've happened. We don't
want them to say "well, the horse was bothered by the six at
the eighth pole and might've lost three feet, so since he lost
by two feet to the offender, we have to place him." Tic tacs
are mints, not something to decide horse races, and we
don't want inquiries lasting ten minutes every second race.
In turn, we certainly don't want a free for all on the track,
where drivers can commit dangerous moves, endangering
our equine and human athletes, where the judges let
everything go, to decide things on the track. This bar is set
just about right.
Sure horse racing has plenty of controversy when making
rulings that are not so cut and dry. Remember the slow
quarter incident at the Red Mile two years ago, for example.
You will simply have that with tens of thousands of horse
races, with horses and humans pacing or trotting around in
a circle at more than 30 miles per hour. Things are going to
happen.
The NFL is a marvelous league with a tremendous
history. Its revenues are at an all-time high, it is proactive
and has made good move after good move to grow the
game. It usually makes horse racing look like it lives in the
business dark ages. However, in this one instance - judging
- they should've looked to this sport; the sport of horse
racing. If they're not 110% sure about a play and have to
think, they need to let the participants decide an outcome,
not a fellow in a replay booth watching a video. That's what
racing does, and it's the right way to go.
Maybe we have to give the NFL a break. Racing has been
dealing with these questions for a century, they're only just
learning.
Race 7, B-2 Trot
UPFRONT BILLY drops out of the top conditions where he
nearly won one more than one occasion at big odds and
lands the inside to boot. You don’t always know what Billy
you’re going to get but his best would be good enough;
including even though the price will be shorter than I’d like.
WELL BUILT steps up off a career best win and I suspect
there’s even more in the tank; this one’s always had
potential and a repeat win isn’t out of the question.
MODEST PRINCE was left with little chance in both of his
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 1/23/15
last two races and I suspect the driver will get him more
involved early on the drop. STRUCK BY LINDY was just
4/1 a couple back in a race won by Team Six but then
didn’t offer much last out; a bit puzzling.
CASHONTHEROCS popped in 1:53:2 right off the
qualifier; O’Sullivan import is intriguing. CLEMENTINE
DREAM was a winner at this level two back although this
group looks tougher than the one from a month ago.
Race 8, C-1 F&M Pace
CUT A DEAL was used hard last out when she was parked
past an opening quarter of :26:4 and was spent through
the :54:4 half. Two back she was involved in a race with
Jerseylicious and now lands the rail in her second try in a
C-1; looks like Brett Miller will get the call for Burke while
Gingras is in Paris. CLORIS HANOVER was first over
against better two back and it looked like she encountered
some traffic issues last out in the stretch; Trace Tetrick has
been driving well here over the last couple weeks. MARTY
PARTY makes her first start since November and has to
be the lowest level she’s ever seen here; classy mare has
to be better than that recent qualifier shows but may need
one. FOUR STARZ ROE has back class and steps up off
the bottom level group; RHAPSODY ROSE N throws in a
good one every now and then at this level.
Race 9, C-1 Trot
PHOTOSAVVY takes a rather sizable drop when we
consider what he was up against in his race here two
weeks ago. The winner of that race came back next out to
shock the A-1 types at 50/1 and this one came back to
win as the even money favorite at Yonkers. He seems fast
enough on paper and is just as good as any. MARION
MAYFLOWER was one that I liked last out and she almost
lasted; only lost to a game horse that was pounded down
to favoritism off a 15/1 morning line and speed should be
coming again. ROLLS BLUE CHIP looks like he’s tailed
off but it’s still a dangerous barn and the rail; I wouldn’t be
too quick to disregard entirely. DREAMS OF THUNDER
comes off a game first over try and now takes another shot
against these C-1’s, SPLITSVILLE rallied willingly in his
most recent.
Race 10, C-2 Trot
KLM EXPRESS goes off at about 100/1 it seems like every
time he’s here but if he’s ever going to win one, this is the
spot. He only missed by three lengths a few races back to
Coffeecake Hanover and shows a number of other
superior foes on recent view; the post and drop to the
bottom make him dangerous. CHOCOHOLIC was a
winner at this level two back and now is fortunate to get
placed in this class again after just one try against the
C-1’s; third place finisher from his race two back already
came back to win. WORTH THE MONEY AS was
involved in a quick mile last out as the beaten favorite;
barn is 0 for 10 this winter though. OMNIPOTENT hasn’t
been the same horse since moving away from Burke and
CAPTAIN PRIMEAU gave chase last out to a heavily
backed winner; fires off the gate.
$18 ticket ($0.50 base): 1-3 / 1-5-9 / 4-5-8 / 1-3
$36 ticket ($0.50 base): 1-3-4 / 1-9 / 1-4-5-8 / 1-3-7
For TrackMaster past performances for the Meadowlands
Pick 4 click here. For all other pps go to
www.trackmaster.com
Thursday’s Results
10, DD, $25,000, P, DELAWARE Special, M, 25.4, 53.2,
1:21.4, 1:50.1, FT
Bandolito (h, 5, Ponder--Sody's Home Brew, by Matt's
Scooter) O-Daryl Scott Bier. B-Warren L & Joan B Harp.
T-Daryl Bier. D-Daryl Bier, $12,500, Lifetime Record:
32-15-3-3, $287,585
To view replay click here
Thursday’s Results
9, Mea, $20,000, P, *W/O $10,000 LIFE/PREFERRED
HANDICAP* P.P.1-4 DRAWN; 5-7 DRAWN; 8 ASSIGNED,
27.4, 57.1, 1:25.2, 1:53.4, SY
Visible Gold (g, 7, Bettor's Delight--Gabrielle, by
Dragon's Lair), $65,000 2009 SHS-HBG O-Burke Racing
Stable LLC & Weaver Bruscemi LLC & Rtc Stables Inc.
B-Fair Winds Farm Inc. T-Ron Burke. D-Dave Palone,
$10,000, Lifetime Record: 88-28-18-10, $383,944
To view replay click here
Monday’s Results
2 Wdb, $34,000, Trot. Preferred. 27.4, 57, 1:25.2, 1:53.4
FT
Charmed Life (m,5 - Majestic Son-Christina M-Muscles
Yankee) O-Menary Racing Inc, Brad D Gray, Michael A
Guerriero. B-William Jones. T-Dave Menary. D-James
MacDonald, $17,000. Lifetime Record: 60-17-11-10,
$724,003
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