Greeley and Ben looks to continue his roll in 2022
The connections of Greeley and Ben might have been disappointed to see 2021 end. After all, they had an unforgettable year with the $10,000 claim who went 11 for 15.
But the new year holds promise, too. Greeley and Ben launches his 2022 campaign in the $75,000 Sam’s Town at Delta Downs, and with a win would go over $500,000 in career earnings.
The Sam’s Town is a five-furlong race for 4-year-olds and up. It drew a field of seven, including Mighty Mischief, winner of last year’s Grade 3 Chick Lang at Pimlico.
Greeley and Ben was claimed by End Zone Athletics and trainer Karl Broberg last March. He put nine straight wins together from April through September, and the streak was punctuated by his first stakes victory in the $150,000 David M. Vance at Remington Park. Greeley and Ben has made once start since the score, finishing second in the Thanksgiving Stakes on Nov. 25 at Fair Grounds.
Greeley and Ben closed 2021 as one of the winningest horses in North America. His 11 victories was tied for second with Sevier. Both finished behind Shinny, who went 12 for 14, according to the list of leading horses by wins kept by Equibase.
Greeley and Ben won races last year at Oaklawn and Prairie Meadows in addition to Remington Park. He will be making his first start at Delta and worked at the Vinton, La., track on Dec. 28. Greeley and Ben went three furlongs from the gate in 37 seconds. He will add blinkers for the Sam’s Town, and the equipment move is a high-percentage one for Broberg, according to Daily Racing Form statistics.
Greeley and Ben, who is now 8, will break from post 5 under Tim Thornton. The horse has speed and could either show the way or potentially track Wild Bert, Emerald Forest, or Slither.
Mighty Mischief also has speed, and he worked a sharp five furlongs over a good track in 1:00.60 on Dec. 6 at Oaklawn. Mighty Mischief led throughout when he won last year’s Chick Lang. It capped a three-race win streak and in those starts he led at every point of call. Joel Dominguez has the mount from post 7. Mighty Mischief is a son of Into Mischief who races for his breeders, Bill and Corrine Heiligbrodt, and is trained by Steve Asmussen.
Emerald Forest has earned a series of Beyer Speed Figures that rival the numbers put up by Greeley and Ben. Emerald Forest earned a 96 for a two-other-than allowance win in July at Louisiana Downs. He rolled by more than 10 lengths while covering seven furlongs in a sharp 1:21. One start later, Emerald Forest earned a Beyer of 93 for an allowance win at the same distance at Evangeline Downs. Shane Wilson trains the son of Gemologist for Wayne T. Davis, who won the owner title last meet at Louisiana Downs.