Harness: Johansson stable in a prime position for 2019

With her Hall of Fame dad Jimmy Takter now retired, the workload has intensified for Nancy Johansson. With 47-head to take care of, Johansson has been spending more time on the training track this winter. Assisted by a solid staff, she’s putting the finishing touches on a slew of stakes and world-class performers.

Asked to choose among the list of elite equine athletes, Johansson was quick to deflect. “”I’ve got a lot of horses that I would put up there,” Johansson said.

Among the group is returning juvenile champion Captain Crunch. From the electrifying first crop of Captaintreacherous, Captain Crunch has matured over the winter. “He was a big horse to start with,” Johansson said. “He’s filled out. He’s always had a great attitude and that makes my job a lot easier.”

Captain Crunch has trained a mile in 1:57 and should be putting the finishing preparation miles in place over the next few weeks with a mid-April qualifying return at The Meadowlands.

Not far behind Captain Crunch is another sophomore pacing colt that Johansson picked up from her dad, that being the Sweet Lou product Blood Money, a winner in last year’s Matron Stakes. “He’s really matured a lot from 2 to 3,” said Johansson. Blood Money closed out his juvenile campaign with a third-place finish behind Captain Crunch in the Governor’s Cup at The Meadowlands.

“We’ve nominated him for the Rooney at Yonkers,” said Johansson, obviously pointing towards the early season half-mile track encounter.

A pair of 4-year-old mares makes the top-in-class list and Kissin In The Sand is a mare that is nearly ready for battle. “We’ve been in 1:58 with her,” Johansson said. “I’m very happy with her. She’s getting smarter every year.”

It will be hard for Kissin In The Sand to improve on her sensational sophomore season that led to a Dan Patch trophy but Johansson is keenly optimistic. “You know you always worry when they have to make the transition to race against older mares at 4,” Johansson said. “I think with her given all of those tough trips she had to race in as a sophomore, it might actually get a little easier with spots for her on the inside.”

Johansson’s suggestion that it might get easier is a direct reference to Kissin In the Sand’s iconic efforts winning the Lynch parked the mile at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono then getting the exact same trip in the Breeders Crown only to be outkicked but not diminished with a place finish.

Joining the stable this year and perhaps setting up a twisted rematch of sorts will be Manchego. The brilliant daughter of Cantab Hall has been a welcome addition and she’s coming along well towards a return for the Graduate Series. “I think she had a very tough schedule and may have worn down a little last year,” said Johansson. “Thus far I’m very happy with her and the good thing is she’s going straight right now.” Manchego has been known to run out a bit with her head cocked during the race but Johansson doesn’t see any issues. “It could be something with the family. I noticed her brother In Secret does it too.”

It’s still early in the game but the fact that bitter rivals Atlanta and Manchego have changed stables for 2018 to 2019 puts an interesting twist on their relationship. With Atlanta leaving the Rick Zeron stable and Ron Burke picking up the chores, the likelihood that Burke’s top catch-driver Yannick Gingras could steer Atlanta this year is considerable. On the other side, Scott Zeron, who drove Atlanta for his dad to Hambletonian victory, may get the assignment behind Manchego. “He does drive two of my best horses,” said Johansson about Zeron, while indicating it’s far too early to begin thinking about that.

Jim Doherty Memorial and Peaceful Way champion The Ice Dutchess has been given extremely high marks by Johansson, who expects the daughter of Muscle Hill to be ready to qualify in three or four weeks. A long campaign as well as post eight in the Breeders Crown saw her season come to a disappointing end but she is training back impressively.

Peter Haughton Memorial winner Don’t Let Em never came close to that August 1:51 4/5 victory on Hambletonian Day the rest of the season. Now entrusted to Johansson, he’s gearing up for what could be a major sophomore season according to the trainer, whose father was standing close by. “He’s going back to Florida tomorrow,” said Johansson.

For some trainers March is way too early to begin talking about freshman trainees but Johansson has had good fortune in the past recognizing talent around this time. “I think when you get down to 2:15 to 2:20 you can begin to tell the exceptional ones. Some struggle but the top ones do it easily,” Johansson said.

Tall Dark Stranger could be a name people start hearing come stakes season. The $330,000 purchase is a son of Bettor’s Delight from the $800K winner Precocious Beauty. “He’s really from a great family. He’s related to the two fillies (Gregg) McNair raced last year (Three Diamonds winner Prescient Beauty and this colt’s half-sister Beautyonthebeach) and he’s in the same family as Sportswriter,” Johansson said, outlining a rich pedigree.

Johansson rose to fame behind the 2014 Harness Horse of the Year J K She’salady and she’s excited about a pair of juvenile filly prospects with a direct link to that fantastic filly. “She’s like a carbon copy,” Johansson said of J K First Lady, the Western Ideal-sired first foal of J K She’salady. Then there is J K Lady Love, a full sister to J K She’salady who turns out to not be a homebred. “They sold the mare,” Johansson said of Presidential Lady. “So we went back and bought this filly.”

For $102K J K Lady Love could be the real deal.

Rounding out a solid group of youngsters is Selena G, a full sister to Ariana G named for the singer Selena Gomez. “She’s a very talented filly that’s a bit tougher than Ariana G was,” said Johansson.

Last year was the Johansson stables’ best with more than $2.3 million earned. With the firepower at her disposal in 2019 she could be passing that mark before the end of summer.