Harness: Norman stable hopeful for encore performance in 2022

It's been a spectacular year for trainer Richard "Nifty" Norman and his crew. With 2021 earnings above $5.9 million for the stable, Norman's star has risen, as have the Standardbred stars under his care. With 136 wins to date, the trainer has had a career year, and there is every indication the stable could exceed these totals in 2022. With 39 yearlings to condition and a host of championship-caliber stock returning as 3-year-olds and aged horses, Norman and company are poised for an encore performance.

There were many more highs than lows for Norman this year, with Mohawk Million winner Venerable becoming just the third juvenile trotting filly in the sport's history to exceed the $1 million plateau in seasonal earnings. The filly by first-crop sensation Walner started the year with dominant performances in New Jersey Sire Stakes action and continued with epic efforts in the Peaceful Way at Woodbine Mohawk Park, as well as the Matron in late autumn at Dover Downs. Though she was defeated in her last start (Goldsmith Maid), her trainer couldn't have been prouder of her.

"She raced from the beginning of the year to the end. She was solid in her last start and just got beat by a great filly [Joviality S] with a better trip," said Norman of just the second loss in the brilliant filly's career.

While it may have been a long year for Venerable, Norman has learned something about the breed and the management of young trotters that will be sure to benefit him in years to come.

"You don't have to train them much in-between starts," Norman said. "They are fit and you can point them towards specific races without prep races. If you look at her races this year, there were no overnights."

Venerable raced and defeated male competition in the Mohawk Million, but it's too early to say whether she will look to do the same in 2022. From Norman's perspective, the brilliant lass showed her true character in the seven-figure event.

"She was absolutely brilliant in the Peaceful Way elimination and final," said Norman. "She wasn't at her best the night of the Mohawk Million, but she gutted it out."

Venerable ended her magnificent season with nine wins in 11 starts. Her season begged the question if she's the best 2-year-old filly Norman has ever had?

"I would say Poof She's Gone had a very similar 2-year-old season," said Norman of the Kadabra-sired filly from the class of 2009. "She also earned over $1 million and won the Merrie Annabelle early and the Breeders Crown late in the year."

Poof She's Gone won 10 of her 12 races as a juvenile that included the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold championship as well.

Hambletonian Oaks and Breeders Crown champion Bella Bellini will return to race as a 4-year-old, something that seemed unlikely after she captured the Crown. A decision to accept an invitation to the TVG Mares Trot looked like a bad move at first but turned out well for Norman.

"When she drew the eight-hole it looked like a big mistake," said Norman of Bella Bellini's last race of the year. "She was third-over and Ramona Hill wasn't keeping up. I think if she was second-over she may have actually won the race."

Bella Bellini finished third to When Dovescry and Atlanta, something not lost on the trainer.

"She showed she can go with those horses. [Owner] Dave [McDuffee] likes to see them race. It was a tough decision because she could sell a foal by Walner for a lot of money," said Norman.

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Bella Bellini came from obscurity as a 2-year-old in 2020 to be the standout 3-year-old trotting filly this year, and Norman is excited about her prospects to continue to improve her game. The daughter of Bar Hopping, after going winless as a freshman, was first or second in 17 of her 19 starts this year.

Trotting fillies appear to be a specialty with Norman and his staff, and he's got a pair of coming 3-year-olds that may not have earned in the neighborhood of Venerable this year but could provide some thrills in 2022.

"I expect Delilah Hanover to be a bigger and stronger horse next year," said Norman.

Delilah Hanover, a daughter of Muscle Hill that sold for $440,000 as a yearling, is a half-sister to the 2019 Jim Doherty Memorial winner Darlene Hanover. Delilah Hanover earned $150K in her first year on the track and was a solid-closing third behind Venerable in this year's Doherty Memorial.

The depth in this division is obvious given Lilbitalexis, a 1:52 2/5 winner this year with multiple Grand Circuit wins, could be third-best just in the Norman stable when the Walner-sired lass returns for her 3-year-old campaign.

On the pacing side, Norman reflected on the standout season his sophomore pacing fillies enjoyed and looked forward to the 4-year-old campaign of 2020 Breeders Crown champion Fire Start Hanover.

"I thought the race she put in winning the Fan Hanover was incredible," said Norman. In the Fan Hanover Fire Start Hanover and driver Dexter Dunn found themselves in the unenviable position of coming from well off-the-pace while odds-on favorite Hot Mess Express and driver Andrew McCarthy held the lead at the halfway mark. Fire Start Hanover marched a long way without cover, then went eye-to-eye with Hot Mess Express, and wore that brilliant filly down in the shadow of the wire.

In addition to defeating Hot Mess Express, Fire Start Hanover would be one of only two fillies to defeat Test Of Faith, getting the better of that filly in the Gears at the Meadowlands with a 1:49 mile on July 31. Given her speed and heart, Fire Start Hanover should be among the elite pacing mares in 2022 for Norman.

Norman also picked up Matron Stakes champion Joyride Hanover in September and is looking forward to a full season in his stable for the American Ideal-sired filly.

While racing fans tend to forget horses when they don't show up in major races, it's hard not to wonder what happened to the likes of Bee Forever, the 2020 Valley Victory champion that had an abbreviated campaign as a sophomore this year.

"He got sore behind," said Norman, who indicated that the royally-bred gelding by Muscle Hill, out of his champion Bee A Magician, had bone conditions that only rest could resolve. "He's back training now, and he's a lot better."

Norman seemed eager for the next few months.

"I look forward to training the babies," Norman said. "It's good for the entire crew that we slow down and there isn't much traveling."

There will still be racehorses to condition, but Norman hopes the numbers can be reduced despite the demands for his services.