The arctic temperatures we've been experiencing on the East Coast have wreaked havoc with the racing schedule. While many evening programs were forced into cancellation, the weather has also put a damper on the progress of horses making their way back to the races in 2026. For trainer Brett Pelling, who has a stable with a large majority of freshmen preparing for a first season on the track, the conditions have slowed the progress of some. "Diamond Creek Racing sent me 11 babies (2-year-olds) in January," said Pelling, "They came at almost the exact time that the weather changed." So, horses that needed to be broken and taken the first steps to getting on the racetrack, had to first adapt to the change in scenery and then have only minimal time going through the first paces. "It's a nice group with a many of them by Downbytheseaside," said Pelling, optimistic about the group. "The tough part is staking them." With the February 15 deadline for nominating and sustaining to some major races Pelling appeared overcautious in his assessment. "You don't want to put any added pressure on these horses as 2-year-olds."  With the group eligible to races in Kentucky later this year, Pelling is hoping the loss in time this winter will still give the 11 a chance to race regionally at least. The 20 other babies Pelling is conditioning have been going for much longer, and the trainer is more than happy with what he has seen to date. "It's a much more diverse group of horses this year," said Pelling. "We had a lot of Papi Rob's (Hanover) over the last couple of years, but that's not the case this year."  Most notable in the diversity are three from the first crop of Pebble Beach. "There are a lot of people that shy away from first-crop sires," Pelling said. "I'm more willing to take the chance versus other sires that have already established themselves." Pelling seemed rather enthusiastic about a pair of colts by Pebble Beach that fell into his price range at last year's auctions. "I like a colt out of Agent Q," Pelling said while referring to Vandros, a $97,000 Lexington Selected purchase last fall that has done everything right to date. Pelling is hopeful that Pebble Beach, who stood his first year of stallion duty in Kentucky will pass along the traits of the Somebeachsomewhere line. Vandros is just the third foal from Agent Q, a $1.2 million winner on the racetrack the captured the 2017 Mistletoe Shalee at the Meadowlands in a lifetime-best 1:48 4/5 clocking. "I have another colt out of Square Dancer and he's a brother to that nice horse Noel (Daley) had Signal Caller," Pelling said. August National was a $200,000 yearling purchased at Harrisburg last fall, and while that may seem like strong money for a first-crop sire, the dam is a 100 percent producer from her first five foals, with Signal Caller her fastest with a 1:48 4/5 mark. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter In addition to the Pebble Beach contingent Pelling is pleased with the depth of his freshmen, with three by Captaintreacherous, three by Papi Rob Hanover and three by the top sire Sweet Lou. The Captaintreacherous-sired Carminia Hanover, a $115,000 Harrisburg buy, hasn't trained very fast but already looks to have standout qualities. "She's got the demeanor of a 3-year-old," Pelling said. "There's a Papi Rob Hanover colt that David McDuffee has that's the first foal from Sweet Rodeo Drive," Pelling said among the ones he has high regard for. Papito is out of a half-sister to Rocket Deo, as well as millionaire Rocknificent. With 2-year-olds more than a few months away from getting to an actual racetrack Pelling is poised to get some of his stock to the track. "I've got five in to qualify Wednesday (February 18) at Pocono," Pelling said while noting that due to the adverse weather in January he had lost some time and didn't have conditions that allowed him to train horses overly fast for their debuts.  "They are a group that I liked last year but didn't get to the races," Pelling said of the quintet. Another Captaintreacherous-sired female will be heading to the track in short order, with the now 5-year-old Rocket Deo ready for action. "We're getting her prepped for the series at Yonkers," said Pelling of Rocket Deo, a three-leg winner in last year's Blue Chip Matchmaker Series at Yonkers that wound up fourth in the final.  The race has been re-named this year in honor of Ursula McIntyre, the longtime race office secretary for retired race secretary Steve Starr. Rocket Deo is expected to qualify for the first time on Saturday (February 21) at the Meadowlands with the McIntyre opening leg at Yonkers slated for March 27. The McIntyre and MGM Borgata series will run into May, with both having $200,000 added finals on May 8. Pelling has a pair of 4-year-old pacers that will be heading to Oak Grove when the Kentucky Sire stakes kicks off on April 27. The mare Three Times Bettor has always been a favorite of Pelling, and he feels the best is yet to come for the daughter of Bettor's Delight. "I thought she was one of the better fillies in the country towards the end of the year," said Pelling of Three Times Bettor, who won her last four races of the year, including a Kentucky Sire Stakes final at Cumberland Run in a career-best 1:50 mile. There is plenty of reason to believe that Fusion, the son of Always B Miki and champion Pure Country, could be in for a big year as a 4-year-old given some of the efforts he put forth late in the 2025 season. Fusion won the Bluegrass at The Red Mile and then recovered from a break and nearly won the Tattersalls a week later in a race timed in 1:48 1/5. If he matures with age as well as his celebrated parents, the sky is the limit for Fusion.