Harness: Ranking the top 3-year-old pacers for 2021
The calendar has turned to March and spring is just a couple of weeks away. The seasonal change is a reminder that we are nearing the return of last year's 2-year-old superstars.
Below we look at our preseason Top 10 from the pacing division. These are the colts, geldings and fillies which impressed us on the track with some combination of speed or determination that tends to produce winners.
Each horse is ranked and where available, comments from the trainers on current condition and future plans are included.
1 - PERFECT STING
Sire/Dam: Always B Miki / Shebestingin
Major wins: Breeders Crown (dead-heat); International Stallion Stakes; Bluegrass;
Kentucky Sire Stakes final
Best win time: 1:49 2/5 (Red Mile)
2020 record: 10-10-0-0 / $534,300
Trainer/Driver: Joe Holloway / David Miller
Owner: Brittany Farms LLC; Val D'Or Farms
Breeder: Brittany Farms LLC; Val D'Or Farms
It took a pair of dead-heats, but Perfect Sting made it through his 2020 campaign without a loss. Not only did he win every race, he showed impressive versatility by winning on and off the pace. It is impossible not to place him at the head of the class prior to seeing him race this year.
"Right now, we're looking to get him ready for May," said Holloway to DRF's Jay Bergman in early February. "I know the Meadowlands Pace in July and the Hempt in August (Pocono) are on the schedule.
"I'd say if all goes well, he'll start around 20 times this year."
Perfect Sting is eligible for all the top races, including the first major dance of 2021, the North America Cup at Woodbine Mohawk Park (eliminations June 12).
2 - SOUTHWIND GENDRY
Sire/Dam: Always B Miki / Gambler's Passion)
Top wins: Matron; Elevation; International Stallion Stakes; Bluegrass; PASS final
Best win time: 1:50 (Dover)
2020 record: 13-10-0-1 / $583,069
Trainer/Driver: Ron Burke / Yannick Gingras
Owner: Burke Racing Stable LLC; Phillip Collura; Knox Services INC; J&T Silva--Purnel & Libby
Breeder: Southwind Farms LLC
Gelding finished 2020 winning eight of nine starts, with a head loss in the Breeders Crown after being used to a 25 3/5 opening quarter his only defeat. With a nose for the wire and a willingness to take air on the rim, Southwind Gendry displayed all of the tools to be a superior 3-year-old if he progresses.
"He's very game and almost seems to have three lungs. He can stay in the middle of the track and keep coming," said trainer Ron Burke. "His gait has gotten a little better this year, not that it was a real problem last year. He was figuring it out by the end of last year and I think he's taken the next step, so maybe he'll be even more usable during the race."
Already a big colt as a 2-year-old according to Burke, Southwind Gendry didn't grow much. As with his others on the Top 10 list, he'll start out qualifying at The Meadowlands and focus on the big-track races. In addition to the North America Cup in June, he was supplemented to the Meadowlands Pace for $7,500.
3 - SUMMA CUM LAUDE
Sire/Dam: Somebeachsomewhere / Western Graduate
Top wins: Breeders Crown (dead-heat); Kindergarten Classic
Best win time: 1:50 2/5 (Hoosier)
2020 record: 15-5-5-1 / $482,275
Trainer/Driver: Ron Burke / Yannick Gingras, Dexter Dunn, Brian Sears
Owner: Burke Racing Stable LLC; Phillip Collura;
J&T Silva--Purnel & Libby; Weaver Bruscemi LLC
Breeder: Nick Surick Stable LLC; J L Benson Stables Inc.
It took a little while for this colt to find his best but once he did it was all systems go, reeling off an 8-4-3-1 record to close out 2020. He was second to Perfect Sting by just a head in that one's 1:49 4/5 win and charged home to dead-heat with that foe in the Crown. Most importantly, he was quite versatile showing wins on the lead and from behind.
"He's a big-track horse. He struggles around the turns. If you look at last year, all of his lines on a mile track were great," said trainer Ron Burke on why the light seemed to come on for Summa Cum Laude as the year progressed. "Hopefully he's grown out of it, but I honestly don't care if he hasn't. We can just start him at The Meadowlands, go to Canada and come back for the Meadowlands Pace.
"There's no reason he shouldn't get around the turns. His mother won the Jugette. His brother is one of the better Open horses at Yonkers the last couple of years. For some reason he just pulls himself up. He's not showing it to us right now, but we are training on a mile track so we wouldn't see it. When he hit the mile track we were able to take his hobbles way out and they are even further out now. He has really stepped up. I don't think he gives up anything to 'Gendry' or Perfect Sting. I think he can go with both of them."
4 - TEST OF FAITH
Sire/Dam: Art Major / Cannae Cammie
Top wins: Kentuckiana, Bluegrass, International Stallion Stakes;
New York Sire Stakes final
Best win time: 1:48 4/5 (Red Mile)
2020 record: 9-8-1-0 / $500,000
Trainer/Driver: Brett Pelling / David Miller, Jim Marohn Jr
Owner: Melvin Segal; Kentuckiana Racing Stable; Eddie Gran
Breeder: Frederick Hertrich III
Her 1:48 4/5 win at The Red Mile on October 9 was the fastest by any 2-year-old in 2020, male or female, and just one-fifth off the world record set by Warrawee Ubeaut set in 2018. Her quick acceleration and natural speed were evident and all that remains is whether she can build on those God-given attributes.
"She's had an extended rest and it has done her nothing but good," said trainer Brett Pelling. "Last year she was nice and leggy, perhaps on the finer side, but she has gone from looking like a 2-year-old to a 4-year-old. She looks great.
"She has the Reynolds at Yonkers on May 7 if I decide to go. Her first 'must' race is the (New York) Sire Stakes at Saratoga on June 2, then she has the Fan Hanover in Canada on June 12 and 19, and the Park MGM Pace on June 25 at Yonkers."
One race not on her schedule is the Mistletoe Shalee at The Meadowlands on July 17 due to a conflict with the New York Sire Stakes.
5 - AMERICAN COURAGE
Sire/Dam: American Ideal / Nota Fool Bluechip
Top wins: MGM Springfield
Best win time: 1:51 3/5 (Tioga)
2020 record: 8-7-0-0 / $180,258
Trainer/Driver: Travis Alexander / Matt Kakaley
Owner: Fiddler's Creek Stables LLC
Breeder: Fiddler's Creek Stables LLC
Colt lacks the Grand Circuit résumé of the others on this list due to a mystery illness which caused him to stop badly in the New York Sire Stakes final. There simply wasn't enough time to prepare him for the Metro the following week and he wasn't eligible to other stakes. Prior to the NYSS final he was perfect in seven career starts.
"They don't know what they are in for if he shows up," said trainer Travis Alexander.
With the New York Sire Stakes getting a late start of June 9 for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers, there could be a big gap on his stakes calendar after his expected first start in the May 7 Reynolds at Yonkers. After that he has the Somebeachsomewhere and North America Cup.
6 - ALWAYS A MIKI
Sire/Dam: Always B Miki / Beach Gal
Top wins: Governor's Cup
Best win time: 1:50 2/5 (Meadowlands)
2020 record: 13-5-1-4 / $331,261
Trainer/Driver: Nancy Takter / Dexter Dunn
Owner: Christina Takter; Goran Anderberg; Herb Liverman; Rojan Stables
Breeder: Sergent Stables LLC
Went by far his best race in his final start of the year when winning the Governor's Cup at The Meadowlands. He was one of those horses that loomed often while failing to deliver the knockout punch. The good news is that he has the needed speed and many times a winter off can change a horse's attitude.
"He didn't really grow any but has filled out nicely," said trainer Nancy Takter. "He's coming back nicely. We'll probably go to the PASS and then the North America Cup as long as he's good."
Leg one of the Sire Stakes is on May 1 at The Meadows and leg two is two weeks later at Pocono.
7 - CHARLIE MAY
Sire/Dam: McArdle / Stipple Hanover
Major wins: OHSS final; Ohio Breeders Championship
Best win time: 1:50 2/5 (Scioto)
2020 record: 9-7-2-0 / $328,627
Trainer/Driver: Steve Carter / Brett Miller, Dan Noble
Owner: Don R. Tiger
Breeder: Don R. Tiger
Charlie May will try to succeed where fellow Ohio-bred Elver Hanover failed in 2020 -- be a force on the Grand Circuit as a 3-year-old. His 1:50 2/5 win at Scioto says that he stacks up nicely in terms of speed and his owner/breeder is putting his money on the line.
"We are all in for 2021. He's in the North America Cup, (Meadowlands) Pace, Breeders Crown, Red Mile stakes and a bunch of things in between," said Don Tiger, who added that the gelding was doing "good" so far in preparation for his 2021 debut.
The schedule allows for a bid at becoming a two-time Ohio Sire Stakes champion as well. The first leg is on May 3 at Miami Valley.
8 - EXPLOIT
Sire/Dam: Somebeachsomewhere / Time On My Hands
Top wins: Metro
Best win time: 1:50 4/5 (Mohawk)
2020 record: 13-3-1-1 / $389,470
Trainer/Driver: Tony Alagna / Joe Bongiorno, Andrew McCarthy, Doug McNair
Owner: LeBlanc & Kribbs; Joe Sbrocco; In The Gym Partners; Joseph Barbera
Breeder: Michael Robinson; Robert Mondillo; Steve Cheatham; Steve Stewart
He won the second richest race of the year in his division (Metro), but that win came off cover. It took four more races for him to put in a strong mile (second in Governor's Cup) and again that was from a cover trip. The talent is there if he can learn to do the work in the mile and keep fighting.
"He's grown quite a bit and looks stronger and very athletic," said co-owner Joe Sbrocco. "He's staked to everything and has already trained down in 2:20. We (owners) are praying for the best as usual."
9 - LOU'S PEARLMAN
Sire/Dam: Sweet Lou / Lucy's Pearl
Major wins: Bluegrass
Best win time: 1:49 1/5 (Red Mile)
2020 record: 11-5-1-1 / $199,294
Trainer/Driver: Ron Burke / Matt Kakaley
Owner: Burke Racing Stable LLC; Weaver Bruscemi LLC; Elizabeth Novak; Howard Taylor
Breeder: Burke Racing Stable LLC; Weaver Bruscemi LLC; Elizabeth Novak
As the fastest 2-year-old colt pacer of 2020 he deserves automatic consideration for sophomore success. He did get a sweet setup with a 52 4/5 half on that afternoon at The Red Mile. Outside of the Breeders Crown elimination he never lost a race by more than three lengths. The question will be whether he adds a bit more stretch determination after his winter freshening.
"His first few starts were good. We thought he was our best colt, but he got sick, raced well at Lexington and just got in a bad spot in the Breeders Crown. He might have been the one who needed to grow and he did grow a bit. I have a lot of hope for that colt," said trainer Ron Burke, who hinted that while well-staked, he could be the horse he aims for smaller-track races like the Little Brown Jug and Adios.
10 - FIRE START HANOVER
Sire/Dam: Somebeachsomewhere / Fit To Frame
Major wins: Breeders Crown: Kindergarten final; Bluegrass;
International Stallion Stake
Best win time: 1:50 3/5 (Red Mile)
2020 record: 13-8-2-0 / $592,562
Trainer/Driver: Nifty Norman / Dexter Dunn
Owner: Pinske Stables; David Hoese; Lawrence Means
Breeder: Hanover Shoe Farms Inc.
She was the richest 2-year-old pacer of 2020 and took home divisional honors as top filly. With most of her races coming on the front, she proved capable of taking on pressure and fighting hard for victories. That type of grit will serve her well when the pace gets even faster and the competition even tougher in 2021.
"She's still in Florida," said trainer "Nifty" Norman. "I was down there a couple of weeks ago (mid-February) and she was just training back for the first time. She looked awesome. She filled out nicely.
"She'll probably come back north by the end of March. We are in no rush. The Fan Hanover is probably the first major stake for her."
OTHER BOYS ON THE RADAR
It always gets tricky beyond the top 10 because if you list 10 more horses, the 11th owner/trainer down the line will certainly call you on it later. We'll take that risk and throw out some additional colts and geldings to watch listed in no particular order.
Simon Says Hanover: Posted one of the fastest miles among colts in 2020 at 1:50 1/5.
JK Going West: Indiana champion.
Bulldog Hanover: Strong record, lifetime mark and is the Ontario champion.
Abuckabett Hanover: Was the division's leader at one point in the summer before losing his game.
Highlandbeachsbest: Put up a solid 1:50 2/5 line as a freshman.
Heart Of Chewbacca: Just behind Charlie May in Ohio and was never worse than second in seven starts.
Lunar: Fractured his leg at 2 and has yet to race. Qualified March 2 for Burke and he's staked to be good.
Chase H Hanover: Was right there with the top PA horses all year.
Lawless Shadow: Solid in Ontario and third in the Metro last year.
What's Your Beef: Plenty to prove but never missed the board in 10 Indiana starts.