Harness: Reliving the best racing of 2018

Another exciting season of stakes racing has come and gone, and with that said, let's take a look back at what I think were the best racing moments of the year. Hopefully you see your favorite, and if not, you see one you might have missed or liked too and remember fondly.

1. James M. Lynch Memorial (The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, June 30)

The best race of 2018 was the Lynch for 3-year-old pacing fillies. Kissin In The Sand and Youaremycandygirl battled tooth-and-nail through wicked fractions (26, 53 2/5 and 1:20 3/5), and in the lane it was Kissin In The Sand coming through with an amazing performance to win by a neck despite being parked the route from post nine.

"Watching the Lynch was the most surreal feeling ever," said Kissin In The Sand's trainer Nancy Johansson. "I knew she was coming into the race sharp, but when we drew the nine-hole it took a little air out of the excitement to go race her. Scott Zeron told me early in the week not to worry about the post; she would be fine. At 2 she didn’t really like a first-up trip, so when she was going to the half, I thought 'oh no this is not good, how am I ever going to pick the pieces up for the rest of the season?' When she kept going, never gave up, and won, I just felt thankful towards her. She raced her heart out for me that night and proved she would be a top filly."

2. Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Pace (The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, October 27)

If some was good, more was better, as this race turned into another ding-dong battle between Youaremycandygirl and a parked-out, post nine-hampered Kissin In The Sand. Youaremycandygirl gave Kissin In The Sand the cold shoulder again, leaving her out through panels of 25 4/5, 53 3/5 and 1:22 2/5 in the slop, and despite another incredibly game effort, Kissin In The Sand couldn't withstand the stretch surge of Percy Bluechip, who rode her cover to a 52-1 upset in 1:51 1/5.

"Watching the Breeders Crown unfold I was more mad than anything because she deserved to win the final and to be a Breeders Crown winner," recalled Johansson. "She fought her heart out in the pouring rain, it was late in the season, and after many tough race miles and miles on the road, she still never gave up. She just got beat by a filly that got the trip. Kissin raced her heart out every race this year. I take care of her too, so I have a real personal bond and connection with her. I really feel she gives a lot of herself on the track for me."

3. International Trot (Yonkers Raceway, October 13)

This year's rendition of the $1 million International Trot at Yonkers had a substantial amount of buzz around it all year, drawing a great field that included Elitoppet winner Ringostarr Treb and elim winner Lionel, and established North American stars such as Marion Marauder and Ariana G. The race lived up to the hype as well, with a first-over Lionel showing heart and determination to forge past Marion Marauder, only to be picked off by a surging 30-1 Cruzado Dela Noche (Brian Sears) in the final strides.

"The win in the International Trot with Cruzado Dela Noche was like sinking a 40-foot putt in golf," remarked winning owner Anders Ström of Courant AB. "We planned it meticulously to manage the trans-Atlantic trip, quarantine, and to put the horse in shape for the race. It was a great team effort by everyone involved. After the race day warm-up Sabine Kagebrandt – Courant’s racing manager, who actually still grooms this one horse whenever she can – made the decision to change from his regular knee tapes to normal knee boots on top in order for him to manage the turns better. Brian drove a perfect race, even if the last half-mile had to be wide, and the horse responded with great will and strength to get up in time.

“Now, I hope we get a chance to do it again next year. Cruzado Dela Noche is still in the USA, training for the 2019 season."

4. Little Brown Jug (Delaware County Fair, September 20)

The 2018 Little Brown Jug was eventful, to say the least. You had Courtly Choice breaking stride in his elimination as the 1-2 favorite, but collecting himself and then making the final. You had potential Triple Crown winner Stay Hungry winning that elim but being disqualified for a pylon violation. Finally, you had Lather Up bouncing back from breaking issues in prior races to win his elimination with authority, making him the public’s choice in the final. When the dust settled that evening, Courtly Choice was the champion, rebounding from his break by winning the final from first-over in 1:49 4/5.

“Down the backside when he was first-up, I thought ‘geez I don’t think we have a shot,’ but he showed his heart and determination to win that race. It was just unreal,” said trainer Blake MacIntosh.

The Jug also featured driver David Miller “calling his shot” after winning the Miss Versatility final with Broadway Donna by predicting that Courtly Choice would take the final.

“I didn’t have a clue (about Miller’s guarantee) until someone told me he said that, but I had confidence after the elim,” stated MacIntosh. “Once he made the final I just relaxed, and I guess he felt the same. The horse doesn’t get very excited very often, but it was like he was mad he made the break and he wanted to go again. As soon as we put the harness on him, he was ready to go, you could just tell. I had as much confidence as David did that at that point.”

5. Weekend of Speed at The Red Mile (October 5-7)

If you like quick miles, the Friday-Sunday period of closing week at the Red Mile was something likely not seen in harness racing history prior. Over that three-day period we saw the fastest mile ever by a trotter (1:48 4/5 by Homicide Hunter), the world record for a 2-year-old pacer (1:48 3/5 by Warrawee Ubeaut), Six Pack lowering the standard for a sophomore male trotter (1:49 1/5 in the Kentucky Futurity final), the world record for a 3-year-old filly trotter of 1:49 4/5 tied twice (Impinktoo and Plunge Blue Chip) and McWicked defeating a rallying Lazarus in a 1:46 2/5 mile in the Allerage Open Pace, the second fastest race mile ever,.

“He was awesome that day and all year long,” said McWicked’s trainer Casie Coleman. “He got an excellent trip that day and when Brian called upon him, he was up to the task of an unreal mile.”

A couple of honorable mentions right below the top five were the Hambletonian final won by Atlanta and the Del Miller duel between Plunge Blue Chip and Manchego, taken by the former by a nose in 1:49 4/5.

One other race that hasn’t happened yet that I’d like to mention is Foiled Again’s final career appearance which will occur on December 31 at The Meadows. No horse has been a better representative of what a Standardbred and what harness racing is in recent times, and although I’m sure we’ll see him lead post parades and in appearances around tracks, his presence on the oval will be missed greatly.

In closing, I’d like to thank everyone who visited DRF Harness through the year to read our articles and thank all of the horses, breeders, owners, trainers, drivers, grooms, bettors, and everyone connected with the industry for another wonderful year. Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, and see you in 2019 for more!