Mid-December is here, and that means another season of harness racing stakes action has come and gone. That also means it's time to take a look back at some of the best races and moments of 2023. Picking the top moment is certainly subjective, so I've lined them up in chronological order and will leave the decision to you. Hellabalou surprises in MGM Borgata Pacing Series final One of two big finals on April 24 at MGM Yonkers Raceway, the $511,000 MGM Borgata Pacing Series final saw 47-1 shot Hellabalou convert a pocket trip behind former champion This Is The Plan into a 1:50 3/5 win for driver Joe Bongiorno and trainer Ron Burke, holding a charging Leonidas A and Austin Siegelman off at the wire and kicking off the season in upset fashion. Venerate victorious in Cutler Memorial Raced over a sloppy track on May 20 at the Meadowlands, this year's $155,200 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial for older trotters saw lead changes between Hillexotic, Rattle My Cage and It's Academic during the first five-eighths of the mile, but Venerate, making his first start of the year and his initial appearance out of Marcus Melander's barn, wore down It's Academic from first-over in the lane and pulled clear to triumph in 1:50 1/5 for driver Brian Sears. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! In Battle Of Lake Erie A pitched battle on the front-end between Leonidas A and Little Rocket Man in the $200,000 Battle Of Lake Erie for older pacers on June 10 at MGM Northfield Park paved the way for the closers to take over in the stretch, and it would be former Australian Horse of the Year Lochinvar Art coming fastest to win by a length-and-a-half in 1:50. It was also the biggest win here in the U.S. for Australian driver Lauren Tritton. North America Cup Night delivers The C$1 million Pepsi North America Cup for 3-year-old male pacers on June 17 at Woodbine Mohawk Park saw It's My Show fend off fellow Linda Toscano trainee Fulton on the front-end and get to the wire just before a flying Confederate in 1:47 4/5, kicking off the season for the "glamour boy" division in a rousing way. One of the undercard races also deserves a mention, as the C$250,000 Goodtimes Stakes final for sophomore colt and gelding trotters saw a pitched stretch duel between leader Gaines Hanover and a first-over Southwind Coors. At the wire Southwind Coors poked his nose in front of the defending Breeders Crown champion, tallying a nose victory in 1:52. Scott Zeron was the winning driver in both events, setting the stage for his sensational campaign in the bike. Sylvia Hanover, ‘Charlie' star on Meadowlands Pace undercard While the Meadowlands Pace turned in a blowout by Confederate, two of the supporting stakes events on July 15 at the Meadowlands were barn-burners. Sylvia Hanover, as she did throughout 2023, overcame a parked-out journey and a late rally by Twin B Joe Fresh to win the $169,000 Mistletoe Shalee for 3-year-old pacing fillies by a half-length in 1:48 4/5 for driver Bob McClure and trainer Mark Steacy, and Charlie May, who was disqualified out of the win in the Meadowlands Pace in 2021, got a measure of revenge by rallying in the lane to take the $444,000 William R. Haughton Memorial for older pacers in 1:47 1/5 for David Miller and Steve Carter. Charlie May overcame post nine to get the victory at odds of 31-1. High marks for It's Academic in Spirit Of Mass, Cashman I've grouped these two together as, while they were at different venues, they occurred close together. In the $250,000 Spirit Of Massachusetts for older trotters on July 23 at Plainridge, It's Academic never saw the rail from post eight and lost his cover past the half, but despite the arduous journey, he hit top gear in mid-stretch and got by Rattle My Cage and Asteroid to win in 1:51 4/5 in a giant effort. Fast-forward to August 5 at the Meadowlands in the $278,000 John Cashman Memorial, and again It's Academic started from the far outside, but this time he was near the back of the pack and on dull cover fourth-over on the final turn. Nevertheless, a 26 3/5 final quarter propelled It's Academic to another major victory, as he vaulted past fellow closer Venerate to get the nod by a nose in 1:51 2/5. David Miller was in the bike for both wins behind the Ron Burke trainee. Post 10 no problem for Heaven Hanover, Tactical Approach Speaking of Hambletonian Day and outside posts, both Heaven Hanover and Tactical Approach overcame the 10-hole to win the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks and $1 million Hambletonian, respectively. Heaven Hanover charged from fourth-over on the last turn to score by a neck in 1:50 3/5 for Tim Tetrick and Marcus Melander, while Tactical Approach saved ground all the way and wound up a one length victor in 1:50 3/5 for Scott Zeron and Nancy Takter. "The Hambletonian was an interesting race because things just kept opening up on the rail as Tactical Approach and Scott quite literally took the shortest way around the track," recalled Takter. Ponda Warrior defends home turf in Dan Patch Stakes Locally-based Ponda Warrior, making just his second pari-mutuel appearance of the year and starting from post 11, was eighth with just a quarter to go, but he got fractions to chase through the mile and then catapulted home in a scintillating 25 4/5 final panel to get up and win August 11th's $310,000 Dan Patch Stakes for older pacers at Harrah's Hoosier Park. Kyle Wilfong steered Ponda Warrior to the 1:48 4/5 tally for trainer Jay Hochstetler. "I really didn't have high hopes in terms of winning before the race. I didn't know if he would be fit enough in his second start to beat that field, especially with the 11-hole, where I thought we would likely be sixth at best at the half," Hochstetler said. "As it turned out, our position was perfect, which is a big testament to the job Kyle did. This horse absolutely loves to chase people down in the stretch, and the fractions were honest enough that he had the opportunity to show why I've been so high on this horse's ability since he started training. The last quarter and aftermath of the race was a blur for me in the moment, which is probably why I've had to watch dozens of times since then to relive it." Covered Bridge chases down stablemate in Gold Cup & Saucer Covered Bridge was the favorite in the C$100,000 Gold Cup & Saucer for older pacers at Charlottetown Driving Park on August 19, but he got in tight quarters trying to get off the rail in the third quarter, which allowed fellow Jeff Gillis trainee Funatthebeach N to get the jump on him. Covered Bridge wouldn't be denied, though, as he got by Funatthebeach N in the stretch to prevail by a length in 1:50 3/5. Winning driver Jordan Stratton recalled that not just the race, but the event as a whole, left a lasting impression on him. "I can't say enough good things about my experience. The hospitality started as soon as I landed and had a conversation with the cab driver, who didn't know much about horse racing but knew plenty about the Gold Cup and Saucer. Growing up in Ohio, I have seen many people chaining their seats to the fence preparing for Jug Day, but this was on a whole different level," Stratton offered. "Every house we drove by in town was having a Gold Cup barbecue, and every horse person I interacted with went out of their way to ask if I needed anything or to guide me when I was lost. I could not believe it; every time I looked at the fairgrounds entry, people were filing in. It was almost midnight! "I normally don't get too nervous before a race, but when the lights turned out and the music was playing during the post parade, the weight of the race was starting to get to me. After the victory, the horse was taking it in more than I was. The whole time his ears were straight forward in awe. We could have stayed with fans all night. Neither of us were concerned with the winner's circle, we were right where we needed to be. I tell everyone they need to experience that race in person. The Delaney Memorial in Ireland is the only experience I have had so far that comes close to the Gold Cup and Saucer." ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter Special Way game in return to action After missing some time following the New Jersey Sire Stakes final, Special Way hit the track on September 4 in an $80,000 leg of the Kentucky Championship Series for 3-year-old trotting fillies at The Red Mile. She worked her way to the lead before the half, then dug down deeply to hold off bids by Mambacita, Walner Payton and Mommamia Volo to prevail by a neck in 1:51 2/5 for trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt. This group of sophomore trotting fillies in the Kentucky Championship Series also had an excellent race in their $400,000 final on September 17 in Lexington as Special Way and Mambacita hooked up in a duel, paving the way for Mommamia Volo to rally off cover to a 1:50 win for Todd McCarthy and Carter Pinske. It's My Show strikes again in Little Brown Jug It's My Show worked out a third-over trip behind Seven Colors as Moment Is Here and Cannibal battled for the lead, then surged by Seven Colors in the stretch to win a thrilling renewal of the Little Brown Jug for 3-year-old male pacers on September 21 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds. It was the first win in the Jug for trainer Linda Toscano and another feather in the cap in 2023 for Scott Zeron. The final for the Jug went for $850,000 and the three heats for $50,000 apiece, making it the richest edition in the storied history of the race. The Jug also saw the fastest mile in its history in one of the eliminations as Ken Hanover out-finished Seven Colors to win in 1:48 4/5 for David Miller and Rollie Mallar. Allywag Hanover arrives on time in Hoosier Park Pacing Derby Older male pacers met up again at Harrah's Hoosier Park on September 22 in the $185,000 Harrah's Hoosier Park Pacing Derby, and after several lead changes, Allywag Hanover managed to slip out on the last turn to track the cover of 2-5 favorite Bythemissal, who had wound up first-over from post nine. It was a cavalry charge from there to the wire, but Allywag Hanover was able to out-kick a host of contenders to get the job done by half-a-length in 1:47 3/5. Todd McCarthy worked out the winning journey for trainer Brett Pelling. Recovery for the ages by T C I in the Mohawk Million On September 23 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, 2-year-old trotters competed in the Mohawk Million, and heavy favorite T C I, who was off-stride at the beginning of the race and didn't get back trotting for about 20 strides, got back into contention past the half. Behind a 27-second final quarter, he out-finished fellow Ron Burke trainee Tennessee Tom to win by a length-and-a-quarter in 1:54 3/5. While not unheard of to see a 2-year-old trotter miscue and then come back to win, it doesn't happen very often at the Grand Circuit level, and even the connections - David Miller and trainer Ron Burke - admitted they thought T C I had lost all chance, only to watch him storm to his signature win in a record-setting season. Karl vs. T C I lives up to Lexington hype The initial showdown between superstar 2-year-old trotting colts Karl and T C I occurred in a $67,800 International Stallion Stakes division on October 6 at The Red Mile, and it didn't disappoint, with the two battling side-by-side to the wire and T C I prevailing by a whisker in 1:51 4/5 after rallying out the pocket. "The TCI/Karl race was an interesting race. Karl didn't grab the track well that day; the track was very dry and loose and basically he almost ran down the stretch because of it," recalled Karl's trainer Nancy Takter. "Karl is a great horse and knows he's not supposed to run, and I think many 2-year-olds in that situation would've run. "I also think that Karl lacked a little race experience at this point and it played to his disadvantage. Yannick [Gingras] didn't pull his ear plugs in the race because they had never been pulled before. He pulled them after the wire and he took off. I have a lot of admiration for T C I and his accomplishments, but I don't think the better horse won that day. I think the more experienced horse won that day." Confederate overcomes obstacles in Tattersalls Throughout most of 2023, Confederate made his wins in the 3-year-old male pace division look rather perfunctory, but that was anything but the case in a $236,000 Tattersalls split at The Red Mile on October 8. First, he banged his leg in his stall earlier in the week that almost led to him being scratched, but after being pronounced ready to race, he had to work until past a 53 3/5 half to clear by a headstrong Bugaboo Lou. Bugaboo Lou wouldn't relax in the pocket either, and immediately went back to the outside to challenge Confederate through three-quarters in 1:21 3/5, but despite everything on and off the track, Confederate showed his talent and pulled away in the lane to win by two lengths in 1:48 2/5 for Tim Tetrick and Brett Pelling. Tactical Approach wouldn't be denied in the Kentucky Futurity Tactical Approach added another leg of the Trotting Triple Crown to his resume by capturing the $450,000 Kentucky Futurity on October 8 at The Red Mile. After taking a bad shuffle in the middle-half of the race, Tactical Approach put forth another magnificent rally in the final quarter and was able to forge his way past French Wine before the finish line, scoring by a head in 1:52 for Zeron and Takter. "In the Futurity he was not in a good spot and also got a bit jammed up in the last turn. He shook loose very late, and for a big horse to get clearance and be able to make up so much ground in a short distance just shows that great horses find a way to win," Takter remarked. Sylvia Hanover, Bythemissal shine in Breeders Crown The two best races of this year's Breeders Crown were the 3-Year-Old Filly Pace and Open Pace, both held on October 28 at Harrah's Hoosier Park. Sylvia Hanover overcame another parked-out journey and a charging Charleston to win the $600,000 3-Year-Old Filly Pace by a neck in 1:49 2/5, and, after a downpour left the track sloppy, Bythemissal worked his way past Tattoo Artist in the stretch to take the $600,000 Open Pace in 1:48 for Yannick Gingras and Ron Burke. "I thought going in my only chance to win was to sit behind Tattoo [Artist]," recalled Gingras. "It got a little dicey going into the turn, but I had to hold my position. The horse raced great and showed his ability." Stars of tomorrow & present close out the season at the Big M The Meadowlands has come up with a very good program to close out the Grand Circuit season with the Fall Final Four for 2-year-olds and the TVG (now FanDuel) finals for older horses on the same night, and 2023 was no exception. The best race of the night, which was on November 25, was the Goldsmith Maid for rookie trotting fillies, as they were three different leaders at each call, and then Pizzelle rallied off cover to score for Andy McCarthy and Noel Daley in 1:54. Full marks also to the connections of 3-year-olds Twin B Joe Fresh, Bond, Tactical Approach and Confederate for taking on older horses in their respective FanDuel finals. While only Twin B Joe Fresh was victorious, those four horses and the people behind them should all be applauded for taking a shot and stepping outside the normal comfort zone of age-restricted competition. Finally, farewell to Confederate, Tattoo Artist, and others who made the final starts of their careers on that card. Seeing star horses be honored throughout that program at the Meadowlands is a nice touch and gives fans a final chance to say goodbye to them as they depart to another career. That will wrap up this year's best races piece. I'd like to thank all of you who followed along on the DRF Harness social media accounts and website this year to read our posts and/or recaps and would like to wish everybody Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. See you again in 2024!