Harness: Rush In connections looking for déjà vu in 3-year-old ranks

From May 17 to 19 many of last year's exceptional 3-year-old pacers got into gear for the first or second time in actual races. With the C$1 million North America Cup within a month's view, training miles have given way to prep miles, which hopefully for the lucky ones will turn into major paydays.

While those that prospered at 2 tend to have a leg up on the competition, it has become obvious this year that there are some players in the rich male sophomore division that were sidelined for one reason or another in 2023 but have emerged this year and rapidly moved up the ladder into prime stakes contenders. It's easy to be awestruck when final times are sub-1:49, as was the case on Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park when Legendary Hanover looked the part of his moniker and annihilated a field in a career-best 1:48 3/5 clocking. Metro Pace champion Captains Quarters also showcased his substantive ability with an equally impressive, yet less flashy 1:50 1/5 mile.

South of the border in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action, the return of Gem Quality to the winner's circle in easy fashion was expected as the Breeders Crown upset winner prepares for major stakes action without fanfare and the need to prove how fast he can go. Captain Albano also found the winner's circle, though he was pushed a bit harder than trainer Noel Daley may have liked by the upstart Ivy Park.

Despite the presence of horses we've seen and admired before because of their juvenile prowess, one colt has come a long way in a short time, and it appears it's once again déjà vu for Hall of Fame trainer Linda Toscano and one of her favorite drivers, Scott Zeron. Last year at this time It's My Show had gone from a winless 2-year-old to a bona fide sophomore contender and ultimately onward in June to a North America Cup triumph. On Saturday (May 18) the pair found the winner's circle with a son of Heston Blue Chip that was unraced as a 2-year-old. "He was a nice horse training down, but he had some soreness issues and we stopped with him," said Toscano of Rush In, her potential sophomore star in 2024.

The fact that Rush In did not start in a race last year made it risky at best to stake him heavily as a sophomore, and the ownership group was cautious, yet optimistic.

"He's eligible to the Pennsylvania races," Toscano said of Rush In. "He's also in the Adios and Hempt."

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With just six lifetime starts following a qualifying debut on March 2 at the Meadowlands, a 1:56 clocking that didn't get much notice, Rush In has reeled off four wins in six starts and keeps getting better with each race.

"He was afraid of the starting car," said Scott Zeron, who sat behind him in the qualifier and the first few of his races. "I think that may have turned out to be a blessing in disguise."

What Zeron likely means by that commentary is that despite his talent Rush In had to be carefully handled at the start and thus was not aggressively positioned in the early going. Zeron sat back and let the pace develop in Rush In's debut on March 16 at the Meadowlands and what racing fans saw of him was just a glimpse of his quickness and acceleration. Appearing to be totally out of the race until mid-stretch, Rush In unleashed a wicked burst in the final 100 yards to score in 1:51. That the mile was a full five seconds faster than his qualifier would have shocked people five years ago but has become rather commonplace in today's racing environment.

That starting gate and Rush In did not agree when the colt made his second start at the Meadowlands on March 30, where he broke at the start for Zeron and would only recover to earn a fourth-place check behind another of 2024's surprising sophomores, McCrunch.

Three weeks later Rush In's manners had improved enough that Zeron was able to put him on the front, and he won easily in 1:51 1/5, defeating some stakes-worthy horses in the process.

The competition would improve when Rush In raced at The Meadows in the opening round of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes on May 4.

"The track was pretty bad that day at The Meadows," said Toscano of the sloppy surface Rush In and his rivals would have to deal with. "Dave [Palone] had to take a hold of him down the backstretch.

"When Dave let him go in the stretch he just took off."

A 27 final quarter completed the 1:50 1/5 mile at The Meadows. It was a personal-best and provided a larger following of faithful bettors when Rush In raced last Saturday (May 18) at Pocono in the Sire Stakes.

"I wasn't close to the bottom," said Scott Zeron, describing how Rush In felt finishing up his mile in 1:50 2/5 over the sloppy, yet still quite fast Pocono oval in the Sire Stakes.

Perhaps more impressive in this mile than the final quarter was how quickly Rush In attacked the pace-setter on the backstretch after sitting third much of the mile.

"He went by Matt [Kakaley, driving Captain Fear Not] like Matt was letting him go," said Toscano of the third quarter brush. "And he finished with the earplugs in."

Rush In will continue his Sire Stakes appearances this Sunday (May 26) at Harrah's Philadelphia for Toscano. Scott Zeron won't have similar issues, at least in the near term, when it comes to selecting a sophomore to drive. In 2023 he was driving It's My Show and had a commitment to one of Tony Alagna's better colts. This year the conflicts may not exist. Zeron has qualified and raced last year's Governor's Cup champion Captain Luke for the deep Alagna stable.

"I thought he raced as well as he could," said Zeron of the second-place finish on Saturday (May 18) at the Meadowlands behind McCrunch. "You're not going to go by in a 25 4/5 final quarter."

Outside of Sire Stakes and a few Pennsylvania Grand Circuit events, Toscano would only leave the door ajar slightly for a bigger campaign when answering whether Rush In could be supplemented to some races later this season.

"He's got the ownership that would definitely be willing to," said Toscano.