Harness: Somebeachsomewhere may have no equal

In my lifetime following this sport there has only been one truly great pacer that followed his impact on the racetrack with a similar stream of success in the stallion department. The late Somebeachsomewhere eclipsed the enormous racing accomplishments of Niatross in a stellar career and then went on to become an unmatched stallion in my book.

There will certainly be differences of opinion, especially when canvasing decades of races, but it will be difficult for anyone to claim that Somebeachsomewhere's work on and off the track hasn't separated him from all others.

While there will be a small group of 2-year-olds from technically the last crop of Somebeachsomewhere that make the races this year, the sophomore class of 2021 should have the most impact on the sport in regional Sire Stakes competition as well as the Grand Circuit. While new sires come and go, Somebeachsomewhere has endured not just because he's had horses of championship caliber, but more so because he's had notable horses that improved each year and outperformed their 2 and 3-year-old season in later life.

The "rugged" racehorse is celebrated by those who watch and wager on races on a nightly basis. The hard-hitting horses that make up overnights and featured races throughout North America are the ones that have a lasting impact. Back in the late 1970's and early 1980's the stallion Most Happy Fella would see his sons and daughters become "weekend warriors" at major racetracks because they would show up and give their all.

While there may be some who question whether a stallion is only as good as the superstars he can manufacture, in the standardbred business it is perhaps more valuable to spread the wealth around and let many owners and trainers benefit from a long-lasting campaigner that shows up and excels. Perhaps there is no more fitting example for Somebeachsomewhere of his reach when it comes to production than the 2021 MGM Borgata champion This Is The Plan. A gelding, as many of the Somebeachsomewheres that last turn out to be, This Is The Plan figuratively laughed at the degree of difficulty that six-straight week series imposes and won the rich final when his driver Yannick Gingras showed the absolute confidence in the horse. For it took more than Gingras' courage to go four-wide in the first turn at Yonkers with big money riding, it took a horse of equal character to rise to the occasion and take the adversity and keeping going on. To me that's the Somebeachsomewhere within This Is The Plan, a horse that doesn't have his feelings hurt by a little rough stuff. Some horses will shy away from battle after getting their feelings bruised but most of the "Beaches" find a reserve and appear to ask for more.

Trainer Brett Pelling may have been a little late to the Somebeachsomewhere party, returning to North America after the stallion had already clearly established himself. For Pelling, 2020 saw him campaign Papi Rob Hanover to early-season success and then help catapult the career of Alexa Skye late in her 3-year-old campaign. In 2021 Pelling's stable may not have a Sombeachsomewhere with the ability of Papi Rob Hanover, but with eight sophomores sired by that champion there's certainly the ability to spread some of that wealth around. Pelling's 3-year-olds have shown up at Harrah's Philadelphia and The Meadowlands. They began their stakes season this past weekend with a pair entered in the Reynolds at Yonkers on May 7 and more were in May 8 at Pocono in the Pennsylvania All Stars.

"They're the type of horses you can swing on and they don't get their feelings hurt," said Pelling collectively of the Somebeachsomewhere's he's had the good fortune to train. "I think Staycation Hanover has a chance to be a very good filly. She's got extreme speed."

While Staycation Hanover was just caught in her last pari-mutuel race at The Meadowlands on April 30, Pelling expected her to rebound with an off-the-pace trip, which is exactly what she did with a nose victory in 1:51 4/5 on May 7 over the same surface.

On the male side there may not be a superstar but there is definitely an emergence of some serious power if you consider the progress we've already seen this year from South Beach Star, the gelded full brother to Highalator who won two starts at The Meadowlands with last quarters of 25 3/5 and 26. While he finished just fifth in his most recent race on May 8, he did pace in 1:49 4/5 with a 26 3/5 final quarter.

"I think Whichwaytothebeach is the best of them right now," said Pelling of the 3-year-old that came to his stable in January after spending a 2-year-old season with trainer Roland Mallar. Shakespeare is another by Somebeachsomewhere that showed high speed during his 2-year-old campaign yet managed to go winless while earning $85K. After breaking his maiden at Harrah's Philadelphia, Shakespeare finished second in an overnight at the track on April 28, but Pelling didn't seem concerned. "I think he'll bounce back from that effort. He's a very fast horse," said Pelling of Shakespeare, who figures to have a much better second and third act ahead.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Whichwaytothebeach finished first by 4 1/2 lengths timed in 1:53 in his Reynolds win at Yonkers on May 7. Shakespeare was third in a separate division in 1:52 3/5.]

Komodo Beach finished fourth behind Pennsylvania Sire Stakes winners Southwind Gendry and Literl Lad Hanover at The Meadowlands on April 17. He then followed that mile up with a solid pari-mutuel debut behind the 4-year-old Captain Barbossa and a 1:52 3/5 victory at Harrah's Philadelphia on April 30. Komodo Beachthen finished second behind Hallabalou on May 8 at Pocono in one of four $30,000 PA All-Stars races.

The loss of Somebeachsomewhere as a stallion himself was severe to the sport and while his son Captaintreacherous is already off to a solid career at stud, and others like Huntsville and Downbytheseaside will have their chance to shine this year, it's going to be a tough act for any to follow. More than likely none will reach the plateau that Somebeachsomewhere did during his brief but exceptional career as a stallion.

"I think you just have to look back to Mach Three," said Pelling, reflecting on the sire of Somebeachsomewhere who was outshined in the breeding business at the time by Western Hanover and Artsplace.

"I think that's where the toughness comes from. Just look at that horse in Ohio, Heart of Chewbacca. He's by a full brother to Somebeachsomewhere (Bring On The Beach). Did you see that mile he went at Miami Valley?" Pelling said in regard to the James Hackett Memorial on April 17 where Heart Of Chewbacca took air during a 25 2/5 third quarter and simply blew away the competition winning in 1:51 1/5.

With summer around the corner, let's hope we can enjoy some great "Beach" days and nights.