Harness: Wallin has a Hambletonian plan with Rebuff

In the 2021 Hambletonian, Lucas Wallin got rebuffed while driving Cuatro De Julio from post 10. Wallin pushed the pace, forcing the winner Captain Corey to hard early fractions, but in the end went down to defeat. With less than two months towards this year's Hambletonian, Wallin is taking a different approach with one of the horses he trains. The aptly-named Rebuff could benefit in a small part to Wallin's Hambletonian experience as the trainer plans the steps necessary to have the colt in peak condition for the first Saturday in August.

"I'm very happy with the way he qualified," Wallin said following last Saturday's (June 4) winning mile at The Meadowlands where he trotted in 1:52 4/5 and went past King Of The North at the wire. Driver Tim Tetrick shared the praise: "I'm super excited about him," said Tetrick. "He's grown up. He's smarter. Last year I had to drive him with kid gloves."

"They didn't card a 3-year-old open this week," Wallin said when asked when racing fans can expect to see Rebuff under the lights. "I'm hoping they schedule one next week but if not, I will likely have to put him in another qualifier."

Though Cuatro De Julio was not trained by Wallin, the conditioner understands full well what it takes to bring a horse to top form for the sport's biggest prize and that's why he has kept it rather simple looking ahead.

"We're going to keep him at The Meadowlands through the Hambletonian eliminations," Wallin said quite carefully, not wanting to do anything to trouble the Muscle Hill colt that ended his 2-year-old season in style with a victory in the Breeders Crown at the very same East Rutherford mile track.

The Hambletonian is clearly on the 29-year-old Wallin's mind for Rebuff and that's how he's been treating the horse from day one on the racetrack. "I raced him all of last year with a closed bridle," said Wallin. "We purposely tried to race him from off the pace."

Wallin didn't want Rebuff to get too hot on the racetrack or lose focus and spent the better part of his 2-year-old campaign letting him learn the ropes and succeed as well. Winning in his last three starts of the year, including an off-track score in the Breeders Crown, says a lot about the talent of Rebuff as well as the patience of Wallin. Give driver Tim Tetrick much of the credit as well for sticking to the plan and executing it to perfection over the long run.

Now with his first sophomore start approaching, Wallin appears to have a lot more confidence in the colt and his behavior on the racetrack. "We put an open bridle on him for the first time in the qualifier," said Wallin. "He was just fine."

From a conditioning standpoint, Wallin feels that Rebuff is definitely a stronger horse this year and that his job will be to manage him as best as possible. "He has plenty of miles in him. There isn't much training left. Now the races will keep him fit," Wallin said.

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There's no Triple Crown in Rebuff's future as Wallin is pointing towards the Reynolds on July 1 at The Meadowlands, the same night as the $500,000 Yonkers Trot will be contested at Yonkers. Past that there's the Stanley Dancer at The Meadowlands on July 16 with the Hambletonian eliminations slated two weeks afterwards.

"We gave him some time off and since returning to training he hasn't missed a day of work or a meal," said Wallin, who has marveled at the good fortune Rebuff has enjoyed since last year's Crown victory. As for the differences between last year and this . . . "He's more mature body-wise."

Wallin, who has Rebuff racing with steel shoes with pads up front and steel behind, hinted that there are a few things he can do to make him a little bit faster if necessary but didn't think racing barefoot was in the colt's future. "There are a few things we can do to get a little more out of him," said Wallin.

While Rebuff has yet to get his 3-year-old season underway, Wallin has been overjoyed with how Manon has returned this year in the sophomore filly ranks.

"She's getting better with every race," Wallin said. "I was very happy with her performance in the 'All Stars' [June 5] at Pocono.

"I was very high on her last year. We raced her once in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and then she got a little sore and we decided to stop with her."

Owned by Steve Organ's Harbor Racing, Manon, a daughter of Bar Hopping, was done after just one race in 2021. "Steve's a patient owner and wanted to do right by the filly," said Wallin.

Thus far in 2022 that patience is paying off quite nicely as Manon has been impressive in Pennsylvania, winning all three starts including the initial leg of the Sire Stakes at The Meadows on May 11 in a 1:53 3/5 clocking. She bettered that mark at Pocono with a 1:53 mile, looking sharp from start to finish.

"I plan to go right back with her in the next leg of the Sire Stakes," said Wallin, pointing Manon for a June 19 date at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. Manon is fully staked as well and could see action at The Meadowlands in July with the hope that she's up to the level of the Hambletonian Oaks field.

While his 3-year-olds shine on the track, Wallin has a stable quite heavy in 2-year-old talent. With 26 under his care, the conditioner is happy with the depth and quality of the horses in training. On the 2-year-old front he pointed to a pair of Chapter Seven's that are getting ready to see baby race action in the coming weeks at The Meadowlands as well as a few by Walner.

There are still many hurdles ahead but trainer Lucas Wallin appears to have a command of his trotting stable and a solid plan to succeed in the long run.