Meadowlands: DiDomenico looks for steady progression from Dancer contender Hat Trick Habit

The rise from overnight horse trainer to Grand Circuit class has been slow and methodical for Scott DiDomenico. There have been some bright spots along the way, including the star pacing filly Handsoffmycookie and more recently the aged performer Missile J. Now the young trainer has thrown his proverbial hat into the ring with the stable’s acquisition of a leading Hambletonian candidate in the aptly named Hat Trick Habit.

“We’re always looking for “A” level talent,” said DiDomenico. “I train a horse for Debra and she told me they were looking to pare down the stable.” The daughter of the late Fred Monteleone told DiDomenico that the 3-year-old son of Donato Hanover was for sale.

“John (McGill) and Brian (Carsey) were interested but it wasn’t cheap,” said DiDomenico, who clearly recognizes what it takes to land a Hambletonian prospect let any quality sophomore trotter.

“We went over all of the videos and I spoke with Tim (Tetrick) who really liked the horse,” said DiDomenico.

What was not to like?

After showing competitiveness in the freshman class, Hat Trick Habit returned this year for trainer Domenico Cecere at The Meadowlands winning his first two starts in impressive fashion before shipping to Ontario for the Goodtimes.

“He’s a big good looking strong colt,” said DiDomenico. “You have to make sure he’s relaxed and that’s something we’re working on.”

Hat Trick Habit was a bit aggressive and fighting with driver David Miller in the Goodtimes final and broke stride. Shortly thereafter DiDomenico and company purchased the colt and has been working with him since.

“We changed his rigging and his shoes and so far he’s been good,” DiDomenico said. “On Saturday he went in (1):52 and change with the plugs in and I was very happy.”

Happiness will only take you so far in this business. What it takes to succeed at the highest level is performance and Hat Trick Habit will have a chance to test a bit deeper waters this Saturday in the Stanley Dancer Memorial at The Meadowlands. From there it will be about improving and hopefully finding a place in the field on the first Saturday in August over that same oval.

“It’s something you dream about,” said DiDomenico about the Hambletonian and the big stage. “I have had to race a lot of mid-priced horses and it’s really exciting to have the opportunity like this.”

Hat Trick Habit was a $65,000 Lexington Sale purchase of the late Monteleone, who had a deep affection for the family. Hat Trick Habit is by Donato Hanover from the Muscles Yankee-sired Habits Best, she a half-sister to the $1.1 million winner Civil Action, a colt Monteleone won the 2001 Peter Haughton Memorial with for trainer Tom Merriman.

Civil Action returned as a sophomore to be a leading Hambletonian contender but broke in the eliminations. He would later go on to finish third in the Breeders Crown as a sophomore and race successfully in Europe.

Hat Trick Habit competed predominantly in Kentucky as a freshman and managed to capture the Sire Stakes final over a colt named Wolfgang who is currently a leading Hambletonian candidate.

“I think he can go with the top ones,” said DiDomenico of Hat Trick Habit, who starts from post 7 in race four on Saturday at The Meadowlands. What remains to be seen for the rest of the racing world is whether one or more fillies drops in the box to challenge the boys in this year’s contest. Certainly Atlanta and Manchego have proven themselves worthy of the challenge.

While Missile J was in fact eligible to the William Haughton Memorial this Saturday, the trainer confided that he would send him to Yonkers (in-to-go Race 10 on July 14) instead this week hoping for a few less horses and perhaps a chance at winning.

“He raced great the first week at Pocono (Ben Franklin eliminations) but he broke trying to step over a pylon. He recovered really well and was finishing strongly,” said DiDomenico of Missile J, who failed to qualify for the final. “The second week you just don’t have much of a chance coming from behind over that surface.”

Since being purchased early last year by the aforementioned McGill and Carsey, Missile J has gone on to earn $450,000 under the watchful eye of DiDomenico and has team. “I’ve definitely got a soft spot for that horse,” said DiDomenico. “I worried that the Haughton may have as many as 12 in the field and then they would go a mile and an eighth. I just didn’t think that was the best spot for him.”

“We’re putting Rose Run Sydney in the Miss Versatility,” said DiDomenico. “She raced very well for me the first start at Yonkers. We’ll see how she fits.”

Rose Run Sydney, an Ohio-bred, won in 1:54 1/5 on June 17 at Yonkers but was a non-factor after getting away at the back in her last start at Pocono on Sunday. Rose Run Sydney captured the $250,000 Ohio Sire Stakes championship for sophomore trotting fillies last September. She faces Hannelore Hanover in the second race at The Meadowlands on Saturday night.

On the freshman front, the trainer is extremely excited about another New York-sired prospect aptly titled So Awesome. The son of So Surreal lived up to his expectations this past Friday scoring in 1:55 3/5 in a $54,000 division at Yonkers. The colt paced a back half in 56 3/5 in just his first stakes event.

As a whole the DiDomenico stable appears on the way to its best year, with 140 victories already bagged and over $2 million in stable earnings just halfway through the season. With a solid group of overnight horses complemented by some young stakes horses, the stable appears well on its way to eclipsing the $3.5 million year enjoyed in 2017.

While there’s a seven figure race around the corner, DiDomenico wasn’t exactly getting ahead of himself with Hat Trick Habit. “We’ll see how things go and hope he continues to make progress,” DiDomenico said, hoping that he can get the colt to relax and prosper. “He’s got a big set of lungs.”

The winner’s circle on Hambletonian Day is the goal they’ll be shooting for.