Seewald hot after winter on ice

OCEANPORT, N.J. - A financially painful winter has given way to highly productive summer for trainer Alan Seewald at Monmouth Park.

Seewald has been extremely efficient this meet, producing 10 wins from only 38 starters. The stable, in hibernation most of the winter, has sprung back to life.

"I had a terrible winter," Seewald said. "It's hard to be good year-round. We pointed for Monmouth, which we usually do. We've been able to run our claimers in the right spots."

The winter was slow, by design. Seewald, who usually spends winter at Gulfstream Park, opted to remain in New Jersey to watch his son, Ryan, play hockey. Seewald sent horses to Florida and Aqueduct and cut back his racing commitment to savor victory on ice.

"I didn't take the winter off, but a lot of my time was devoted to my son," Seewald said. "We had a lot of fun."

Ryan Seewald, 12, won district, state and regional championships with the Red Bank Generals. That championship season carried a price.

"It cost me," Seewald said. "I took a beating financially this winter. We didn't run a lot. I think we won one race all winter. It was terrible."

But there are no regrets.

"I made a choice," Seewald said. "He's only 12 once. All my owners were good about it and stuck with me. It's paying off now.

"We have a lot of fresh horses that were turned out. The owners are very realistic. We run them where they can win."

Everything seems easier when the wins come with regularity.

"Everything seems to be going well," Seewald said. "We've done well in the past. It's not something we haven't done before but in recent years, it's been leaner."

Priced to win

Seewald sends out two runners on the Wednesday card and both are aggressively priced.

Jersey Storm, competitive in allowance races, pulled a muscle at Belmont Park in his last race and was vanned off. He returns to action for a $25,000 claiming price in the third race.

"He's worked good," Seewald said. "We worked him a couple of times here. It's been a while since he won at The Meadowlands last year. The owner bought some more babies this year and this horse is 4 years old. If somebody wants him, they'll take him. That's the way you're supposed to look at it."

One More Whirl carries a $7,500 claiming price in the second race. Seewald claimed the 3-year-old gelding from the leading owner-trainer team of Michael Gill and Mark Shuman for $12,500 two starts back.

Seewald ran the horse for $10,000 and won, then cut the price again following the win. "If they want him back, there he is," Seewald said.