Yonkers: Sylvester eyeing third Yonkers Trot trophy

There were 13 horses entered for the first jewel in trotting's Triple Crown, the MGM Yonkers Trot, this past Monday. With a pair of elimination races on tap Friday, eight horses hope to return for the $500,000 July 2 final. There are a host of top trainers of trotters represented but just one with roots that span generations.

Chuck Sylvester, the Hall of Fame trainer who turned 81 a week ago, will send out Arnold N Dicky, a colt from the first crop of Bar Hopping, in quest of his third Yonkers Trot title. Sylvester, for those who aren't old enough to have witnessed his vast accomplishments on the trotting side of this sport, is well-remembered for capturing the Yonkers Trot, as well as many other high profile events, with the 1987 champion Mack Lobell. He returned 11 years later and managed the fortunes of Muscles Yankee to a Yonkers Trot title. Both Mack Lobell and Muscles Yankee would capture the Hambletonian as well, earning two-thirds of the Triple Crown.

Sylvester is quite optimistic he can return 23 years after his last Yonkers Trot victory and get his third with the $17,000 yearling buy Arnold N Dicky. He is convinced that the half-mile track is a perfect spot for his sophomore colt.

"He set a world record last year at Delaware," Sylvester said from his home base in De Leon Springs, Florida, where he currently resides, taking special care of his wife Sharon as she battles dementia.

Last year Arnold N Dicky won four of his 10 starts, competing at the highest level against the top colts and geldings along the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes. That Sylvester was able to pluck a horse good enough to compete with six-figure yearlings should come as no surprise to anyone who has seen him do it so many times before.

"I thought he would sell for a lot more," said Sylvester of the bargain buy. "He toed-out and a lot of people thought he would hit his knees, but he doesn't."

In the game of trotting few want one that hits their knees, especially during these times when races are going so fast from the first moment a horse steps on the track. What Sylvester saw in Arnold N Dicky's pedigree obviously looked somewhat familiar to him, given his long history in the sport and the various talent he's trained. Arnold N Dicky is the eighth foal out of the Broadway Hall-sired dam Kalibrated. He is the first to cross with a Muscle Hill-line stallion, of which Bar Hopping belongs. Roll the clock back some 18 years, and you'll find a horse named Mutineer in the same family tree. Mutineer was also the eighth foal of his dam, and the first bred to a Valley Victory-line stallion by the name of Muscles Yankee. Muscles Yankee is, of course, the sire of Muscle Hill. Sylvester trained Mutineer, who captured a few major stakes in 2003, including the Zweig and American National.

Sylvester conditioned Arnold N Dicky over the winter and then sent him north under the impeccable care of Kelly Smith (2020 Caretaker of the Year winner), as well as Hermann Heitmann, who serves as assistant trainer for Arnold N Dicky, in addition to his one-horse stable star Melady's Monet. Arnold N Dicky made his sophomore debut in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at The Meadows on May 15 and was most impressive for driver Dexter Dunn despite an overland trip. Dunn guided Arnold N Dicky essentially from last to first into the homestretch, only to lose to a horse with a better trip near the wire. With a good first effort, expectations were high for his next start in the Sire Stakes at Pocono on May 31, but Arnold N Dicky was up-the-track, finishing nearly 13 lengths behind Captain Corey at the finish.

"That was my fault," said Sylvester, "We had him shod all wrong."

With a new set of shoes, Arnold N Dicky returned on June 10 with a sparkling performance at Harrah's Philadelphia, winning convincingly in 1:52 3/5, a career-best, in a conditioned event. The mile put him back on track for his Yonkers Trot appearance on Friday.

"I think he's going to have a good year," said Sylvester. "I think his big edge is on the half-mile track. I'm not saying he won't be competitive on the bigger tracks, but I'm not sure he'll be able to go with Ake's colt (Captain Corey)."

Sylvester was more than mindful that Captain Corey was racing in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes this past week - where he made a break at the start as the heavy favorite - as opposed to the Yonkers Trot.

"I think Ake (Svanstedt) may have over-raced him last year," Sylvester said of Captain Corey, who he believes is the top 3-year-old trotter.

Arnold N Dicky drew post three in the $40,000 MGM Yonkers Trot elimination carded as race seven on Friday and needs a top-four finish against some heavy hitters, including a pair from Svanstedt's vast stable, Ambassador Hanover and Johan Palema. The field also includes In Range, the runner-up in last year's Breeders Crown.

A lot changes over time and Sylvester notices a vast difference in the caliber of today's trotter, as opposed to those he trained more than 30 years ago.

"They're just much more naturally gaited these days," Sylvester said of the breed. "Anyone can train a trotter these days."

While that may be a true statement to some degree, getting a 3-year-old trotter to race consistently and in top form throughout a long campaign requires a great amount of wisdom, as well as excellent care. In the case of Arnold N Dicky, he's blessed with the best of both.