Monday, May 30, 2011

‘Peelers’ Remains Perfect

By Mike FarrellNICHOLS, N.Y.--Trainer Jimmy Takter reached acrossbreeds to find a comparison after See You At Peelers(Bettor's Delight) extended her undefeated streak to 15with a world-record-tying effort.

"Harness racing needs these kind of horses," Taktersaid. "Hopefully the media and everyone will take advan-tage. It's a good story. She's like Zenyatta. She is Zenyattain the pacing world. There is no difference. This horse isas much a champion as Zenyatta." Well said, and a statement few would contest afterwatching her capture the $279,175 filly division of theEmpire Breeders Classic for 3-year-old pacers. In the $289,925 colt division, Fashion Delight (Bettor'sDelight) picked up his first win of the season. The pair of stakes highlighted an evening that also in-cluded post-race fireworks and high-octane race calls fromRoger Huston on a spectacular evening at Tioga Downs.The stakes, for New York-sired horses, are sponsored bythe Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Develop-ment Fund, the New York Stallion Owners and Vernon &Tioga Downs. Fireworks or not, it was See You At Peelers who onceagain stole the show. She paced the mile in 1:49.2, equal-ing the five-eighths standard set by Showherthemoney(Cam's Card Shark) at Dover Downs in 2009. See You At Peelers closed out last season with a victoryin the Breeders Crown that sealed a Dan Patch Award. After a winter off, Jimmy Takter brought her back with apair of qualifier wins at the Meadowlands. Her first compet-itive start came last week in the Empire Classic elimina-tions, a career best score in 1:50.4. But the best was yet tocome in the final.

As the gate folded in the final, Swinging Beauty (Art

Major) and Scott Zeron fired out immediately. The advan-tage didn't last long, as See You At Peelers and MarcusJohansson took charge before the opening quarter.From there, it was strictly a two-horse race, with See YouAt Peelers dictating the pace and Swinging Beauty enjoyingthe pocket trip. And they were humming along. See You At Peelers hitthe three-quarter pole in 1:22.3 before uncorking a 26.4final quarter to hold Swinging Beauty safe by three quartersof a length. "She's kind of tricky," Johansson said when asked if heknew how fast his filly was motoring. "You don't really feelit. That last quarter, she held on pretty good. I knew we hada good mile. That fast? No I didn't think so." For Takter, itwas another amazing chapter for the flawless star ownedby his wife Christina, along with John and Jim Fielding. "It's an amazing mile," Takter said after posing for apicture in front of the toteboard teletimer. It's early in theseason, in only her second start of the year. This filly is justfantastic. Time doesn't really mean too much today in thisbusiness because a lot of horses go fast. It's the way shedoes it, so effortless. She has unbelievable lungs."

See You At Peelers Fred J Brown photo

HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 5/30/11 • PAGE 2 of 5

Peeler cont.

Those lungs might get stretched Saturday night whenSee You At Peelers put her undefeated streak on the lineagainst the colts in the Art Rooney at Yonkers Raceway. "To be quite honest, they are not the greatest colts,"

Takter said. "Hope-fully, this race didn'ttake too much out ofher, because it's justsix days. She lovesthe half mile, shedoesn't mind it. She'llget a nice easyweek." It seemed almostunfair to send thecolts out four raceslater, like the bandpushed out on stageafter BruceSpringsteen alreadybrought down thehouse. Once in the spot-light, however, theyupheld their end ofthe bargain as Fash-ion Delight prevailedby a head over Feel

Like A Fool (Art Major) in a real dogfight. Fashion Delightwrested the early lead from Samandar (American Ideal)

past the opening quarter, only to have Feel Like A Foolbrush to the front in a 53.4 opening half mile.Feel Like A Fool looked like a winner rounding the finalbend as Brian Sears still had horse left. But Fashion De-light wasn't done, digging deep for a final push to just getup in 1:50.2. It was a brave effort in only the second start of the cam-paign for Fashion Delight, second in last week's elimina-tions. "He qualified just OK, but after last week, we felt he'dmake a big improvement," said driver David Miller. "I wasn'tfor sure I was a winner turning for home. Brian's horse hadbeen used hard and my horse still felt pretty good." Trainer Jim Campbell also expected improvement afterthe elimination. "I thought it was a good tightener, and itwas a really impressive first start for him'" Campbell said ofthe W oodrow W ilson winner. "I couldn't have been morehappy with him tonight. He's a game colt and he gives youeverything he's got." The next major target is the North American Cup. Camp-bell isn't sure if Fashion Delight will contest theSomebeachsomewhere in the interim. Roadside Delight (Bettor's Delight), the 3-1 morn-

ing-line favorite was a judges scratch announced midwaythrough the card. "The connections violated our detentionbarn policy," explained Jason Settlemoir, Tioga's vicepresident/racing operations.

Elitlopp: Brioni won against all odds

By Karsten Bonsdorf The German trotter Brioni, with trainer/driver Joakim

Lövgren in the bike, won Europe’s legendary, one-mileElitlopp at Solvalla, Stockholm Sunday, prevailing in aphoto finish with the French invader and second choiceRapide Lebel and driver Eric Raffin (race video).

Lady Luck was certainly on Brioni’s side, as the 8-year oldtrotter didn’t initially qualify for the final, but instead had histicket punched when the Canadian trotter Define the World

was DQ’d in their respective elimination. Define the W orldfinished fourth past the post--just ahead of Brioni--in theelimination, but was disqualified and placed last after inter-fering with Year in Review in the stretch. Despite making the final, Brioni looked to have an uphillbattle when he drew post position eighth in the final. Neverbefore in the history of the Elitlopp had a trotter from thatposition won the final. In the day’s centerpiece, North America’s big hope, theTrond Smedshammer-trained, Björn Goop-driven Arch

Madness, was made the favorite after an impressive elimi-nation tally, while the other elimina-tion victor, Rapide Lebel, also tookrespect. As the field lined up be-hind the starter, the latter becamerough gaited and lost severallengths at the off. Goop tried for thelead with Arch Madness, but lostthe draw to Rakas and PerLennartsson, who were away bestand raced to the front. WishingStone soon took over, but didn’t

have the lead for long as Goopmade his move with Arch Mad-ness, hitting the front passing thegrandstand. Brioni, meanwhile,bided his time in third at the rail. Goop seemed to control the race, and going round thefinal turn, it looked like Arch Madness would win as ex-pected. But he tired abruptly, and the door was thrown opento challengers. Cont. p3

See You At Peelers...heading in theright direction Fred J Brown

Brioni rallies on the outside Kanal 75 photo

Brioni Kanal 75 photo

HarnessRacingUpdate.com • 5/30/11 • PAGE 3 of 5

Elitlopp cont. Norway’s Yarrah Boko and pilot Ulf Ohlsson rallied tolead, only to see Rapide Lebel range up on the outside.

W ider still wasBrioni, who cameflying to the out-side of RapideLebel as theyflashed past thepost. The judges hadto call for a photobefore the resultwas made official,and when it was,

Brioni was declared the winner of the 60th edition of theElitlopp. The winning time was 1:53 2/5; the purse for thewinner was $475.000. At 27-1, Brioni became the longest-priced winner ever in the Elitlopp, though those playing inthe French pools could have gotten 65-1. Arch Madness ultimately faded to sixth, and the twoothers trotters who represented North America finished outof the money.

Monday, Vernon DownsEmpire Breeders Classic, Race 6, 3-YO Trot, $283,475PP-PN HORSE SIRE TRAINER/DRIVER1 3 Evil Urges Cash Hall Hochstetler/Whittemore2 1 Dejarmbro Credit Winner Smedshammer/Smedshammer

3 1A I’m The Answer Credit Winner Smedshammer/Sears4 2 All In Tad Conway Hall Schnittker/Schnittker5 4 Surface Tension Cash Hall Daley/Daley6 5 Keenan Credit Winner L. Remmen/Lems7 6 Whatever It Takes Credit Winner J. Miller/A. Miller8 2A Whitewater Rapids Credit Winner Schnittker/Gregory9 2B Wheels Conway Hall Schnittker/TetrickFor TrackMaster pp’s of the EBC Classic click HERE

Empire Breeders Classic, Race 9, 3-YO Filly Trot, $238,225PP PN HORSE SIRE TRAINER/DRIVER1 2 Temper Of Will Conway Hall Smedshammer/Whittemore

2 3 Em El Cash Cash Hall Smedshammer/Smedshmmr

3 1 Jezzy Credit Winner Schnittker/Schnittker4 4 Four Damsals Cr Excalibur Ducharme/Gregory5 1A Epona Blue Chip Conway Hall Schnittker/Schnittker6 5 Imageofasweetday Conway Hall Stark/Stark7 6 Leah’s Ex Cr Excalibur MacDonald/MacDonald

8 7 Miss Sue V Credit Winner Kelley/A. Miller9 1B Some Girls Conway Hall Brunet/SearsFor TrackMaster pp’s of the EBC Classic click HERE

Smedshammer Entry Tops Vernon’s Empire

Breeders Classic

By Bill Finley

Trainer Trond Smedshammer couldn’t win the Elitlopp in

Sweden Sunday as Arch Madness (Balanced Image) tired

in the stretch of the final, but the stable may not waste

much time getting back on the winning track.

The Smedshammer stable appears to have the upper

hand in the colt division of today’s $283,475 Empire Breed-

ers Classic at Vernon Downs with the potent pair of

Dejarmbro (Credit W inner) and I’m The Answer (Credit

W inner)

Both won elimination races last week, but Dejarmbro

appears to be the better of the two. A top 2-year-old last

year, he was a beaten favorite in the Breeders Crown after

breaking stride, but returned with a win in his 2011 debut,

taking his EBC elimination race by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:54.4.

Both Smedhammer-trained horses are owned by Purple

Haze Stables, which turned them over to their new trainer

after Jessica Okusko campaigned them in 2010.

The third of three elimination races was won last week by

Evil Urges, another obvious contender in today’s field. The

three-horse Ray Schnittker trained entry of All In Tad

(Conway Hall), Whitewater Rapids (Credit W inner) and

Wheels (Conway Hall) will no doubt draw some respect at

the betting windows.

Smedshammer will also be represented in the $238,225

division for fillies with Temper Of Will (Conway Hall) and

Em El Cash (Cash Hall). But this one may go to the

Schnittker stable. Schnittker has a three-horse entry topped

by Jezzy (Credit W inner). She is 12 for 13 lifetime and

dominated last week when winning an EBC elimination

race by four lengths in 1:56.1

Brioni and the winning connections

Dejarmbro will be tough to beat today at Vernon

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Yesterday’s Tioga Results:

4, TgDn, $279,175, Pace, Empire Breeders Classic 3

Year Old Filly Final, 27.0, 55.2, 1:22.3, 1:49.2, FT

1-See You At Peelers (f, 3, Bettor's Delight--West Side

Glory, by Western Ideal) O-Christina Takter & John D &

Jim H Fielding, CA. B-Christina Takter. T-Jimmy Takter

. D-Marcus Johansson, $139,587, Lifetime Record:

15-15-0-0, $727,486

2-Swinging Beauty (f, 3, Art Major--Stunning Beauty,

by Camluck), $40,000 2009 SHS-HBG O-W illiam L

Switala & James J Martin. B-James L Avritt Sr. T-Gregg

Mcnair. D-Scott Zeron, $69,793

3-New Album (f, 3, W estern Terror--Always Remember,

by Falcon Seelster), $7,000 2009 LEX-SEL O-Jeffrey P

Bamond & Baron Racing Stable & Mark J Kesmodel.

B-Perfect W orld Enterprises. T-Mark Kesmodel.

D-George Brennan, $33,501

Calls: 1Q, 1Q, 1H, 2, T

Finish Order: Whats New Pussycat, Southwind Jazmin,

W inbak Corazon, Shyaway, Song In A Major, Miss Annie J

To view the replay click HERE

8, TgDn, $289,925, Pace, Empire Breeders Classic 3

Year Old Colt Final, 27.1, 53.4, 1:21.4, 1:50.2, FT

1-Fashion Delight (c, 3, Bettor's Delight--B J's

Sunshine, by Artsplace), $35,000 2009 SHS-HBG

O-Fashion Farms LLC. B-Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc.

T-Jim Campbell. D-David Miller, $144,962, Lifetime

Record: 13-6-4-3, $658,642

2-Feel Like A Fool (g, 3, Art Major--Fool That I Am, by

Jenna's Beach Boy), $30,000 2009 SHS-HBG O-Kovach

Stables LLC & Theodore Gewertz & Robert M Feldman &

George Teague Jr Inc.. B-Roll The Dice Stable.

T-George Teague Jr. D-Brian Sears, $72,481

3-Sir Ziggy's Z Tam (c, 3, Art Major--So Far Away, by Jate

Lobell), $55,000 2009 LEX-SEL O-Patrick D Lachance &

Z Tam Stables LLC & Ira Rosenblum. B-Nexstar Racing

Stable. T-Pat Lachance. D-Pat Lachance, $34,791

Calls: H, 1Q, 1T, 2, HD

Finish Order: Samandar, Bettor's Green, Flipper J,

Fantaddy, American Arena, Roadside Delight

To view the replay click HERE

7, TgDn, $32,700, Pace, The M&J Oil & Lube Pace 3

Year Old Filly Final, 27.0, 56.3, 1:24.1, 1:53.1, FTBusybeingfabulous (f, 3, American Ideal--Armbro

Bahama, by Artiscape) O/B-Ronald C Michelon &Riverview Farms. T-Erv Miller. D-Andy Miller, $16,350,Lifetime Record: 9-4-2-1, $35,900To view the replay click HERE

9, TgDn, $30,900, Trot, The Tioga Country Club Trot 3

Year Old Filly Final, M, 27.2, 56.1, 1:24.1, 1:55.0, FTTui (f, 3, Windsong's Legacy--Four Starz Glide, by

Yankee Glide) O-Edward H Kimmel & Donald L W iest. B-FS Starzzzz Stables Inc & Nancy J Cook. T-Donald W iest.D-Fern Paquet Jr, $15,450, Lifetime Record: 16-5-4-1,$49,560To view the replay click HERE

Anndrovette Takes Betsy Ross by a Neck

By Mike Farrell Anndrovette turned in a gutsy effort effort Sunday to win

the $150,000 Betsy Ross Free-For-All Mares Pace atHarrah’s Chester. Tim Tetrick put the 4-year-old on theengine early and she faced two stiff challenges. GingerAnd Fred took the first swing, ranging up with a strong first-

over bid. Anndrovette turned back that threat and had aenough left to hold off deep closer Higher and Higher, who

came up a neck short. It was the second major distaffstakes win in as many days for the team of Tetrick, co-owner/trainer Mark Kesmodel, Jeffrey P Bamond and Jo-seph Davino. They captured the Miss New Jersey withKrispy Apple on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

Yesterday’s Results:9, Chst, $150,000, Pace, The Betsy Ross L.C #5 Mares

Free For All Final, 26.1, 54.1, 1:21.4, 1:49.4, FT1-Anndrovette (m, 4, Riverboat King--Easy Miss, by Big

Towner) O-Jeffrey P Bamond & Joseph Davino & Mark J Kesmodel. B-Golden Touch Stable. T-M Kesmodel. D-T Tetrick, $75,000, Lifetime Record: 32-14-1-5, $716,2002-Higher And Higher (m, 4, W estern Terror--Pro Bowl

Best, by Cambest) O-Daryl Scott Bier & Glenn F Del Russo & Charles A Dombeck. B-Perfect W orld Enterprises. T-Daryl Bier. D-Daryl Bier, $37,5003-Chancey Lady (m, 6, Camluck--Art Of Design, by

Artsplace), $60,000 2006 LEX-SEL O-Baron Racing Stable. B-Brittany Farms & Daisy Acres. T-Mark Kesmodel. D-Corey Callahan, $18,000Calls: 5H, 1Q, 1, Q, NKFinish Order: Rock N Soul, Laughandbehappy, Ginger AndFred, Shacked Up, Omen HanoverTo view the replay click HERE

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© Copyright Harness Racing Update.This newspaper may not be reproduced in any form orby any means, electronic or mechanical, without priorwritten permission of the copyright owner, MBPublishing Inc. Information as to the races, race resultsand earnings was obtained from results charts publishedby the United States Trotting Association and utilizedhere with the permission of the copyright owner.

5, Chst, $40,000, Trot, The Maxie Lee L.C. #6 1st Leg,

28.0, 57.0, 1:24.4, 1:53.2, FT1-Looking Hanover (g, 6, Muscles Yankee--Lady Bar,

by Malabar Man), $35,000 2006 SHS-HBG O-Dawn Marie Gannon & Yannick Gingras. B-M And L Of Delaware Inc. T-Edwin Gannon Jr. D-Yannick Gingras, $20,000, Lifetime Record: 88-20-23-14, $543,5962-Pilgrims Chuckie (h, 4, Broadway Hall--W oman Of Means, by Sierra Kosmos), $27,000 2008 SHS-HBG O-John Cancelliere. B-Dr W illiam J Solomon. T-Thomas Cancelliere. D-Daniel Dube, $10,0003-Anders Bluestone (h, 5, Yankee Glide--Annette Hanover, by Sierra Kosmos), $60,000 2007 SHS-HBG O-Wm Kenneth Wood & W illiam J Dittmar Jr. B-Bluestone Farms LLC. T-Eric Ell. D-Ron Pierce, $4,800Calls: 1H, 1H, T, Q, HDFinish Order: Syenite, Hot Shot Blue Chip, Buck I St Pat,Corleone Kosmos To view the replay click HERE

11, Chst, $32,000, Pace, W inners Over $25,000 Lifetime,27.1, 57.0, 1:24.1, 1:52.0, FT1-Andy Roo (g, 6, The Panderosa--Shelly's Smile, by Cambest), $30,000 2006 SHS-HBG O-Baron Racing

Stable. B-Frederick W Hertrich III & Lewis Arno. T-Mark Kesmodel. D-Tim Tetrick, $16,000, Lifetime Record: 104-24-23-15, $499,9732-Royal Morn (g, 6, Usher Hanover--Dal Reo Damsel, by

Scruffy Hanover) O-Steve W Calhoun, CA. B-Rod & Janine M Therres, CA. T-Casie Coleman. D-Daniel Dube, $8,0003-Cams Art (g, 4, Cams Fortune--My Foolish Art, by

Artiscape) O-Morgan S & Jeanne M Mc Innis. B-Jeanne M & Ryan S Mc Innis. T-Ryan Mc Innis. D-David Miller, $3,840Calls: 1H, 1Q, 1H, 1H, NSFinish Order: Mr Terry Fra, W ambam Sam, MccedesTo view the replay click HERE

3, Chst, $26,000, Pace, NW $25,000 in Last 5 Starts, 26.2,

56.2, 1:23.3, 1:51.1, FTThe Mohegan Pan (h, 6, No Pan Intended--Western

Wonder, by Western Hanover) O-Jeffrey P Bamond.B-Peter Pan Stables Inc. T-Mark Kesmodel. D-Tim Tetrick,$13,000, Lifetime Record: 80-20-9-7, $705,992

7, Chst, $22,000, Pace, NW $18,000 in Last 5 Starts 4 Yr.

Olds & Older Last Start for a purse of greater than $26,000ineligible, 26.4, 55.4, 1:23.1, 1:50.2, FTDelivered From Zin (g, 8, Sealed N Delivered--Zinful, byArturo), $11,000 2004 MORRIS O-J L Benson Stables Inc.

B-Amy M & Linwood M Higgins. T-Nicholas Surick. D-JimPantaleano, $11,000, Lifetime Record: 84-39-8-4, $334,164

4, Chst, $20,000, Pace, 3 & 4 Yr. Olds Colts, Horses &

Geldings NW 8 Ext. PM Races or $70,000 Lifetime Pa.Sired Preferred, 27.1, 56.4, 1:24.0, 1:51.4, FTWinsmith Art (g, 4, Real Artist--Winsmith Karen, byMatt's Scooter) O/B-Scott D W oogen. T-John Wagner.

D-Tim Tetrick, $10,000, Lifetime Record: 36-10-2-5,$79,308

6, Chst, $20,000, Pace, Claiming Handicap

$25,000-30,000, 26.2, 55.1, 1:23.1, 1:52.1, FTMikey Rooney (g, 9, Pacific Rocket--Intimate Dragon,

by Dragon's Lair) O-Roma V Racing LLC. B-MikeHenowick, CA. T-Virgil Morgan Jr. D-Tim Tetrick, $10,000,Lifetime Record: 176-27-27-23, $428,532

8, Chst, $20,000, Pace, 3 & 4 Yr. Olds Fillies & Mares NW8 Ext. PM Races or $70,000 Lifetime Pa. Sired Preferred,26.2, 54.2, 1:22.2, 1:51.1, FTWindows Online (m, 4, Royal Mattjesty--Don't Do Win-

dows, by Abercrombie), $13,500 2008 CAN-OPENO-Richard J La Cava. B-Stan Klemencic, CA. T-Lou Pena.D-Geo. Napolitano Jr, $10,000, Lifetime Record: 43-6-10-4,$82,607

12, Chst, $20,000, Pace, 5 Yr. Olds & Under Claiming

Handicap $25,000-30,000 Post Position by Price, 26.4,55.2, 1:23.0, 1:51.1, FTSonic Seelster (g, 4, Camluck--Stylish Smile, by Aber-crombie), $45,000 2008 FOREST O-T R Stables.

B-2086729 Ontario Inc, CA & Seelster Farms Inc, CA.T-Ross Claridge. D-Ron Pierce, $10,000, Lifetime Record:52-7-6-6, $77,571

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