by Charlene Sharpe, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Charlene Sharpe

Dover, DE — The connections of 3-year-old trotter Mob Boss are hoping he uses his muscle to come out on top of his Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund competition in Thursday’s (April 14) $100,000 final.

Mob Boss, the son of Don Boss Vita-Hornby Belle, will start from post eight in the $100,000 DSBF final for 3-year-old colt trotters Thursday at Dover Downs. With two wins and a second from just four lifetime starts, in spite of his post position the colt boasts morning line odds of 7-2.

“We’re happy he’s in the final,” said Lawrence Mayer, who owns the trotter with his wife Barbara. “We’re not happy with the eight hole but he had the seven hole last time and he pretty much went wire-to-wire. He’s competitive by nature.”

Fotowon photo

Mob Boss lowered his mark to 1:58.4 with a DSBF win on April 7.

For the big race Mob Boss will have his gang with him showing their support, as hard to miss T-shirts denote the Mayers and their friends and neighbors as “Mob Boss’s Mob” and trainer Anastasias Papadopoulos as “Mob Boss’s Boss.”

“We’ve got people at the barn and neighbors who follow him religiously,” Mayer said, “so we decided to do something to recognize his loyal fans.”

Mayer said he knows most owners are relatively low key but he and his wife had no qualms about showing their enthusiasm for the sport.

“We get excited when our horse races,” he said.

The Mayers have a right to be excited, as Mob Boss, who is just their second Standardbred, has taken a mark of 1:58.4f and accumulated earnings of close to $20,000 in just four starts.

“He’s raced better each time,” Mayer said.

The young trotter has dropped four seconds in under two months, beginning his racing career with a 2:02.4 qualifying effort on March 2. A convincing come-from-behind maiden win two weeks later in 2:01.2 left his connections even prouder of their gelding. Since then he has yet to disappoint, trotting faster each start, finishing second in his first DSBF elimination before besting his competition last week in a lifetime best 1:58.4 with Bret Brittinghman in the sulky.

“He’s bright,” Mayer said. “He likes what he does. He’s all business on the track.”

For Mayer and his wife, the horse has given them a chance to further their involvement in the sport they came to know just two years ago. While walking their two rescued Akitas near their Southern Delaware home one day, the couple noticed some horses in a field. An inquiry into whether they could feed the horses some treats introduced them to Delaware horseman David Banks, who in turn invited them to the training center beyond the horse pasture.

After coming to know several of the trainers at the farm and learning to help with stable chores, the Mayers purchased their first horse, River Princess, in early 2010.

“She was a great horse for us to learn on,” Mayer said of the older pacing mare.

At the end of the year, however, the Mayers elected to sell River Princess to concentrate on Mob Boss, who they purchased privately in September after admiring him in the field.

“We loved the way he trotted,” Mayer said. “We loved his spirit.”

While Mob Boss has rewarded them with success, Mayer said he and his wife are focusing on enjoying themselves in the sport they’ve come to love.

“It’s not a business for us but it’s nice that Mob Boss is paying the bills,” he said.

Mayer credits the horsemen he’s met with helping him (and his wife) learn the ins and outs of harness racing.

“We’ve been amazed at how helpful other people are,” he said. “As people new to the industry that’s been a real blessing to us.”

Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund-3-year-old colt/gelding trot final
HN-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Line
1-Obey The Command-Brad Hanners-Steve LeBlanc-12-1
2-First Captain-Ross Wolfenden-Wayne Givens-2-1
3-Smart Strike-Art Stafford, Jr.-Art Stafford, Jr.-6-1
4-All Clear-Carlo Poliseno-Carlo Poliseno-8-1
5-Warrhawk One-Victor Kirby-Victor Kirby-3-1
6-Call On Me-Kim Vincent-John Wilkerson-12-1
7-It’s All Good Jack-Eddie Davis, Jr.-Linda MacDonald-15-1
8-Mob Boss-Bret Brittingham-Anastasias Papadopoulos-7-2