by Charlene Sharpe, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Charlene Sharpe

Bridgeville, DE — Trainer Duane Wagner knows he’s got one of the best 2-year-old pacing colts going into Tuesday’s $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund final at Harrington Raceway.

He also knows that anything can happen in a horse race.

“It does get to your nerves,” he said.

Wagner, 38, is hoping for the best as he sends 5-2 favorite K J Ben into the $100,000 DSBF final for 2-year-old pacing males in what is so far the most lucrative race of his training career. The colt, who is owned by Scott Woogen of Virginia, starts from post four for driver Art Stafford Jr.

“You always want to see them do good,” said Wagner, who trains a stable of close to 20 horses in Centreville, Md.

Fotowon photo

K J Ben heads into the DSBF final with four wins in five lifetime starts.

K J Ben (Riggins-Winsmith Karen) goes into the race with an impressive record of four wins from just five lifetime starts. He won both of his DSBF eliminations handily, the first on Oct. 7 in 1:54.1 and the second on Oct. 14 in 1:55. Wagner considers K J Ben’s 1:54.1 win — a new lifetime mark — his best yet, as he overcame interference at the start to quickly make the front end and take command of the field.

“Art asked him to go and he just took off,” Wagner said.

He’s pleased with the year K J Ben is having but not particularly surprised. He said he knew from the start the well-behaved colt had speed. He also knew the colt came from a solid family. Working in years past with his uncle John Wagner, Duane Wagner has cared for several of Winsmith Karen’s eight foals of racing age — five of whom are still on the track in 2014. He particularly remembers Winsmith Art p,4,1:50.3f ($202,313) and Winsmith Syd p,3,1:51.4f ($123,487).

“They had speed but I was hoping he wouldn’t act like them,” he said, adding that each had been a handful.

He was in luck, as K J Ben has been a gentleman from the start.

“He was a great looking baby and as soon as we walked him into the barn he looked like a champ,” said Erica Hanley, Wagner’s girlfriend, who accompanies K J Ben to the track on race nights.

Wagner said the colt requires little in the way of special attention, with a basic jogging and training regimen, and enjoys a few days in the field after every race.

“He’s just been a good horse from the start,” Wagner said, adding that credit for the horse’s care went to everyone who helped out in the barn. “It’s a team effort.”

Hanley agreed.

“There are a lot of people that work behind the scenes,” she said. “The Wagners say it takes a strong team to make the dream.”

Wagner says he plans to give K J Ben a few weeks off after Tuesday’s race before he begins prepping him for the second round of Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund races at Dover Downs.