Northfield, OH — Sometimes it takes time for horses to mature into champions. Quick Trick, may have taken time to grow up and he has given his connections a lot to cheer for heading into Saturday’s (August 9) $100,000 Myron Charna President’s Pace at MGM Northfield Park.
As a 2-year-old, trainer Jeff Conger who co-owns with Knox Services Inc, started the son of Racing Hill on the fair circuit, something he thought the gelding needed before transitioning to some of the bigger stakes.
“He was really immature at two and didn’t really have his mind on racing,” said Conger. “I was hoping that if I raced him easier, he would get racier as time went on and we were right.”
Following a game fourth-place finish in the $40,000 Ohio Fair Championship at Northfield Park, the gelding was shut down in preparation for his 3-year-old campaign.
As he continued to mature, the gelding continued to get better with every start. He began his sophomore season with two straight wins, before stepping up in class to the Buckeye Stallion Series where he finished second in the first leg.
He returned “home” to MGM Northfield Park in the second leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series, he drew off in the stretch to win by 7-1/2 lengths in 1:51.4. He would not see the Buckeye Stallion Series again after that start.
“Quick (Trick) came along well as a 3-year-old, he loves to race from behind, the quick pace up front in these events played to his favor,” said Conger.
Quick Trick faced a tall task in his first start against Sires Stakes company, where he finished second by a head in 1:49.2. He fired right back in the next leg, and made short work of his foes winning by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:50.
In the $300,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Championship at Scioto Downs, Quick Trick rallied gamely from off the pace to finish third.
“The Sires Stakes Final was very exciting, but somewhat frustrating. I thought for sure he finished second, but when the numbers popped up, he was third,” said Conger.
Quick Trick has since become one of the top tiered Open class horses at MGM Northfield Park. In the 2024 Myron Charna President’s Pace, he closed late to finish a strong third.
While he hasn’t won since mid-June, his connections are confident about his chances in Saturday’s event.
“He gives his all every race and while the post position isn’t great the fast early fractions should help us,” Conger said.
No matter what happens on Saturday, nothing can take the positive attitude away from this star-studded gelding.
“He whinnies to the other horses in the morning, loves his treats, and he is a very fun horse to have in the barn,” said Conger.