by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY — She’s made $204,369 in 2012, sports a record of 7-3-1-2 and lowered her lifetime mark to 1:49.4 on July 21, so Howard Taylor is certainly not dejected about how his world champion Economy Terror has performed this year. In fact, he’s looking forward to the rest of her season.

“She’s had some rough trips this year,” explained the Philadelphia attorney. “She bled in the Lynch and she tied up last week too (after capturing a $104,630 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes contest at Pocono Downs on August 11). I hate to make excuses as she won, but she was 1-9 and didn’t win like a 1-9 should.

“I used to think we were a better horse than American Jewel and Brian (Sears) told me after she beat us in the She’s A Great Lady last year not to get discouraged because by the end of the year we would beat her,” he continued. “Then when she came back this year after the broken bone and beat us again in Canada (in the Fan Hanover) I resigned myself to the fact maybe we aren’t the better horse, but then I see American Jewel getting beat, so I don’t know what to think. No matter what I’m still as proud of her as I can be and she definitely hasn’t laid any eggs. She has raced well and keeps fighting.”

The daughter of Western Terror-Mattatonic, owned by Taylor, Ed Gold and Chuck Pompey, is a full sister to millionaire Yellow Diamond and to Fateful Choice, who was a $170,000 yearling purchase at the 2011 Lexington Selected Sale.

Lisa photo

Economy Terror will start from post seven in the Valley Forge on Sunday at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Economy Terror has earned $1,130,889 from 18 starts. She has 11 wins, which include a victory in the $600,000 Breeders Crown 2-year-old filly pace and a new world standard for her age and gender in the $380,000 Three Diamonds in her last start of the season on November 13, 2011 at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

The filly commenced her 2012 season with a victory in a $63,658 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes contest on May 24 at Harrah’s Philadelphia, followed that up with a third in her $33,950 elimination of the Fan Hanover at Mohawk on June 9 and then came home fifth in the $629,160 final the next week after a brutal outside trip.

Economy Terror was second in her $20,000 Lynch elimination at Pocono on June 23 and finished third in the final behind American Jewel and Darena Hanover after setting a world record pace, with a :27.3 third quarter.

After bleeding in that contest, her connections added Lasix and she has had her picture taken in two subsequent Pennsylvania Sire Stakes contests at The Meadows on July 21, in which she set her lifetime mark, and on August 11 at Pocono Downs.

Her next engagement is another clash with rival American Jewel on Sunday (August 19) at Harrah’s Philadelphia in the $350,000 Valley Forge. The race is the 10th on the program and Economy Terror will leave from the seven hole as the 4-1 third choice.

“I didn’t want to look (at the draw),” Taylor said. “I had two overnight horses at Pocono and they both drew the eight hole and then I looked at Chester, where she drew seven out of eight and Fred (Fred And Ginger) drew the eight. I really think he still has a shot from the eight hole and I’ve had this race circled for her, as my office and home are only 20 minutes from the track, but she has her work cut out for her from the seven hole. I do still think we can win though, it just is going to be a tough trip.”

After her appearance in Philadelphia, Economy Terror will begin to travel.

“She has the Sire Stakes final on September 1,” Taylor said. “Then she goes to the Jugette, which we are looking forward to. She has never been on a half-mile track for a race but she trains on one and we expect her to move up on that surface as she is perfect on the turns. She can also leave quickly and can handle dirt. I like that she can leave strongly and when we have to fire her out of the gate she can do it. Unfortunately we will probably have to do that this weekend. Then she has Lexington, the Bluegrass and the (Glen Garnsey), then it’s on to the Breeders Crown and then the (Lady Maud) at the end of the year. She has a full dance card.”

Taylor has not lost faith in his filly and is eager to see what she accomplishes throughout the duration of 2012.

“She never seems to get a trip and is always first over or parked, for whatever reason, but she always fights on,” he said. “She looks really good right now. She’s just massive and looks like a boy. She’s all muscle, wide and tall. I’m hoping this week is the one where she gets a little bit of luck and show’s how good she really is. I haven’t lost confidence in her and I still think she’s better than 95 to 99 percent of what else is out there. She will show what she is made of. I haven’t conceded that to anything else yet.”

Here is the field in post position order for the Valley Forge, with listed drivers and trainers: 1. Big McDeal, Jody Jamieson, Benjamin Wallace; 2. American Jewel, Tim Tetrick, Jimmy Takter; 3. Dream Of Winning, John Campbell, Aaron Johnston; 4. Major Look, Andy Miller, Kevin McDermott; 5. Romantic Moment, Yannick Gingras, Takter; 6. Destiny’s Chance, Matt Kakaley, Ron Burke; 7. Economy Terror, Brian Sears, Chris Oakes; 8. Handsoffmycookie, David Miller, Scott DiDomenico.