by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY — He captured five of his 11 starts and secured $131,525 in his first year of racing, yet Roadside Delight didn’t quite live up to his connections’ expectations.

“In fact, we were a little disappointed,” explained Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman, the colt’s conditioner. “I thought he was a little unlucky a couple of times and should have done better than what he did.”

The 3-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight-Road Sign, who is owned by David McDuffee of Delray Beach, Florida, mainly vied in New York Sire Stakes company his freshman year, finished second twice in addition to his five victories, and took a mark of 1:53.2f.

Fred Brown photo

Roadside Delight has won six times in his career, with earnings of $142,775.

Roadside Delight did not shy away from top company. In his first pari-mutuel engagement, he finished sixth in the $38,700 Goshen Cup at the Meadowlands on July 3, before breaking his maiden at Buffalo Raceway on July 10, in a $19,980 New York Sire Stakes event. The colt also had his picture taken in his next start at Monticello Raceway on July 25, and then came home seventh in a $54,000 division of the Niatross on August 6 at the Meadowlands.

The colt returned to the New York Sire Stakes circuit where he posted a record of 3-2-0 from his next five starts and established his freshman mark of 1:53.2 on September 4 at Tioga Downs.

Roadside Delight finished fifth in the $200,000 New York Sire Stakes final at Yonkers Raceway as the favorite and closed out his 2010 season with a fifth in his $25,000 Breeders Crown elimination on October 1 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs after breaking at the start.

From two starts this year, the colt finished second in a $20,000 non-winners clash at Harrah’s Chester on May 15 and first in a $12,500 Empire Classic Breeders elimination on May 22. He will leave from the one hole in the $289,925 final on Sunday, May 29, at Tioga Downs. In his victory last week, the colt lowered his lifetime mark to 1:50.1f.

“We bought him as a yearling in Kentucky,” Norman said. “He was and is a beautiful-looking horse that really caught our eye. He’s black and medium-sized, but a very strong-looking horse.

“He was also a nice horse right from the start,” he continued. “He was very easy to train and we have had no complaints or issues.”

Although he is a well-mannered horse, Roadside Delight does demand attention around the barn.

“Well, he’s a stud and he knows it,” his trainer said. “You have to watch him, because he’ll shake hands with you if you let him, but it’s just because he’s a good-feeling horse and enjoys every day. We basically let him do whatever he wants.”

Just like people, no racehorse is without flaws, but the colt’s trainer feels he possesses a plethora of skills to aid his success.

“He’s a little bigger and stronger this year,” Norman said. “He has a great gait and wears, I think, a 61-inch hopple with no boots. He’s also very versatile and very easy to drive; you can do anything you want with him. He can leave the gate very quickly, but he’s very relaxed and drops the bit quickly. His strong point is that he has extremely high speed.”

Much like last year, Roadside Delight will participate in New York Sire Stakes events, but his connections do have him staked to some of the sport’s top races.

“Obviously, he’s in the New York races and he’s in some other good races, like the (Little Brown) Jug,” Norman said. “He’s been an easy horse right from the beginning and we will see how the season progresses.”

$289,925 Empire Breeders Classic Final-3CP
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Roadside Delight-George Brennan-R. Nifty Norman
2-Fantaddy-Scott Zeron-Tony O’Sullivan
3-Sir Ziggy’s Z Tam-Patrick Lachance-Patrick Lachance
4-Samandar-Brian Sears-Larry Rathbone
5-Fashion Delight-David Miller-Jim Campbell
6-Feel Like A Fool-Brian Sears-George Teague, Jr.
7-Flipper J-Tim Tetrick-Linda Toscano
8-Bettor’s Green-Greg Grismore-Benjamin Wallace
9-American Arena-Simon Allard-Noel Daley