by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY — At age five, Dennis is definitely old enough to be considered a mature adult, but his connections say when he’s not on the track, he behaves much more akin to a small child.

“In the barn, he really is just like a little kid,” said Tabitha Teresczuk, who is the trotter’s conditioner. “He wants to play and be loved all the time. He’s spoiled to death, but he’s a sweetie and is real good to be around.”

A homebred for Robert Slowey, Anthony Minute and Dennis Osterholt, the son of Lindy Lane-Betty Jean has bankrolled $395,987 from the 57 miles he has trotted, with 15 triumphs, 10 second placings and 5 third place finishes.

USTA/Ed Keys photo

Dennis became the fastest 3-year-old trotting gelding on a half-mile oval when he captured an Old Oaken Bucket division in 2008.

He established his lifetime mark and set a world record for a sophomore gelding on a half-mile track when he captured an Old Oaken Bucket division in 1:53.3 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds on September 18, 2008. Dennis also finished second in that year’s Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship for his age and gender and checked in sixth in his Hambletonian elimination.

Previously trained by Roland Mallar, until November of last year, he now competes primarily in overnight events on the East Coast for Teresczuk.

“Roland was going down to Pinehurst for the winter and they wanted to race him over the winter, so his owners decided to leave him up here with me, since I have some of Dennis’ (Osterholt) horses,” Teresczuk, a resident of Washington, Pa., explained.

Although he’s very mischievous and good-humored, Dennis realizes when his hooves hit the oval, it’s time to work.

“I can’t say a bad thing about him,” Teresczuk, who currently is in charge of four head, said. “He really is just that good about everything. He knows he’s a good horse and anybody can jog him. He wears hobbles while he races, but trains without them.

“Roland put hobbles on him when he was two and he’s been super with them,” she continued. “He’s very nicely gaited, but I think they steady him as fast as he has to go and I don’t think it can hurt anything, so why change it?”

The gelding always puts forth his best no matter what size the track is, yet it seems his premier performances have come over a half-mile surface.

“I do think he is a lot better on a half,” Teresczuk offered. “That is where he set his mark at three and he raced at Yonkers about a month or so ago in (1):56 and a piece, so he does definitely seem better on a half, even though he will race at the Meadowlands again this Friday night (March 12).”

Plans for the remainder of his 2010 campaign have not been finalized, but Teresczuk is providing Dennis with a change of scenery over the next week.

“I’m moving to the Poconos next week and we are going to race him there at the same level over the summer,” she said. “The first week I had him, he won there and he really seems to like that track. He’s not very big, but he’s such a good horse. I’m lucky to have good horses and really enjoy them.”

March 12-Race 7-Meadowlands-$21,000 Conditioned Trot
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Yankee Frenzy-David Miller-Kelly Stackowicz
2-American Lane-George Brennan-Carl Cito, Jr.
3-Berndt Energy-Yannick Gingras-Jordan Rubin
4-Spam Spade-Tim Tetrick-Laura Shock
5-Fox Valley Lover-Ron Pierce-Eric Abbatiello
6-Gelato Man-David Miller-Mark Ford
7-Wild Wind-Daniel Dube-Jim Raymer
8-Impressive Earl-George Brennan-Lou Pena
9-Dennis-Brian Sears-Tabitha Teresczuk
10-B Cor Terry-Andy Miller-Tom Fanning