by Charlene Polk, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Ft. Washington, MD — Many of us have been warned through the years not to put all of our eggs in one basket. Old as it may be, the adage proves itself true again and again. Longtime Standardbred breeder/owner Tom Cooke was recently reminded of that.

In 2005, Cooke, a Maryland breeder, decided to breed three of his broodmares to Delaware stallions in hopes of participating in the state’s lucrative stakes program. Going along with the popular trend, he bred two of those mares to Badlands Hanover but decided to breed the third, Glowing Hans, to Powerful Toy. While Cooke has had no success with either of the Badlands Hanover offspring, the filly produced from that Powerful Toy mating has made him $84,454 in just nine starts this year.

“Powerful Toy was a risky choice,” Cooke said. “But it worked perfectly for us. It was the luck of the draw. We broke into Delaware with our first endeavor.”

Fotowon photo

Tom’s Toy was a 1:54.4 winner in her $100,000 DSBF final on Dec. 8 at Dover.

Cooke’s aptly named filly, Tom’s Toy, had four wins and three thirds as a 2-year-old in 2008, racing primarily in Delaware, although she is trained by longtime Maryland horseman Roger Hans. Each of the filly’s wins came in Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund events, including the $100,000 final at Dover Dec. 8. Although she did not go off the favorite that night, the filly’s 1:54.4 win should not have shocked anyone, following her 15-1/2 length romp the previous week.

Although the filly stands out on the track, Richard Hans, who helps care for Tom’s Toy, says there’s nothing too unusual about her.

“She’s pretty nondescript,” he said. “She wears a headpole and a shadow roll.”

And apparently that’s all she needs, as regular reinsman Corey Callahan has nothing negative to say about the 2-year-old, who won her last three starts for him.

“She’s a very talented filly,” Callahan said. “She’s two fingers. She can leave, but she’s just as good from the back. I like her better that way because she can explode off cover.”

While Tom’s Toy may be talented, Cooke is quick to credit her driver.

“If any driver fits a horse like a glove,” he said, “it’s Corey with this horse. The two got along very well.”

Cooke hopes the two will continue to find success together in the spring. Although Tom’s Toy was turned out as soon as she completed her last 2008 stake race, she will be ready to go in time for the spring’s 3-year-old stakes.

The break will give Cooke, who has been in the business since 1987, time to reflect on another successful year. Along with Tom’s Toy, he did well with 2-year-old gelding trotter Vinegar Hill 2:01.4f ($34,765), a top performer in the Maryland Sire Stakes program.

“I can say with certainty we’re in the black because of Tom’s Toy and Vinegar Hill,” Cooke said. “The babies are picking up for what the older horses haven’t done.”

Regardless, however, of how his horses performed during the past year, Cooke would have had trouble making a profit racing solely in Maryland.

“We’ve been very lucky,” he said. “Chester has been gracious. They helped me save my stable.”

Cooke, who currently owns 35 horses, said had he known years ago that Freestate Raceway would close, he probably would not have even gotten involved in harness racing.

“I got involved because I fell in love with Freestate,” he said. “I lived near there. I thought it was the perfect summer track. The next thing you know we’ve got a good-sized stable.”

And although Maryland racing has suffered in recent years, now that the state has legalized slot machines Cooke is optimistic. The owner of stallions Nuclear Breeze, Cam’s Rocket sand the dearly departed Nuclear High, says he is even looking for a trotting stallion to stand in the state.

“Maryland is without a reputable trotting stallion,” he said. “If you breed in Maryland this season your foal should be eligible for the slots enhanced revenue coming down the pike.”

And until then, Cooke can spend a little more time in Delaware.