by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

Du Quoin, IL — Ron Gurfein, co-owner with Rosalie and Jerry Silva of Great Success, sends the colt out from post three in Saturday’s (September 1) World Trotting Derby.

Great Success was out of contention when he was impeded in the American-National on August 25 at Balmoral.

“He was right behind Xactly Hanover when he made a break,” said Gurfein. “Both my horses (Jimmy Shin was the other) were knocked out of the race.”

Gurfein is clear about Great Success’ (a $7,000 yearling) strong suit.

“The strongest part of his game is I own him,” says Gurfein, who won the World Trotting Derby in 1996 with the filly Continentalvictory. “He’s won almost a quarter of a million dollars ($224,159). He’s a nice, ordinary horse, never in the headlines, he hasn’t won a race, but he’s family property. I have children in graduate school.”

Gurfein doesn’t see any circumstances that could lead to a horse other than Donato Hanover winning the World Trotting Derby, except for one.

“An earthquake,” he says. “It’s a nice race (for the rest of the field) for $300,000 (the part of the purse the field other than the winner competes for).”

He’s more optimistic about the chances of Possess The Magic in the World Trotting Derby for fillies. Both Great Success and Possess The Magic are progeny of Self Possessed, who Gurfein trained to the win in the 1999 Hambletonian.

“If she doesn’t win, I’ll be very, very disappointed,” said Gurfein.

Possess The Magic was the favorite to win the $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks on August 4, but the filly finished fifth, after leading at the half and the three-quarter-mile marks. Gurfein said after the race that he thought the heat (88 degrees) affected her.

It was a 21-day layoff for her between the Oaks and the August 25 American-National at Balmoral (near Chicago), where she finished second to Oaks winner Danae. Gurfein said the filly was, “Not that good,” headed into the American-National.

“Four days before Chicago, I was wondering if I should put her in the box,” said Gurfein, “but she raced great and she’s back to herself.”

Gurfein will have the services of Mike Lachance, the usual driver for horses from his stable, for Possess The Magic.

“Mike will race her conservatively. It doesn’t really matter (what post position she has relative to Oaks and American-National winner Danae), she can race from behind. She’s been much the best in most of her races, so she hasn’t had to come from behind. You can do anything you want with her, it’s like driving a car.”