by Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA
Timesareachanging is the top-ranked three-year-old male pacer in the most recent Standardbred poll, and third-rated overall, but Western Terror and Quik Pulse Mindale are lurking close behind. The results of races over the next month more than likely will determine which of the three is named the year’s top performer in the division. And someone might take a big step forward Sunday when the three meet in the $350,000 Progress Pace at Dover Downs.
Western Terror and Timesareachanging both won Progress Pace elimination races November 7 at Dover. Western Terror made up more than four lengths on leader Quik Pulse Mindale over the final quarter-mile to win in 1:50.3, just a fifth of a second off the track record set by Riverboat King in the 2000 Progress, in his elim. Quik Pulse Mindale, who was supplemented to the race for $25,000 finished second while Holborn Hanover was third and Metropolitan was fourth. Mantacular and Brandon’s Cowboy failed to advance to the final. Timesareachanging won his elimination race in 1:53. Crombes Last Laugh, Squaw’s Fella and All My Life also earned spots in the final while Sparkler and Driven To Win failed to move on.
For the year, Timesareachanging has won 10 of 18 starts and $1.05 million, tops among all male pacers. He has won the Adios and Little Brown Jug in addition to finishing in a dead-heat win with Western Terror in the Cane Pace. He was second in both the Meadowlands Pace and Messenger. As far as speed, he equaled the world record for a three-year-old gelding with a 1:48.4 clocking at the Meadowlands and set the world record (1:49.3) for three-year-olds on a five-eighths of a mile track when he won the Adios.
Western Terror has won seven of 20 starts this season and earned $892,005. He won the Breeders Crown and divisions of the Tattersalls and Bluegrass, was second in the Little Brown Jug and third in the Messenger. Quik Pulse Mindale has won 12 of 16 races and banked $595,131. He won the Provincial Cup, American-National and Motor City while finishing second in the Breeders Crown and third in a division of the Tattersalls. Quik Pulse Mindale equaled history’s fastest mile for a three-year-old with a 1:48 victory at Balmoral Park in September.
“I was sort of thinking about it and I think [Timesareachanging and Western Terror] deserve to be the two finalists,” said Brett Pelling, who trains Timesareachanging and Western Terror for owner Perfect World Enterprises. “Quik Pulse Mindale is a very good horse, a very fast horse, but I think both of my horses have put in some awesome performances. Some of their first-over efforts, to me, that’s what marks them. To come first-over from tough spots and win, you’ve got to be pretty special to do that.”
Timesareachanging, Western Terror and Quik Pulse Mindale could meet once more in the Matron at the end of November, also at Dover. “Right now, Western Terror is probably the stronger of the two. I’ve never seen a horse as possessed as him; he’s just raging, that horse. We’ve had some good horses here, and as much as I admire Timesareachanging, that horse is scary.”
Tony Morgan, who drives Quik Pulse Mindale for trainer Mike Arnold and owner Lloyd Arnold, said his colt came out of his elimination race in good shape and appears to be ready to finish the season strong.
“I’d say he’s a bit fresher than most of them,” Morgan said. “He’s been holding his own. I would say Western Terror and Quik Pulse are the sharpest right now.”
In addition to supplementing to the Progress Pace, the connections of Quik Pulse Mindale paid $62,500 to supplement him to the Breeders Crown (earning $138,750 with his second-place finish) and are willing to pay a supplement to get him into the Matron. A shot at a division title, Morgan admitted, is in the back of his mind.
“Sure, it would be nice if we did it; that’s always a nice feather in the cap,” Morgan said. “But no matter what, he’s a nice horse and he’s been a lot of fun for us.”
Following is the field for Sunday’s $350,000 Progress Pace at Dover Downs. Horses are listed in alphabetical order with most recent drivers and trainers.
Horse | 2004 Record | Driver | Trainer |
All My Life | 23-4-2-2 $93,444 1:51.4M | G. Brennan | M. Harder |
Crombes Last Laugh | 20-3-7-5 $77,449 1:50.3M | J. Campbell | N. Daley |
Holborn Hanover | 22-5-3-4 $755,949 1:49.0M | G. Brennan | M. Harder |
Metropolitan | 17-4-5-2 $820,633 1:50.1M | J. Campbell | C. Ryder |
Quik Pulse Mindale | 16-12-2-1 $595,131 1:48.0M | T. Morgan | M. Arnold |
Squaw’s Fella | 17-2-3-4 $80,173 1:54.0H | B. Sears | C. Connor Jr. |
Timesareachanging | 18-10-5-2 $1.05M 1:48.4M | R. Pierce | B. Pelling |
20-7-4-3 $892,005 1:48.3M | B. Sears | B. Pelling |