by Joshua Potts, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Springfield, IL — Most horses go their entire career without pacing a final quarter in under :26. Jolly Lester is not in that category. After all, he accomplished the feat in August of his 2-year-old campaign.

Bred and owned by Larry Breed of Stockton, Illinois, Jolly Lester is a 3-year-old gelding by Sportsmaster, out of the Incredible Finale mare U Olive. During his 2007 freshman season, the Illinois-bred went 18-6-5-4 and banked $107,799.

After beginning his career with a second place finish in an Illinois Standardbred Owners and Breeders Association (ISOBA) summer preview race at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Jolly Lester won five of seven races on the county fair circuit.

But it was in his next start, his Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes elimination on August 10 of last year, when people really started to take notice of his talent. After sitting in seventh place, 4-1/4 lengths from the front at the three-quarter pole, Jolly Lester unleashed a final quarter of :25.3 to come within 1-1/4 lengths of the race winner, Chevie Classic Rod. He went on to finish third in the final one week later.

Balmoral Park photo

Jolly Lester posted his 2-year-old mark of 1:51.4 in capturing an Orange and Blue elimination.

Jolly Lester’s biggest win of the season came on September 8 in his Orange and Blue elimination at Balmoral Park. That night, he took his lifetime mark of 1:51.4. In the $270,000 Orange and Blue final the following week, he finished a good second, a neck behind fellow Tom Simmons-trainee Froggy Turner.

“I liked (Jolly Lester) right off the bat at the fairs,” said Simmons. “He’s very quick. You can turn him on and off easy. If he gets loose, he wins some of his big races at Du Quoin and Springfield.”

Jolly Lester finished third in the $85,000 Governor’s Cup Championship at Du Quoin.

“In some of his races, his neck was bowed trying to get out, but there wasn’t always room. If he gets out, he wins,” said the veteran trainer.

Simmons looks forward to the pacer’s 2008 sophomore campaign.

“He’s good. He’s been back in here for a few weeks. He’s grown a little bit, put on a little weight. There’s no big trick to him.

“I think he’ll be a nice 3-year-old. He wasn’t really pushed last year. He sat while others were out cutting miles and going first over. He had a lot of good trips. (Driver) Dale Hiteman did a good job.”

Needless to say, Simmons is pleased with his charge’s success. Furthermore, he’s happy for owner-breeder Larry Breed, who he describes as a “great owner and a super guy.”

There are several good ones in the Illinois-bred sophomore pacing set this season. Can Jolly Lester’s mighty closing kick propel him to divisional honors by year’s end?

All we know is that it will be fun to watch and find out.