by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY — Nearly three decades ago, Ted and Susan Colby decided to purchase their first harness horse to seek succor from an overwhelming personal tragedy. Neither party ever imagined their efforts to heal would eventually produce Special Sweetheart, one of the leading contenders in this year’s Jugette, to be raced on Wednesday (Sept. 23) at the Delaware County Fair.

“My wife and I became involved with horses after the death of our child from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS,)” the 69-year-old resident of Bronxville, N.Y., explained. “At the time we couldn’t really afford race horses, but we needed a diversion or something to do.

“We realize how fortunate we are to have had as much luck as we have had in this business,” Colby, who owns only one broodmare, which is Special Sweetheart’s dam, Ladys Special Girl, continued. “There are people who try to do this for years and never get big stakes winners. It’s only been possible with the help of Bob Marks of Perretti Farms, Mr. Galbraith in Durham, Ontario, our trainer Tom Artandi and Anette Lorentzon, whose farm this filly races out of and who has taken such good care of her.”

The Colbys claimed Special Sweetheart’s second dam Threeforyourlady (p,5,1:53.1f, $307,268) in Canada and in her second career she produced only two foals, Score Like Mike (p,2,1:53.2, $113,399) by Presidential Ball and Ladys Special Girl (p,2,1.52.4, $144, 204) by Artiscape.

After contracting EPM, Score Like Mike was sold, while the Colbys decided to keep Ladys Special Girl, who held a track record at The Meadowlands and was a stakes winner, as a broodmare after a farm accident nearly claimed her life during her freshman campaign.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Special Sweetheart (#4) edged Ginger And Fred by one length in the $350,000 Valley Forge last month at Harrah’s Chester.

The mare’s first foal, the 4-year-old I’m Just Special, is by Camluck and has earned nearly $500,000, while Special Sweetheart, who is sired by Western Ideal, has collected $541,519, with more than $375,000 of her bankroll amassed this year. Both fillies were named after the Colbys’ first two granddaughters, who they nicknamed ‘special’ and ‘sweetheart’ respectively.

“I have the Camluck filly too, but I knew this one (Special Sweetheart) was more talented shortly after I broke her,” conditioner Tom Artandi said. “She had some little things bothering her last year, like allergies when I took her to the Meadowlands, but she turned out just fine.”

As a freshman, Special Sweetheart, who is co-owned by Colby’s brother, Melvyn, finished second in the $462,150 final of the Three Diamonds at Woodbine and in her $25,000 Breeders Crown elimination. She paced home eighth in the $700,000 2-Year-Old Filly Pace Breeders Crown Final.

This year, the filly has finished fourth in the $591,600 Fan Hanover final at Mohawk Racetrack, the $405,000 Mistletoe Shalee at the Meadowlands, the $220,034 Simcoe Stakes at Mohawk and the $252,700 Nadia Lobell at The Red Mile. When Special Sweetheart captured the $350,000 Valley Forge at Harrah’s Chester she defeated Jugette rival Ginger And Fred as well as the previously undefeated (in 2009) Not Enough.

“I was so overcome with emotion when she won the Valley Forge over those other fillies,” remembered Colby. “I just love her and never thought one of my horses would win an important race like that.”

Artandi feels Special Sweetheart, who will be reined by last year’s Jug-winning driver, David Miller, will provide a good account of her ability in the Jugette.

“Post position means a lot here (at Delaware) but her first couple races were on a half-mile track and she did well,” he said. “You can’t come from off the pace and win, but she’s a clean-gaited, long-striding filly that’s easy on herself, so I think she will be just fine.”

After the Jugette is contested, Special Sweetheart’s connections are not exactly sure what spot she will be targeted for, but they do know two things pertaining to her future.

“As long as she continues to compete at a high level, we will continue to race her,” Colby said. “As soon as she acts like she can’t do that anymore, we will bring her home and make her a broodmare.”

Following are the first-heat fields for the Jugette in post position order with listed drivers, trainers and odds. A horse must win two heats to be declared the Jugette winner. The top four finishers from the first heats will return for the second.

Heat One: 1. Ginger And Fred, Dave Palone, Ron Burke, 5-2; 2. Perfectionist, Dave Palone, Jimmy Takter, 6-1; 3. West Of LA, John Campbell, Bob McIntosh, 12-1; 4. She’s A Fan, Jody Jamieson, Carl Jamieson, 7-2; 5. Special Sweetheart, David Miller, Tom Artandi, 2-1; 6. Pedigree Snob, Jim Morrill, Jr., Noel Daley, 10-1; 7. Kabbalah Karen B, Mark MacDonald, Tracy Brainard, 8-1.

Owners: 1. Howard Taylor, Robert Feldman, Edwin Gold, Jerry Silva; 2. Brittany Farms; 3. Robert McIntosh Stables, CSX Stables, Al McIntosh Holdings; 4. Carl Jamieson, Thomas Kyron, Hope Johnson, George Harrison; 5. 4 For 3 Stable; 6. David Scharf, Steve Jones; 7. Bulletproof Enterprises.

Heat Two: 1. Showherthemoney, Jim Morrill, Jr., Tracy Brainard, 7-5; 2. Warrawee Kay, Ron Pierce, Mike Roth, 4-1; 3. Kiss Me Kate, John Campbell, Jimmy Takter, 3-1; 4. Arbeedo, George Brennan, Richard Norman, 10-1; 5. Cams Van Go, David Miller, Marty Wollam, 12-1; 6. Notjustaprettyface, Tim Tetrick, Merv Chupp, 6-1; 7. I’m Not Gonna Lie, Daniel Dube, Jimmy Takter, 8-1; 8. Pumptuous, Brad Hanners, Hanners, 15-1.

Owners: 1. Bulletproof Enterprises; 2. Alan Keith; 3. Christina Takter, John Fielding, RAW Equine; 4. David McDuffee; 5. Chris Arold, Kenneth Kohut, Michael Drury; 6. Chupp Racing Stable; 7. Toby Rekoon, Brian Gordon, Kenneth Wood, Harvey Poe; 8. Rodney Mitchell Inc.