by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

Du Quoin, IL — The father-son team of trainer Doug Ackerman and his son, driver D.R. Ackerman, have both a colt and a filly in the World Trotting Derby. The same duo sent out the 2006 World Trotting Derby winner Chocolatier.

Superior Judge, who will start from post eight, is the Ackermans’ entry for the World Trotting Derby. He’s coming into the race off three fourth-place finishes, the most recent in the American-National Stake at Balmoral Park on August 25.

USTA/Ellen Harvey photo

Superior Judge and trainer Doug Ackerman are preparing for the World Trotting Derby at the Du Quoin State Fair.

“He could have been way better earlier,” said the senior Ackerman. “I thought he was in line to go to the Hambletonian and maybe do some good, but apparently he didn’t want to go, because he just went to breaking for no reason whatsoever. We could not figure it out, but as soon as the Hambletonian was over, he came right around. We were trying to (make equipment and shoeing changes) but it wasn’t working and I don’t know what we did to finally put it back together. He just came unraveled and then got back together on his own. I can’t say what we did.”

Ackerman’s doubtful that Super Judge has the speed needed to be competitive with this group.

“He can get in the middle of the pack, but he’ll be no threat. He’s very willing and gives it an honest go. He’s a little hot in the head sometimes, that part’s been cleared up, now he just needs to go a little faster.”

Real Hope, an Ackerman homebred, is coming into the World Trotting Derby for fillies off a third place finish in the Review Stake at Springfield on August 13. Her career has been plagued with problems staying on stride, as she made breaks in each of her first five efforts to qualify this year.

“She had some breaking problems,” said D.R. Ackerman. “I don’t know why. We thought we had her going and then she kind of got going, but she’s in over her head essentially. She tries, she’s just not a stakes-caliber level, she’s a step below. She won her first start as a 2-year-old at Hawthorne in 2:00 and a last quarter in :28, but that’s about what she does. Her motor’s not big enough. She does everything very willingly but it’s not enough.”