by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

Freehold, NJ — Buck I St Pat defends her 2009 track record victory in the $150,000 Conway Hall Stake on Friday night (Sept. 10) at Vernon Downs. It will be the 87th lifetime start for the 7-year-old trotting mare, who has already compiled her largest seasonal earnings to date this year, besting her 2008 earnings, by precisely one dollar, to $411,725. Her lifetime tallies are $1,813,677 in earnings from 86 races and 46 wins for owners Howard Taylor, Edwin Gold, Abraham Basen and Ron Fuller. She’s improved her fastest time each year since she started racing as a 2-year-old, to the current 1:51.

Trainer Ron Burke admits even he is surprised that Buck I St Pat has been so good, so long.

USTA/Ed Keys photo

Buck I St Pat is closing in on the $2 million mark in her brilliant career.

“I think as much as anything, it’s the way she races,” says Burke. “Due to the fact that she prefers to race from the back, she never really gets stretched out and over exerted, so it’s easier for her career to extend itself. I really thought this would be her last year but I’ll be the first to admit, she’s better this year than she’s ever been (13-6-2-3 this year).

“I’ve always said she’s capable, at Lexington, of 1:50. Never been a doubt in my mind, with the right setup, the right horses. She’d need someone to help her get to the three-quarters on time but if they got her down there close, even if they got her to the three-quarters on a perfect day in 1:23 or (1):22 and a piece, I honestly believe she could trot in 1:50. That track just fits her perfectly.

“Part of the reason I am excited to race her at the Poconos (in the Breeders Crown on October 9) is the same thing, a forgiving track. Horses that have little problems, it’s going to pick them up a little more. I’d love to see it be a super hot day in October and see what all these horses can do. I honestly believe that if it was warm every horse would break world records. I can’t wait, I think it’s going to be a great day.

“She takes less work than any other horse in our barn. We have actually changed our ways a little bit for her. She just doesn’t seem to need the work, she’s more Thoroughbred than Standardbred. She takes less work and more time to recuperate between races to get ready for a race. Over racing doesn’t help her and she just keeps herself fit now. She’s just the nicest horse to be around and as always, a good attitude, wanting to do her work.

“She’s turned out every day and jogs every day. I’m pretty big on believing you’ve got to train them hard to keep them tight and fit but she’s the one horse I back off on a little bit. Most times, I don’t think they need it for their physical part, I think you have to keep them mentally sharp. On her own, she keeps herself mentally sharp and aggressive and that makes her a lot easier. That helps.”

Burke says Buck St Pat was nervous as a youngster and while she ate as much food as she was given, she worried a lot of it off.

“I think that’s why she’s become a better horse,” he noted. “At the end of her 3-year-old year, she looked like an Ethiopian refugee camp victim. By four, she started putting on weight and now, she’s a pretty good sized mare. She’s also lasting long because she can maintain her weight and not get gaunt and raced out. Maybe there’s a point with trotters especially, taking your time and let them mature, seven and eight could be their best years.”

The $150,000 Conway Hall has been slated for race number six on Friday night’s Vernon Downs card that kicks off at 6:55 p.m.

The field is listed below:

HN-PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-7-Southwind Wasabi-Josh Marks-Ron Burke
1A-8-Buck I St Pat-Tim Tetrick–Ron Burke
2-1-Broadway Paige-Jimmy Whittemore-Angus MacDonald
3-2-Windsong Soprano-Andy Miller-Robert McIntosh
4-3-Elusive Desire-Trond Smedshammer-Michael Keeling
5-4-Yursa Hanover-Daniel Dube-Benoit Baillargeon
6-5-Autumn Escapade-David Miller-Jonas Czernyson
7-6-Highscore Kemp-Frank Antonacci–Frank Antonacci