All Bets Off to make season’s debut in Van Rose Memorial
May 1, 2015,by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent
Kimberly French
Louisville, KY — He has resided in Ron Burke’s barn for the last 20 months, yet All Bets Off would never be the horse he has become without learning his early paces from Michael Sinclair on the New York Sires Stake circuit.
“Michael Sinclair deserves all the credit for this horse,” said Burke. “He did a tremendous job developing him and I can’t say enough good things about him. He is why this horse is still what he is today.”
After his stakes record victory (1:51.1) in the $500,000 Messenger Stake on Oct. 25, 2014, All Bets Off was eighth, fourth and sixth in his final performances of a very lucrative sophomore campaign. After a winter vacation and two qualifying contests within the last two weeks, the stallion is prepared to commence his 4-year-old campaign Saturday (May 2) in the $50,000 Van Rose Memorial Invitational Pace at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
The 2014 Messenger Pace and Art Rooney Pace victor will leave from post position five in race 10 with regular pilot Matt Kakaley in the sulky. All Bets Off is 6-1 on the morning line and faces stiff competition from the likes of favored recent George Morton Levy series winner Domethatagain; Bandolito, who has paced the swiftest mile this year on any size track by virtue of his 1:48.1 performance on March 26; the very talented Beach Memories; and world record holder Dancin Yankee.
“It’s not the easiest spot to start him out in,” Burke said. “But I had to get him going for the season and no spot for him would have been easy. I think he is prepared and will do very well.”
All Bets Off is a son of Bettor’s Delight and the Dexter Nukes mare Armbro Penelope. Purchased for $7,000 at the 2012 Standardbred Horse Sale, the stallion is a full brother to Penny Pincher p,1:52.3f ($253,208) and a half sibling to Armbro Vagarious p,4,1:53.2h ($168,599), Respectednbeloved p,4,1:51.4s ($173,102) and Armbro Carruthers p,1:51.3 ($341, 878).
Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, The Panhellenic Stb Corp. and the estate of Rosemary Shelswell, All Bets Off debuted with consecutive fifth place finishes in July 2013 at Georgian Downs and Buffalo Raceway.
He collected his first victory on July 21, 2013, in a $4,200 non-winners contest at Tioga Downs, before a fourth place finish and a fifth placed fourth in New York Sire Stakes races at Monticello Raceway and Tioga Downs. It was on Aug. 31, however, that All Bets Off appeared to have built upon his early foundation. He amassed a skein of three seconds in the Empire State and was purchased by Burke after the second placing.
In his second start for his new conditioner and owner, All Bets Off had his picture taken in the $50,000 Fall Harvest at Yonkers Raceway, before coming home second in a $49,300 Madison County division at Hoosier Park. In that race he finished ahead of Always B Miki and Let’s Drink On It. The colt then traveled to Dover Downs to compete in the Matron. He won his $51,525 elimination and the $154,575 final.
All Bets Off then enjoyed his annual winter vacation before returning to action on May 4, 2014 with a win in a $13,000 non-winners race at Harrah’s Philadelphia. He followed that appearance with a second place finish in a $15,000 non-winners contest at Pocono.
The colt then proceeded to reel off four consecutive victories, including the $300,000 Art Rooney Pace final and his $25,000 Max Hempt elimination. He was third in the $500,000 Hempt final. All Bets Off then continued his 2014 season by capturing the $400,000 Carl Milstein Memorial at Northfield Park, the $225,000 New York Sire Stakes final and the $500,000 Messenger final.
He ended his year with a career record of 30-15-6-1, purse money of $1,098,092 and a lifetime mark of 1:48.3f.
“He is just a really cool horse,” Burke said. “I think he is even Matt’s (Kakaley) favorite horse to drive. He was ready to go when we received him and all we need to do is make him happy. I think he might be a better horse on a half, but he can go anywhere.”
This year, Burke is attempting to alter the horse’s racing style as he joins the ranks of older competitors.
“He has always been a horse that goes to the front and stays there,” his trainer said. “He likes to be on the front and he’s a stubborn horse, so he doesn’t allow other horses to go by him, but we are teaching him to come from off the pace. That is what we were doing in his qualifying races.
“He is a very intelligent animal, as all the Bettor’s Delights are, and after last week (a third place finish behind former barnmate Somesizesomestyle and stablemate JK Endofanera) I am really pleased with him. We pulled him back (he was next to last until the top of the stretch) and then he came right home (:26 last quarter).”
After All Bets Off participates in the Van Rose Memorial, Burke expects another quality season from the stallion.
“He is a very nice horse,” he said. “I am looking towards him to have a great year and step up to take the spots of some of the older horses in the barn. I think he will be a top horse in his division, but again it really is because of the efforts of Michael Sinclair and his time there. I’ve really enjoyed the cooperation with him.”
Following is the field for the Van Rose Memorial in post order with listed drivers, trainers and morning line:
1. Bandolito, Daryl Bier, Daryl Bier, 4-1
2. Domethatagain, Simon Allard, Rene Allard, 5-2
3. Beach Memories, Jim Morrill Jr., Scott DiDomenico, 3-1
4. Alexa’s Jackpot, Joe Pavia Jr., Marty Fine, 20-1
5. All Bets Off, Matt Kakaley, Ron Burke, 6-1
6. Modern Legend, James MacDonald, David Drew, 12-1
7. Bolt The Duer, Tom Jackson, Peter Foley, 15-1
8. Dancin Yankee, George Napolitano Jr., Josh Green, 10-1
9. Luck Be Withyou, Anthony Napolitano, Chris Oakes, 5-1