by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY — He never imagined that during his lifetime he would own a possession he could not be parted from if the price was right, but Russ Beeman has altered his outlook after breeding and racing his Indiana Sire Stakes champion and namesake, Dontfusswithruss.

“People have called wanting to buy him and I never thought I would have something I wouldn’t sell, but I don’t want to sell him,” explained the Alexandria, Ind., resident. “And we came up with his name, because my wife would always tell my granddaughter don’t be fussing with Russ — meaning me — because you know what he does when you get him upset. It’s just something that kind of stuck and we named him that.”

By Elegant Man, Dontfusswithruss is the first foal out of ML Jezebel, who is a daughter of Armbro Rotary. The gelding trotted 13 pari- mutuel miles in 2011 with six victories, two seconds and one third, while earning $216,810 and establishing a lifetime mark of 1:57.

Trained by Melissa Essig and Roger Cullipher, he commenced his career with a third-place finish in a $3,000 Indiana Fair Circuit race at the Converse Fair on June 9 and in his next three starts at Hoosier Park in the George Sholty Series he finished fifth, first and fourth.

Coady Photography

Dontfusswithruss was a 1:59 winner in the $200,000 Indiana Sire Stakes Final on Oct. 22 at Indiana Downs.

At the beginning of August, the gelding was sent to Indiana Downs to participate in Sire Stakes contests and Dontfusswithruss was second in the first $40,000 leg of the series on August 5, collected his second lifetime victory in the $40,000 second leg on August 26, was fourth in the $40,000 third leg on September 2 and fifth in the $200,000 Final on September 10.

After that evening, however, the gelding must have decided he wanted his picture taken after every time he hit the wire. He triumphed in all four of his final engagements, which were three $40,000 Sire Stakes legs and the $200,000 Final, all at Indiana Downs.

“He got a little bit bigger and is more aggressive this year,” Beeman said. “Last year he would play around and not really want to do his work, until later when he finally figured out what he is supposed to do. Now when he sees other horses or the starter car, he knows his job.

“I had to cut him because he was so mean,” he continued. “He would strike you and bite you and was just too hot. He wanted to be the boss and I can stand some kicking, but when they strike and bite something has to go. He is a very smart horse though and now you can drive him loose-lined.”

The Beemans used to raise draft horses and miniature ponies, but when Indiana was granted racing privileges, they decided to switch to Standardbreds. They only have a handful of broodmares and felt Dontfusswithruss had something special about him right from the start.

“He was my pick because he just stood out,” said Jacalyn Beeman, Russ’ wife. “He’s a real striking horse that’s nearly black with four white socks and a beautiful head. I know this might sound silly, but he has this stance about him and an attitude like ‘hey, look at me.’ He’s always had that presence and some horses are kind of mopey in their stall, but he’s the kind that’s always right up at the gate wanting you to pay attention to him. We are really happy with him and he has made our life a little bit easier.”

In Russ Beeman’s opinion this is the best horse he has ever bred and although he can’t part with the gelding, he was able to sell his mother.

“We aren’t a very big farm and the price of hay was very high, like five or six dollars a bale,” he remembered. “I sold the mare to a friend of mine, an Amish fellow that had a lot of hay, for 1,500 bales. I’ve tried to buy her back, but he just won’t sell her.”

The Beemans have high hopes for this year’s campaign.

“We staked him to the Oliver, Galt, American-National, Circle City and he’ll be in the Indiana Sire Stakes,” Beeman said. “He’ll be in stuff that’s all in this area. I always knew he had a lot of speed, but to win a race for that kind of money (Sire Stakes Final) is a rush and makes you want to stay in this business longer.

“This horse has been awful good to me,” he continued. “He knows he’s the boss around here and I’ve never seen a horse have as much energy as he does. He’s a very nice colt and we really enjoy him. He’s definitely the best horse I’ve ever had.”