by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY — His name wasn’t the Wades’ first choice, but due to the nature of the naming process they had to be satisfied only with Bettis.

“We did try to get the full name Jerome Bettis, but they wouldn’t let that by,” explained David Wade, the 6-year-old stallion’s co-breeder, co-owner and trainer. “We did slip one through with a Jeremiah Trotter, who played for the Eagles. My wife does most of our naming and she does a pretty good job.

“I was born in Philly and I’ve always been a Philadelphia (Eagles) fan,” the McMurray, Pa., resident continued. “But our good friends out in Pittsburgh, the Beinhauers, own Sierra Kosmos, so we named him after a Pittsburgh Steeler because of who his sire is and the Beinhauers. We do live in the Pittsburgh area now, but we are still Eagles fans first and Steelers fans second.”

Unlike his namesake, the son of Sierra Kosmos and SJ’s Shad Roe (who is a full sister to SJ’s Caviar), has not competed in any race with Super Bowl status, but has been a consistent and durable athlete throughout his entire career. From 66 lifetime starts Bettis has 24 victories, 11 second place finishes and nine thirds, with purse earnings of $178,972 and a personal best mile of 1:55.2f. William Peel III and Gerald Brittingham also co-own the stallion, who participated on the Pennsylvania Fair circuit before he began capturing Open handicap events at The Meadows.

Chris Gooden photo

After earning $60,399 in 22 starts last year, Bettis has already cashed $30,825 in 2011 checks.

Bettis has raced four times this year and has already earned more than $30,000 from two wins, a second and a third.

“A lot of people that are around him can’t believe he’s a Sierra Kosmos,” Wade said. “He’s still a stallion and just a Gentle Ben. He’s always been so good natured there was no reason to ever cut him and in my opinion, he’s best when he’s chasing horses. He can leave a bit and of course a lot of the Sierras get a little bit speed crazy on the front end, but this guy has never been like that. He’s very good mannered.”

His conditioner feels another characteristic that is Bettis’ best feature, and like the former Steelers running back, is that he is extremely resilient whenever he faces his opponents.

“The great thing about him is he always gives you a good effort,” Wade said. “I think the S J (grandsire S J’s Photo) part in him is dominant, but then again I’m prejudiced. He’s had a lot of quarter cracks, but right now his feet are healthy, everything is feeling good on him and he’s showing it on the racetrack. Even when the poor boy’s feet are bleeding, he still gives you a good effort.

“I raced him at the fairs until he was four, because he wasn’t quite good enough for the pari-mutuels,” he continued. “And I think it was his first or second start back at four that I won a race with him and when I looked down there was blood all over me and him. Since then it’s been quarter cracks in one foot after another and we have struggled with his feet ever since, but we always work extra hard to keep the heat out of his feet and keep them moist.”

For now, Bettis will continue to race at The Meadows until he lets his trainer know it’s time for a change of scenery.

“I play it week by week with all my horses because they are flesh and blood and you just don’t know,” Wade said. “As long as he’s doing well, he’ll stay there, but if he starts getting his lunch handed to him it will be time for a vacation. I’m in North Carolina now, but when I get back in the spring it might be time for him to take a break.”

His connections don’t have any concrete plans for future campaigns, but Wade does hope Bettis will have the option for a second career when it’s time to stop racing.

“Someday someone might want to stand him at stud,” he said. ‘He certainly has enough pedigree and I think on some nice, warm day he’s capable of obtaining a much faster record. I have no long range plans for him and his record is not a goal per say. If I wanted to get a fast record on him I’d send him up to Canada, because I know if he got in the right class that would happen. I also thought about taking him to Lexington last fall for some late closers, but it didn’t fit in the plans.

“I think somewhere along the way it will happen and I’m not going to set up the situation,” Wade continued. “If it happens it will be naturally and I do think if he ends up with a better record, somebody will be interested in standing him. Also, personality-wise, he’s a great individual to be around because he is fun. Hopefully, it will happen for him.”