Nancy Takter has reason to feel hopeful about Captain Optimistic as the trainer gets her colt ready for Saturday’s C$1 million Grade 1 Pepsi North America Cup for 3-year-old male pacers at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Ontario.
Category: Ken Weingartner
‘Minnie’ ready for big showdown
Craig Henderson and his partners have enjoyed the ride with Dan Patch Award-winner Miki And Minnie, and the filly’s co-owner is hoping the thrills continue when she meets Canada’s 2024 Horse of the Year, undefeated Chantilly, in Saturday’s C$390,000 Grade 1 Fan Hanover Stakes for 3-year-old female pacers at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Ontario. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two award-winning fillies.
Mr Walner Fashion flashing winning style
A field of 10 Hambletonian-eligible trotters will go behind the starting gate Friday in the $225,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes championship for 3-year-old male trotters at The Meadowlands. The lineup includes three of this season’s four fastest sophomore boys: Mr Walner Fashion, Mountcastle and Onajetplane.
Burke wins 11 of 12 freshmen qualifiers at Gaitway
Ron Burke sent out nearly three dozen 2-year-olds for their first action in qualifiers Wednesday (June 11) at Gaitway Farm, resulting in 11 winners in the 12 events for the rookies.
Seven Colors seeks successful Northfield return
Seven Colors has raced only once at MGM Northfield Park during his career, but it produced a pretty good memory for his connections. A week after being purchased by owners Bill Pollock, Bruce Areman and trainer Andrew Harris in August 2023, the then 3-year-old Seven Colors zipped around Northfield Park’s half-mile oval in a world record 1:48.1 to win the Carl Milstein Memorial. On Saturday (June 7), Seven Colors returns to Northfield for the $200,000 Grade 2 Battle of Lake Erie, an invitational for older pacers.
Amazing Catch leads Svanstedt quartet to Graduate
Greg Luther wasn’t necessarily counting down the days until Amazing Catch’s first race of this season, but he is happy his trotter’s 2025 debut is nearly here. Amazing Catch, purchased by Luther for a record $1.85 million during the mixed sale portion of the Standardbred Horse Sale this past November, will compete Saturday (May 31) in the opening round of the Graduate Series for 4-year-old trotters, going for a purse of C$102,000 at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Ontario.
One cool ‘Amigo’
Amigo Volo might not be the same horse who set at least one world record at ages 2, 3, and 4 in addition to capturing two Breeders Crown titles and a Dan Patch Award, but the now 8-year-old trotter is still producing winning performances and big miles. His next start comes in Sunday’s $100,000 Grade 3 Maxie Lee Memorial Invitational for older trotters at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Saunders eyes another ‘A’ effort from Manolete in NJSS final
Manolete is the type of horse who always strives to deliver a top effort, and trainer Bruce Saunders is expecting nothing less when the colt gets behind the starting gate for Saturday’s (May 24) $225,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes championship for 3-year-old male pacers at The Meadowlands.
Ryder looking forward to ‘Fresh’ start
Twin B Joe Fresh, the 2024 Dan Patch Horse of the Year, will return to the races Sunday (May 25) for her 2025 debut when she meets seven rivals in the $100,000 Grade 3 Betsy Ross Invitational for older female pacers at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
R Melina to make season’s debut in Miss Versatility
R Melina is the type of horse that is difficult to evaluate from appearance alone. But after leading all 3-year-old female trotters in earnings last season, and ranking as the division’s co-fastest performer, it is clear there is more to her than meets the eye.