Connections are enjoying a great ride with Freaky Feet Pete
October 21, 2015,by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications
Ken Weingartner
Toronto, ON — Mary Jo Rheinheimer is not nervous. Not yet. But she will be. She always gets nervous when Freaky Feet Pete races.
There is no word from Freaky Feet Pete how he feels heading into Saturday’s $531,250 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old male pacers. But if the colt does get nervous, it doesn’t affect his ability to win races. Twenty-four times in his career he’s gone to the starting gate, and 21 times he’s been first to the finish line.
Finding a horse that makes winning a habit is not unusual, but finding one in your backyard that becomes a local celebrity and brings you to the sport’s biggest stage is, well, a little freaky.
New Image Media photo
Freaky Feet Pete won his Breeders Crown elimination last Saturday by 1-1/4 lengths over Artistic Major in 1:49.4.
Freaky Feet Pete is the 9-5 morning line favorite in his Breeders Crown final, getting the nod over North America Cup champion Wakizashi Hanover (5-2) and last year’s divisional Dan Patch Award winner Artspeak (3-1). Freaky Feet Pete won his Breeders Crown elimination last Saturday by 1-1/4 lengths over Artistic Major in 1:49.4 and Artspeak won the second of the two elims by a neck over Wakizashi Hanover in 1:51.3.
“I keep pinching myself to see if it’s real,” said Rheinheimer, who shares ownership of Freaky Feet Pete with her son Marty. “How we got him, I don’t know, but he’s just been great.”
Freaky Feet Pete was bred by Rheinheimer’s husband Larry, who also trains the colt. His sire is Rockin Image, a multiple stakes winner who appeared in two Breeders Crown finals, and his dam is the Rheinheimers’ mare Skyway Lori, who was a multiple winner on the Indiana Sire Stakes circuit. Freaky Feet Pete was Skyway Lori’s eighth foal. The previous seven all won no fewer than five races and six of them earned more than $125,000.
Last year, Freaky Feet Pete romped to nine wins in 10 starts — average margin of victory nearly 4-3/4 lengths — and set the track record for 2-year-old pacers at Hoosier Park with a 1:50.3 clocking. This year, he has won 12 of 14 races and set the Hoosier Park track record for a 3-year-old pacer with a 1:48.2 win in August. For his career, he has earned $629,349 in purses, with Trace Tetrick doing the driving in all his races.
On Oct. 10, Freaky Feet Pete avenged an early loss to Wiggle It Jiggleit, harness racing’s No. 1-ranked horse, by winning the Indiana Sire Stakes championship for 3-year-old male pacers at Hoosier Park. Two days later, the Rheinheimers paid $62,500 to supplement Freaky Feet Pete to the Breeders Crown, a fee made necessary because the colt wasn’t staked previously to the event.
Last weekend, Freaky Feet Pete competed away from Hoosier Park for the first time in his life and won his Breeders Crown elimination at Woodbine.
USTA/Ken Weingartner photo
Larry and Mary Jo Rheinheimer will be sending Freaky Feet Pete into Saturday’s Breeders Crown for 3-year-old male pacers.
“I thought they got to the half a little slower than I’d like, but I knew it was going to be a sprint for home and we’d see who could out-sprint each other,” said 71-year-old Larry Rheinheimer, who in the past trained horses on a part-time basis while also working at a factory building mobile homes but now trains fulltime.
“Now we’re on to round two. It’s been a great ride. I could never have imagined being here.”
In the Breeders Crown final, Freaky Feet Pete will face a field that includes the only horse other than Wiggle It Jiggleit to beat him this year, Wakizashi Hanover. The two met in the Jenna’s Beach Boy on Sept. 26 at Hoosier, where Wakizashi Hanover posted a 2-1/4 length victory in 1:48.4.
Freaky Feet Pete’s performance in his Breeders Crown elimination impressed Wakizashi Hanover’s trainer Joann Looney-King.
“That was a heck of a mile,” Looney-King said. “I give him all the credit. He’s a nice horse.”
Artspeak’s trainer Tony Alagna said, “Freaky Feet Pete was phenomenal. It was different fractions, but he came first up and did it the hard way. He was very impressive.”
Mary Jo Rheinheimer said all the excitement surrounding Freaky Feet Pete is almost overwhelming. Locals from around the Rheinheimers’ hometown near LaGrange, Ind., in the northeast corner of the Hoosier State, ask constantly about the horse. When he won last weekend at Woodbine, fans watching the simulcast at Hoosier Park erupted in cheers.
“I never thought about (winning a Breeders Crown),” she said. “I’d just watch it on TV and be amazed by those great horses and never thought we’d have one.
“This is wonderful. We’ve had a great time here and everyone has been so kind. I’m always nervous, no matter when he races, but it’s been a lot of fun with him. It’s just been awesome. We’ve been blessed.”
To see post positions for Saturday’s entire Breeders Crown card, which starts at 6:30 p.m., click here.
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Artspeak was the Dan Patch Award winner for best 2-year-old male pacer in 2014. He is looking to join Captaintreacherous, also trained by Alagna, and Somebeachsomewhere as the only 2-year-old divisional champs since 1995 to win the Breeders Crown at age 3. Captaintreacherous won in 2013; Somebeachsomewhere in 2008.
In addition to his Breeders Crown elimination, Artspeak’s wins this season include the Tattersalls Pace, Simcoe Stakes, and the New Jersey Sire Stakes championship. He won the Simcoe in a stakes-record 1:48.2 and the Tattersalls in 1:47.4, a career-best time. For the year, Artspeak (Western Ideal-The Art Museum) has won six of 16 races and earned $764,153.
“Scott (Zeron) said it was the best he’s ever been — in his whole career,” Alagna said about the elimination win. “He’s gone a lot of impressive races, so that’s a big statement. I’ve said all along he was racing better than people thought; he just didn’t have things go his way. The weather has cooled off and he’s had a couple breaks in his schedule that have really helped him recover. He’s as good as he has been all year.
“There are a couple races that if he’d won instead of being second or third, people would have a completely different outlook. I don’t think the horse has ever embarrassed himself. My concern from the beginning of the season was having to race so many weeks in a row (in June and July). That early series of races is really tough unless you have a big strong horse that can handle it. He’s like a little sports car. And when he’s on his game, he can go as fast as anything.”
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Wakizashi Hanover (Dragon Again-Western Gesture) led his Breeders Crown elimination race from nearly start to finish but was nabbed at the wire by Artspeak, who rallied from fifth place with a second-over trip.
“When I saw him on the front, I knew it was going to be a hard nut to crack,” Looney-King said. “He was in with the real bearcats and it’s a hard track to be up front. I knew I was going to be in trouble with Artspeak because I watched him race at The Red Mile and I know he’s sharp. I could tell watching him race lately that he was going to be a factor.
“I have a good driver, I have a good horse, I made the final — good for us,” she added. “We just feel fortunate that we get to do this with him. It’s just a thrill.”
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Overheard: “He looked like he was full of pace all the way to the wire, but he just never had a chance to get out,” trainer Brian Brown said after Lost For Words finished fourth in the elimination won by Artspeak. “It didn’t really dawn on me until after the Little Brown Jug that he’s only been in back of third (place) only once before tonight. He’s had a great year. We’ve come up a little bit short in some races that I thought we had a good chance to win, but didn’t quite get there. He’s got a few races to go and there’s still some money out there.”
“I didn’t think he was pacing very smoothly,” trainer Mark Silva said after Dealt A Winner finished fifth in the elimination won by Artspeak. “I tried him in aluminums (shoes) and I don’t think it agrees with him. I’m going to change his shoes for next week, but I like him. He can fly home. If he can get a trip, I know I’ll have him pacing smoother, anything can happen.”
“It was a little disappointing,” trainer Ben Wallace said after Penji Hanover finished fifth in the elimination won by Freaky Feet Pete. “He’s a horse that has to be engaged and we didn’t get away good. Jody (Jamieson) said it took him most of the mile to get involved again. But he probably paced home as good as anybody. When that group of horses gets down to the half in :56 (seconds) and a piece, you’ve got to come :24 (in the last quarter) to get money. It’s just the way it shaped up.”
“He was flat,” trainer Casie Coleman said after Reverend Hanover led to the stretch and finished third in the elimination won by Freaky Feet Pete. “I was hoping he would be able to sit in a hole. Chris (Christoforou) backed it down pretty good wanting somebody to come, but nobody did. We’ll get him scoped and check his blood. He seems sound. This is the first time I’ve ever really been disappointed with this horse. He’s always given a hundred percent to the wire, but tonight something wasn’t quite right. I’m sure we’ll get it figured out.”
“He’s just a little off his game right now,” co-trainer Howard Okusko Jr. said after Dude’s The Man finished fourth in the elim won by Freaky Feet Pete; his fourth consecutive off-the-board finish after missing only once in his first 13 races this year. “I think we’ve got a couple things we can change a little bit. He had plenty of go; we just have to get him a little better gaited. It seems like he’s scrambling a little bit. I might take his hobbles up one or two holes so he’s a little better to drive. He’s a work in progress. He’s always changing on us.”
“I thought he raced good,” trainer Kelvin Harrison said after In The Arsenal finished third in the elimination won by Artspeak. “I think it was a good run for next week. He was pretty handy to the wire. I was happy with him. (Freaky Feet Pete) was very good. But they’re all good horses.”
$531,250 Breeders Crown 3-year-old colt pace
Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Line
1-Dealt A Winner-Yannick Gingras-Mark Silva-20-1
2-Penji Hanover-Jody Jamieson-Ben Wallace-20-1
3-Wakizashi Hanover-Tim Tetrick-Joann Looney-King-5-2
4-Freaky Feet Pete-Trace Tetrick-Larry Rheinheimer-9-5
5-Artspeak-Scott Zeron-Tony Alagna-3-1
6-Dude’s The Man-Corey Callahan-Jessica Okusko-20-1
7-Lost For Words-David Miller-Brian Brown-6-1
8-Reverend Hanover-Chris Christoforou-Casie Coleman-10-1
9-In The Arsenal-Brian Sears-Kelvin Harrison-15-1
10-Artistic Major-Matt Kakaley-Steve Elliott-20-1
- Supplemental entry Freaky Feet Pete wins Crown 3CP elim (Saturday, October 17, 2015)
Racing for the first time outside of Hoosier Park, the Indiana-bred won convincingly Saturday night (Oct. 17) by 1-¼ lengths at Woodbine Racetrack in the first Breeders Crown elimination for 3-year-old colt pacers.
- Breeders Crown ‘Gleam’ in Takter’s eyes (Monday, October 19, 2015)
Jimmy Takter made his first appearance in the Breeders Crown in 1986, but it was seven years before he got to hoist a trophy. Takter, who trains and sometimes also drives, had two second-place finishes and one third-place effort in eight championship starts before driving Gleam to victory in the 1993 Breeders Crown for 2-year-old female trotters at Florida’s Pompano Park.
- Gingras hopes to stay on a roll in Breeders Crown (Tuesday, October 20, 2015)
Yannick Gingras will have nine drives in Saturday night’s 12 Breeders Crown finals at Woodbine Racetrack as he looks to continue his hot streak in harness racing’s championship event.
- Stage is set for Breeders Crown Saturday at Woodbine (Tuesday, October 20, 2015)
For the first time in three years, Woodbine Racetrack will again host the Breeders Crown, harness racing’s most spectacular evening, when 12 championship finals, offering $5.8 million U.S. in purse money, will be staged on Saturday (Oct. 24).
- Black Broadway: From non-winners of one to the Breeders Crown (Wednesday, October 21, 2015)
Trainer Mike Eaton and his partner, retired bank inspector Robert McHugh, went to the Tattersalls Mixed Sale at The Meadowlands on Aug. 2 with their usual business plan in mind. Buy horses for about $10,000 and compete in claiming races at their home track, Plainridge Park Casino in southeastern Massachusetts. That plan was working fine until suddenly, Eaton and McHugh had a stakes filly on their hands.
- Wellwood chasing first Breeders Crown title with Marion Marauder (Wednesday, October 21, 2015)
It’s a tough question to answer summing up a human or horse’s personality in one word but Paula Wellwood had no problem describing 2-year-old trotting colt Marion Marauder, who has had the misfortune of chasing Southwind Frank around the track frequently this season, with pinpoint accuracy.
- Creatine hopes to end year abroad with elusive Crown title (Wednesday, October 21, 2015)
There is no denying that the international flair of the Breeders Crown Trot has led to considerable intrigue over the past few editions and this year’s contest on Saturday at Woodbine Racetrack figures to be no exception. The small twist is that this year’s European “invader” is actually Creatine, a thoroughly blue-blooded American trotter.
- Surprise colt Dont Rush takes his shot at Crown trotters (Thursday, October 22, 2015)
Dustin Jones hopes no one can get shorty. Jones co-owns and trains two-time Ontario Sire Stakes champion Dont Rush, who is among the 11 horses in Saturday’s $500,000 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old male trotters at Woodbine Racetrack. The colt, nicknamed “Danny” after actor Danny DeVito, is 20-1 on the morning line but has already surprised people — beginning with Jones.
- Breeders Crown races lead busy Grand Circuit weekend (Thursday, October 22, 2015)
The 12 Breeders Crown championship events on Saturday night (Oct. 24) at Woodbine will be front and center in the Grand Circuit spotlight this week. Breeders Crown championship races will be held for 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds and older Standardbreds of both sexes and gaits.
- Howard Taylor sends eight into Breeders Crown championship night (Thursday, October 22, 2015)
He has owned more than 800 horses during his several decades of being involved in the sport, but Philadelphia attorney Howard Taylor still can’t quite wrap his head around the fact he has eight in-to-go for Saturday’s (Oct. 24) Breeders Crown races at Woodbine.
- Marquee match-up in Crown Open Pace (Thursday, October 22, 2015)
The comeback kid is ready to meet the kid who refuses to go away. Always B Miki and Foiled Again, the winners of last weekend’s Breeders Crown Open Pace eliminations, lead a field of 10 horses into Saturday’s $400,000 final at Woodbine Racetrack.
- Breeders Crown victory would be bittersweet for Hill family (Thursday, October 22, 2015)
Tom Hill and his family hope that this is the year they finally win a Breeders Crown race after coming close in previous editions. If fortunate to experience a Crown victory, it will come with bittersweet feelings. This year’s finals at Toronto’s Woodbine Racetrack take place on Oct. 24, the anniversary of a Hill family tragedy.
- ‘Cinderella story’ Frost Damage Blues heads to Crown final (Friday, October 23, 2015)
Bill Augustine is the proud owner — and you can underline the word proud — of a horse that is good for both of his businesses. In his harness racing world, Augustine’s Frost Damage Blues is going off at 12-1 at Saturday’s Breeders Crown championships at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. In her first year of racing, the 3-year-old filly has earned $51,750 by winning her first seven starts in overnight competition at Saratoga, Yonkers and Pocono.
- Another white Standardbred for Tristan Sjoberg (Friday, October 23, 2015)
Owner Tristan Sjoberg will be watching Dupree in Saturday’s $600,000 Breeders Crown for 2-year-old male trotters at Woodbine Racetrack, but regardless of the horse’s performance he is already feeling out of this world. Sjoberg, who is among the owners of rare white pacing colt White Bliss, said this week via e-mail that he has bought another rare white horse — this one a filly trotter born on April 4, 2014 in Italy. The filly, bred by Sergio Carfagna in Assisi, is named Via Lattea, which translates to Milky Way.
- With two in Breeders Crown, Dubois believed in Infinitif (Friday, October 23, 2015)
There are 11 trotters entered in the $500,000 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old males on Saturday (Oct. 24) at Woodbine Racetrack. Most are by marquee stallions well known to aficionados of U.S. pedigrees. To have two starters — in a field of 11 — is an incredible achievement for Infinitif given that of the remaining nine trotters in the field, only two are not by Muscles Yankee, Muscle Hill and Donato Hanover, all Hambletonian winners and high-priced stallions.