by Dustin Ross, regional racing operations manager, Tioga/Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — Crazed will line up on Thursday morning (October 23) behind the starting gate in a qualifying race at Vernon Downs, the site of his first pari-mutuel win.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Crazed will qualify on Thursday morning at Vernon Downs.

Frank Antonacci, who trains the 3-year-old son of Credit Winner-Mary Lou Hall, will handle the lines in the qualifying race. Stablemate Gladiator Lindy will line up just inside of Crazed at the rail and one of Ray Schnittker’s 3-year-old trotters, although not Deweycheatumnhowe, will line up on the opposite side in the three hole in the form of Epangeline.

“We are prepping him for the Matron at Dover and with Gladiator Lindy needing to qualify, hopefully we can let Crazed follow a horse for part of the mile,” said Antonacci. “He came out of Lexington very well, we just wished he could have got up in the second heat of the Futurity to make the third heat. He was sharper after the second heat than he was after the first.”

Crazed has banked $881,550 in 11 starts this year, with his lifetime mark of 1:52.2 coming in his elimination for the Hambletonian.

Vernon Downs qualifiers begin at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday morning.

“We will qualify him on Thursday and see how he comes out of it, but more than likely we will take him to the Matron before heading to the Breeders Crown,” said Antonacci. “He is at the farm and happy, he hasn’t been at the farm since before the trip to Canada (for the Canadian Trotting Classic in September), so he is enjoying his time there. He is also eligible to the Orsi Mangelli in Milan, Italy, but depending on the date of the race there is only about a one percent chance of us taking him there.

“I think Vernon Downs is one of the best racetracks for horses in the country, and the people there do a great job. The things Jeff Gural and Jason Settlemoir are doing for the sport, I like to return the favor with showcasing a horse like Crazed when I can.

“Things are still up in the air for next year, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he is standing stud next year somewhere.”