Ken Weingartner

Hightstown, NJ — Just Plain Loco is just plain special to owner Paul Lang. The 6-year-old male pacer has been claimed from Lang on several occasions, but Lang, who was one of the horse’s original owners when he was purchased as a yearling, always gets him back.

This time, Lang plans to hold on to him for good.

“He’s definitely my favorite horse,” Lang said about Just Plain Loco, a $15,000 buy at the 2017 Standardbred Horse Sale who has won 26 races and earned $405,745 in his career. “My kids love the horse. When he was little, they were little. Now, they’re both grown up. I’ve got plenty of pictures of them together.

“When I got him back (in July 2021) I said this time I’m keeping him. He’s a fighter. He’s the smallest horse on the track, but he’s got the biggest heart. He tries his best, always gives an honest effort. This little guy gives 120 percent.”

Just Plain Loco has won 26 races and earned $405,745 in his career. Bill Burke photo.

Just Plain Loco, a son of Well Said-Symphony In Motion, was called U Said What when he was a yearling. Lang was responsible for changing the name. He wanted to call the horse Loco Motion, but when the name was not available, he turned to Just Plain Loco.

For his first three seasons, and part of his fourth, Just Plain Loco raced for trainer Tom Fanning. He was a state-bred stakes winner as a 2-year-old and finished second in the Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace at Yonkers Raceway. After a succession of claims at age 5, he was back with Lang last summer.

Just Plain Loco continued to race at Yonkers and in New Jersey until this past June, when he headed to western New York and trainer Jennifer Giuliani. Racing exclusively in the Opens at first Buffalo and now Batavia, he has hit the board in 15 of 19 races, winning nine. His six victories at Batavia are tied for the meet’s lead.

“He’s a little spitfire,” said Giuliani, who was Batavia’s leading trainer in 2021 and is in a tight battle for the top spot again this year. “He’s got his own personality, and he just loves his job. He’s fun to be around. He likes to be the center of attention, for people to always pay attention to him. He acts cocky almost, but in a good way.”

Just Plain Loco is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in Saturday’s $14,000 Open at Batavia with regular driver David McNeight III in the sulky. Just Plain Loco brings a three-race win streak to the race, which will be his first start since Nov. 12.

“If everything sets up, I think he should be right there,” Giuliani said. “He loves to race, and he loves to win.”

Lang, who met Giuliani several winters ago while at Florida’s Pompano Park, plans to keep the gelding in western New York for the foreseeable future.

“He’s definitely a half-mile (track) specialist,” said Lang, who since July owns Just Plain Loco with Mark Toth. “He’s won a couple times at The Meadowlands and on five-eighths tracks, but he gets around the half like no one else. We’ll keep him up there. Jennifer is doing right by us.”

Racing begins at 6 p.m. (EST) Saturday at Batavia Downs. For free full card past performances, visit the track’s website here.