by Gerry Connors, for the United States Harness Writers Association

Harrisburg, PA — Two names associated with “excellence in trotting families,” horseman Frank Antonacci and the broodmare Armbro Vanquish, have recently been voted year-end awards in a polling of the U.S. Harness Writers Association. Antonacci was honored with the Lew Barasch Breakthrough Award, while Armbro Vanquish was named Trotting Broodmare of the Year.

The “Antonacci” name has long been associated with diamondgaited excellence through their Lindy Farms, with founders Guy (Sonny) Antonacci and “Big Frank” Antonacci enshrined in the sport’s Hall of Fame for their horses’ accomplishments on the racetrack and in the breeding shed. Sonny’s son, Frank, along with Frank’s brother Gerry, have carried on the tradition well, with this “middle Frank” recently added to the Hall of Fame’s trustees — and now it appears to be the turn of Frank M., 28, to shine.

Frank Antonacci was honored with the Lew Barasch Breakthrough Award.

Frank graduated from Boston College with a business degree and had intended to set off in the financial world, but an opportunity to be head trainer for Lindy stock such as world champions Crazed and Highscore Kemp presented itself. Frank thus entered the backstretch life, but in the past year or so seems to be returning to his educational-based roots to take a more forward role in the operational side of stable activities.

This past year Frank, stating “that there needs to be a grassroots effort for this industry to survive and thrive,” was the primary force behind the Bourbon Slush Stable, a combination of 100 owners who paid $500 apiece to get a fractional share of the eponymous promising colt — ownership that often served as their introduction to the racing business. Bourbon Slush showed flashes of promise at 2 this year, and the “past performances” of Lindy horses at three (including multiple Hambletonian winners) should make for an exciting campaign, with Frank, “the younger generation,” progressively using social media to keep his ownership group informed.

USTA photos

Armbro Vanquish was named Trotting Broodmare of the Year.

A mare who would not be out of place in the Lindy Farms’ long history of excellent producers would be Armbro Vanquish (Garland Lobell–Armbro Whirl, bred by Armstrong Brothers and currently serving as a broodmare for Kentuckiana Farms), who herself earned more than $300,000 on the racetrack before entering the broodmare ranks with success, including giving birth to a Donerail daughter named Armbro Dejavu who would prove important to a major story of this past year.

The competitive 2011 3-year-old colt trotting ranks saw many horses rise to the fore, and Armbro Vanquish, unusually, had a “hoof” in two of them — her own Yankee Glide offspring Manofmanymissions, winner of more than $1.2 million who showed his guttiness during a three-heat victory in the Kentucky Futurity, where he edged out another top colt, Dejarmbro, a son of Credit Winner out of Armbro Dejavu, daughter of Armbro Vanquish.

Frank Antonacci and the connections of Armbro Vanquish will receive their awards at the Dan Patch Awards Dinner, honoring Stan Bergstein, to be held Sunday, February 12, 2012, at the DoubleTree Hilton at Orlando (FL) SeaWorld.

For tickets to attend the banquet, contact Steve Wolf at stevejw@bellsouth.net; to take a congratulatory ad in the Dinner Journal, for Antonacci and/or Armbro Vanquish, in appreciation of Bergstein, or to honor any other award winners, contact Kim Rinker at trotrink@aol.com. Reservations at the DoubleTree can be made by calling 800.327.0363; mentioning “USHWA” or “DPA” should get you a discounted rate.