by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY — Although his parents captured editions of trotting classics at the Meadowlands during their 3-year-old seasons, it never entered Greg Peck’s mind that From Above’s genetic composition might supply him with an advantage over his colleagues for the 2012 Hambletonian.

“It’s hard to believe I never put two and two together and thought of it that way,” he said. “But the sire did win the Hambletonian and Marita’s Victory won the Hambletonian Oaks. Even though they both did it, I never thought of it in that light.”

The son of freshman sire, 2007 Hambletonian winner and 2007 Horse of the Year Donato Hanover and 2000 Hambletonian Oaks victress Marita’s Victory, was purchased for $165,000 at last year’s Lexington Selected Sale and is owned by Jeff Snyder, Patricia Bolte, Guida Racing Stable and Peck. From his five trips to the gate, From Above has collected four triumphs, set a mark of 1:54.4 and earned $83,050.

Nigel Soult photo

From Above has won his last four starts, including a personal best 1:54.4 mile in a division of the International Stallion Stakes at The Red Mile.

The colt is a half-brother to Stick Man Moe (Pine Chip, 1:52.1s, $344,901), and Quite Easy (Andover Hall, 3,Q1:54.4, $409,365) and a full brother to the yearling filly Lovliness In Paris. Besides winning more than $600,000 during her own career, Marita’s Victory, by Valley Victory and out of Miss Marita, is a half-sister to two-time Dan Patch winner Passionate Glide.

“It all started with his pedigree and he was a great individual,” explained Peck, who is a Newtown, Pa., resident and trained 2009 Hambletonian victor and Horse of the Year Muscle Hill. “He was medium-sized with a nice head and a bold eye. He was also very light-looking, like he would be light on his feet and the video of him showed that as well.”

Shortly after he was placed in training, From Above showed his conditioner he possessed the talent to accompany his physical attributes.

“He had a nice gait and a great attitude,” Peck said. “Of all the yearlings I had, he was the most Muscle Hill-like. He had the great mouth, great gait and the great manners. He also seemed like he really wanted to go out there and do it. But he took time, as he was immature in his gait, so we had to wait on him. That’s why he didn’t really surface until after Labor Day.”

The colt’s first start was a ninth place finish in a $2,000 non-winners of one contest at The Red Mile on September 2. From Above captured his qualifier on September 9, then went on to come home victorious in two more non-winners races on September 15 and 22, before winning an $85,250 division of the Bluegrass Stakes on September 30 and a $75,750 division of the International Stallion Stakes on October 7.

“I had hobbles on him for awhile because I was training him on a small track,” Peck said. “But when we got him to Lexington, you could see he didn’t need them, so I went ahead and took them off, then reshod him and we were on our way.

“Certainly the track agreed with him and the surface in Lexington is going to agree with any horse,” he continued. “I wish I could go to Lexington every year and start all my young horses out like that. Unfortunately when we lost Garden State, people based in the New York, Philadelphia area lost a lot, because now we don’t have a mile track to race on in the fall, so we have to go to Lexington.”

From Above’s next engagement will be in Toronto at Woodbine Racetrack for next week’s Breeders Crown eliminations.

“He’s shipping to Toronto on Friday and then we will go from there,” Peck said. “He seems pretty versatile and has raced on the front and from behind. The other night (October 7) he was gapped and Brian (Sears) was kind of sitting chilly back there when the pace picked up. He seems to be able to do what he needs to do and what I already have in mind for him is the Hambletonian. You have to start thinking about that now.”