by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY — She might not be able to quite match strides with the heavy-hitters of her division, yet 5-year-old Go On BB is ideal in every other way. On Saturday, she faces nine rivals in the $331,500 Breeders Crown Mare Pace at the Meadowlands.

“Maybe she lacks the one more gear that truly great race mares have, but she makes up for it with determination,” explained Ron Burke, who has conditioned the mare for nearly her entire career. “She is just as steady as they come; an absolute pleasure to be around and is the ultimate, consummate race horse. She is a doll to work with and train. I really can’t say enough good things about her, because she is just perfect.”

The daughter of Dontgetinmyway-Challo B B has earned more than $800,000 from 78 starts, established the track standard at The Meadows for 4-year-old pacing mares (1:50) and older pacing mares (1:51.2) and is Indiana’s reigning champion older pacing mare. Go On BB, who is owned by Frank Baldachino, finished sixth in last year’s Breeders Crown Mare Pace.

Baldachino has owned race horses for 25 years and chose Go On BB primarily to race on the Indiana circuit. He also bred former world record holder and two-time Breeders Crown foe (2008, 2009) Hana Hanover.

It does not require too much work to keep the mare in peak form.

“It’s no great job to train her,” said the 39-year-old Burke, who lives in Canonsburg, Pa., and has already earned more than $8 million in purse money this year. “You just put the harness on her and send her out; she’ll do the rest for you.”

Go On BB is held in high esteem by most everyone that comes into contact with her.

“All of the barns — and we have five of them — are always thrilled when she gets shipped there, because she is just so neat to be around,” Burke said. “I think she just enjoys life period. Wherever she is, even in the stall or turned out, she always seems like she’s in a good mood and she eats everything we put in front of her.

Chris Gooden photo

Go On BB set a Meadows track record for older mares on July 31, 2009 when she scored in 1:51.2.

“David Palone has said she is one of his most favorite horses,” he continued. “I think she is Ricky Macomber’s favorite horse. She will do whatever you want, if you want her to go forward, she will go forward and if you want her to go back she will go back.”

Palone, who is currently the fifth leading driver in wins in North America, acknowledges his special affection for Go On BB.

“She is just a sweetheart and out of all the horses I’ve driven, she’s one of my favorites,” he said. “She’s never made a break, you can drive her with two fingers and she really never throws in a bad effort. There’s really nothing to not like about her. She’s been an overachiever all her life and is so gritty that no matter how you drive her she will give you 110 percent every time.”

After the Breeders Crown, her connections intend to head back to Indiana.

“She has to defend her title as Aged Pacing Mare out in Indiana, so she will go back there and do that,” Burke said. “Then she will probably just race in overnights — the purses are so good everywhere right now — until probably around November and then shut down for a couple months off. She really is perfect.”

Here is the field in post position order, with listed drivers and trainers, for the $331,500 Breeders Crown Mare Pace: 1. Tidewaterdragonfly, Ron Pierce, Kelly O’Donnell; 2. Go On BB, Jim Morrill Jr., Ron Burke; 3. Darlin’s Delight, Yannick Gingras, Jeff Stafford; 4. Dreamfair Eternal, Tony Kerwood, Patrick Fletcher; 5. Btwnyurheartnmine, Brian Sears, Ross Croghan; 6. Hana Hanover, George Brennan, Mark Steacy; 7. Tug River Princess, John Campbell, Ross Croghan; 8. Cuz She Can, Daniel Dube, Mark Harder; 9. Southwind Tempo, Tim Tetrick, Ross Croghan; 10. A And G’sconfusion, David Miller, Casie Coleman.

Owners: 1. David Beachler, Annefuria Singleton; 2. Frank Baldachino; 3. White Birch Farm; 4. John Lamers, Mary Lamers; 5. Let It Ride Stables, Jerry Silva, Robert Cooper Stables; 6. David Reid, David McDonald, Stan Klemencic, Malcolm Man Son Hing; 7. Let It Ride Stables, Robert Cooper Stables, Jerry Silva; 8. Bulletproof Enterprises; 9. Let It Ride Stables, Jerry Silva; 10. A&G Stables.