Harness Racing Notebook: The amazing Foiled Again
April 9, 2014,by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications
Ken Weingartner
Freehold, NJ — Just when you figure there is nothing new that Foiled Again can accomplish, he accomplishes something new.
Foiled Again is 3-for-3 this year as he gets ready for Saturday’s fourth round of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series at Yonkers Raceway. The 10-year-old pacer, who has won 79 of 201 career races, had never before started a season with three consecutive wins.
So when trainer Ron Burke said in early March that Foiled Again “started this year better than he’s ever come back,” he wasn’t kidding.
The ageless wonder is the richest horse in North American harness racing history, now with $6.10 million, the oldest horse ever to win a Breeders Crown, the oldest horse ever to have a million-dollar campaign, and one of only two horses to claim three consecutive Dan Patch Awards for best older male pacer. Rambling Willie is the other.
Foiled Again’s three wins in the Levy put him tied with stablemate Bettor’s Edge atop the series standings. Rounding out the top 10 are Mach It So, Easy Again, Itrustyou, Apprentice Hanover, Clear Vision, P H Supercam, Dancin Yankee, and Hillbilly Hanover.
The six-week series concludes April 26.
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Speaking of multiple Dan Patch Award winning pacers, Anndrovette picked up her first win of the year last week in the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series.
Anndrovette has received the Dan Patch Award for best older female pacer each of the last three years, equaling the record shared by Eternal Camnation and Shady Daisy.
With $2.61 million in career purses, Anndrovette ranks No. 6 on the all-time list for pacing mares, and she is closing in on No. 5 Loyal Opposition, who retired with $2.64 million. Eternal Camnation is the only pacing mare to exceed $3 million, finishing her career with $3.74 million.
Anndrovette is tied with Rocklamation for fourth place in the Matchmaker series standings, behind Angels Delight, Yagonnakissmeornot, and Summertime Lea. Spots six through 10 are held by Ideal In Vegas, Somwherovrarainbow, Krispy Apple, Ramalama, and Fashion Mystery.
The six-week series concludes April 26.
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Somwherovrarainbow, who was the sport’s 2-year-old pacing filly champion in 2012, has started this year with three consecutive wins for trainer Joe Holloway, and the second half of Holloway’s dynamic duo is ready to return to action Friday at the Meadowlands.
World champion Shebestingin is the 3-5 morning line favorite in the fillies and mares B-1/A-2 handicap at the Big M. Holloway said earlier this year that he planned to start Shebestingin in several overnight races before going to the $50,000 Miami Valley Distaff on May 4 at Ohio’s new Miami Valley Raceway.
Shebestingin paced the fastest mile ever by a female pacer when she won in 1:47 at Lexington’s Red Mile last year. She prepped for her first start this season by winning two qualifiers, the first in 1:52.2 and the second in 1:54.3 into a stiff homestretch wind.
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Also on Friday at the Meadowlands is the second leg of the Artistic Vision Series for pacing fillies and mares. Ron Burke’s American In Paris, a perfect 5-for-5 this year, is the 8-5 morning line favorite in the 12-horse field. Road Bet, who joined American In Paris in winning a first-round division last week, is 7-2 from the second tier. JK Letitgo, who was second to American In Paris for her first loss in eight starts this season, is 2-1.
On Saturday night, the Big M hosts the second round of the Whata Baron Series. Wake Up Peter, who won his first-round division, leads the first of two second-leg splits. Captive Audience, who also won last week, headlines the second.
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The Meadowlands has released the first edition of “The Road to the Meadowlands Pace,” with undefeated Dan Patch Award winner He’s Watching in the No. 1 spot. He’s Watching dominated the New York Sire Stakes circuit and finished the year 8-for-8 with multiple track records and one world record.
“We’re pretty excited,” trainer Dave Menary told Woodbine Media’s Greg Gangle earlier this year. “He’s the kind of horse that makes you want to get up in the morning.
“We want to dance in all the big dances and hopefully he’s up to it,” he added. “There’s a difference between saying it and doing it, but I think his speed is unquestionable.”
To see the entire “Road to the Meadowlands Pace” list, with comments from Darin Zoccali, click here. To see Gangle’s interview with Menary, click here.