by M. Kelly Young, executive director, Harness Horse Breeders of New York

Goshen, NY — It’s not always easy to be the little sister of a champion.

Trainer Ed Hart has trained many champions himself and is hoping that lightning will strike twice with his pacing filly Allamerican Celeb, who is starting in a Landmark Stakes at Historic Track on Monday, July 2. The filly is a full sister to Paula’s Best, last year’s champion New York Sires Stake freshman pacing filly and a winner of more than $225,000.

Hart purchased Allamerican Celeb as a $40,000 yearling for owners John Fielding and breeder Fred Hertrich, but not because she resembled her older sibling.

“Paula’s Best was a lankier filly, she looked more like a Thoroughbred,” described Hart, who trains his stable at the Kristie Leigh training facility in Goshen. “This filly is a little boxier and a little more compact.”

Allamerican Celeb has already demonstrated her ability to Hart, pacing to a 2:00 victory in her first pari-mutuel start at Monticello Raceway last week, but has proven a challenge on the track.

“We’ve had to take our time with her. She tends to be a little strong-headed, but I think she’s starting to get a little smarter,” revealed Hart. “She has a great attitude and really wants to do well, but we’ve had to focus on keeping her calm and relaxed. Who knows if she’ll be as good as her sister, but she has ability.”

Allamerican Celeb is by Pro Bono Best and out of the dam CD’s Girl. She will start in the fourth race on Monday. Also in that event, Hart will start Amante, a filly he owns with brothers Michael and Scott Kimelman.

“Mike picked her out at the (2-year-olds) in-training sale in Florida this winter. I trust his opinion,” explained Hart about his partner, who is the president of Wallkill breeding farm Blue Chip Farms.

Hart will also send out Majority Party in the second race Landmark division for pacing colts on Monday. This gelding from the first crop by sire Art Major, is a favorite of his trainer.

“He is a small colt, but he has a heart as big as any horse I’ve seen,” said Hart, a native of Warwick, N.Y. “His heart is as big as a barn and if he was a couple hands taller he could be a super star.”

The gelding started his career in a matinee event at Goshen, then won both his qualifier and his first pari-mutuel event at Monticello Raceway for owners Joseph DiScala and Cynthia Massari.

Monday’s sixth race Landmark division features a racehorse by a very famous name. Historic Track-based trainer Ray Schnittker will start Whirlaway, a 2-year-old pacing colt making the first start of his career following a fourth place finish in a Goshen matinee. A Thoroughbred by the same name won the Triple Crown in 1941 and was a two-time Horse of the Year.

The eight-race card on Monday features two divisions each of Landmark Stakes for 2-year-old trotting colts, trotting fillies, pacing colts and pacing fillies. The Landmark Stakes are so named because Historic Track was the first sporting site designated a National Historic Landmark.

Racing continues on Tuesday (July 3) with Landmark Stakes for 3-year-old trotters and pacers. Post time each day is 1:00 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults and children 12 and under are free. The Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame, adjacent to Historic Track, is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with free admission.