from Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA

Freehold, NJ — Max C. Hempt Memorial elimination winners Takeshigemichi and Rusty’s For Real took very similar paths to the winner’s circle at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs on Saturday, May 12, turning in identical 1:50 win times. Both 3-year-old pacing colts also were winning their first pari-mutuel start of the year, and on the lead from the quarter-mile mark to the finish.

The two will take their chances with an open draw on Wednesday for the $301,032 Hempt Memorial final, the highest purse for that race since 1990, when eventual Horse of the Year Beach Towel won the race.

Finishing second to Takeshigemichi and qualifying for the final was Tivoli Hanover, then Trueys Legacy and Whats Up Now. The second place finisher in Rusty’s For Real’s race was The Double Dion, then Isaac Newton, Mr Aviator and Big Al’s Delight also qualified for the final by virtue of his fastest fifth place finish of 1:50.4.

Racehorsephoto.com photo

Rusty’s For Real was a 1:50 winner in his Hempt Memorial elimination.

Rusty’s For Real won two Pennsylvania Sires Stakes races last year for trainer Bobby Myers and owner Al Carter, before wrapping up his season after an eighth place finish in the Sires Stakes Final in mid-September. Myers said the early season wrap up was largely precautionary.

“He was very growthy and we just felt like we ought to quit before we caused him to have some problems,” said Myers. “His knees were biting him a little, just colt stuff, colt soreness. We thought it was time to quit, but he showed enough potential to be any kind of horse.”

Myers wasn’t surprised at Rusty’s For Real’s strong finish in his season opener, without any kind of tune-up before the stakes start.

“He loves it (racing),” Myers said. “We don’t work him hard, he doesn’t take a lot of training, just keep him in the field and he loves that. He dropped in the three hole, sat there for an eighth of a mile and Tim (driver Tim Tetrick) took him out, went off to the front with him and the rest is history. He could go five quarters if he had to. He doesn’t get tired. He just seems to carry his speed well and doesn’t seem to get tired.”

Myers answers quickly when asked how he’d like to see the final develop.

“I’d like to see him right on the front,” Myers said. “I think he gained a lot of respect in there. A lot of them would like to follow him and that means a lot. Instead of abusing yourself to try to beat him, you’re better off to try to follow him and try to beat him through the stretch instead of running yourself down.”

Myers has trained the son of Real Artist and the $618,585 winner Cam’s Exotic since he purchased him as a yearling for owner Al Carter of Delaware. He liked “everything” about the colt he trains at his Greenwood, Delaware farm.

“He’s just like a bull, a real stud horse and he’s built like a stallion.”

Myers has known owner Carter for about 30 years, since the Myers were friends with Carter’s parents.

“We were stabled at (now closed) Brandywine Raceway,” Myers said. “He’d come over when he was little and his dad was in Vietnam. One day, I was jogging (a horse), and the mud apron (in front of the driver’s seat on the jog cart) broke and he fell right down on the track. It didn’t hurt him any — he was a tough little boy.”

The “tough little boy” is now 40, and a derivatives trader on the American Stock Exchange and Philadelphia Stock Exchange.

“I’m feeling very excited about him, he’s the first horse I’ve had that was a stakes caliber horse,” Carter said.

Carter has long enjoyed a close relationship with his trainer, long before he bought horses.

“He’s like my uncle; I am his nephew, by association,” Carter said. “I grew up at the racetrack and when I was old enough, I was a mutuel clerk all through college at the University of Delaware. It was great training to go right from the racetrack to the stock exchange.”

It was through a serious illness that Myers and Carter came back in touch with each other.

“I’ve owned horses for 10 years,” Carter said. “I had Hodgkin’s disease, Bobby was checking up on me, seeing how I was doing. It was the same time they were putting slot machines in Delaware. At the time, I was financially able to buy a horse when horsemen in that area were down on their luck. We ended up getting a horse named Harry The Sheriff (as a 4-year-old). That horse raced to age 8 and won $218,536.”

Carter often accompanies Myers to the sale, but did not in the case of Rusty’s For Real, though he remembers the circumstances well. Rusty’s For Real was a $48,000 purchase as a yearling at the Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

“I did not make Harrisburg that year,” Carter said. “I usually go, but this particular one, Bobby had all picked out, he said it would go for $35 or $40,000. I said go to 40 and he called me back all upset because (he sold for) 48. Believe me, I know (how much he cost) because I had him a 40 top on it,” he laughed. “He’s been real excited about him ever since he brought him home. He’s the one that named him (original name was Artistoftheyear). Rusty’s my nickname and he said, ‘I know you’re for real and I think this colt is, too; I’m going to name him Rusty’s For Real.’ I name all mine and throw Rusty in there. That’s my college nickname, that they gave you when you pledge a fraternity. I have about 40 horses, in that range. I have five broodmares, babies, 25 racehorses.”

Carter keeps up with his stable via computer from his Greenville, Delaware, home.

“I’m a Youbet maniac,” Carter said. “Because I’m 40, I have three kids that play about eight sports and I coach teams, (so it’s hard to get to the track). I’m wrestling coach of the high school and I am quite busy. It’s my son’s 10th birthday party from 2-4 on Saturday and post time’s at 5. I will be there in plenty of time; I’ve gotten the green light from my son, it’s OK to go root for Rusty.”

Below is the field in alphabetical order for Saturday’s $301,032 Max C. Hempt Memorial Pace at Pocono Downs. The draw for post positions will be Wednesday.