by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — For Arch Madness, there’s no place like home — which often leads to success on the road.

The 7-year-old trotter, ranked No. 3 in North America in the most recent harness racing Top 10 poll, seems to enjoy spending his summers at trainer Trond Smedshammer’s farm rather than at the nearby training center where most of Smedshammer’s horses are stabled.

This year, Arch Madness has won eight of 11 races, finished second twice, and earned $768,545. On Wednesday (August 24), he will face nine horses in the $213,500 Pride In Progress free-for-all trot at Indiana Downs. He is the 5-2 morning line favorite, with driver Brian Sears.

Arch Madness, a multiple world-record holder, is coming into the race off a second-place finish to San Pail in the $300,000 Nat Ray Invitational on August 6 at Meadowlands Racetrack.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Arch Madness has won eight times in 11 starts this year, with earnings of $768,545.

“He’s been good,” Smedshammer said. “He hasn’t trained a whole lot; he doesn’t require too much in between the races anymore. He should be ready.

“He stays at my place. I’ve got a little jog track around my property and keep some of the horses there. It’s nice and quiet; there’s no noise or stress for him. It really recharges their batteries.”

The location seems to benefit Arch Madness, who Smedshammer said, with a laugh, “was a little bit of a mental case at times” during his younger days.

“For him, it’s more about being happy and relaxed,” Smedshammer said. “That’s when he seems to be at his best on the track, when he’s at peace with himself. He’s always seemed to be very happy and very good when he’s there.”

Arch Madness’ wins this year include the $480,647 Olso Grand Prix, in Norway, and the $220,750 Titan Cup at the Meadowlands. His career triumphs include the 2008 Maple Leaf Trot and the 2007 Breeders Crown for 3-year-olds. He has won 27 lifetime races and earned $3.17 million for owners Marc Goldberg and Barry Goldstein.

The Pride In Progress field also includes Lucky Jim, who was the sport’s top older male trotter in 2009, when he won 17 of 18 races. He has won two of nine starts this season and is 3-1 on the morning line.

Following is the Pride In Progress field in post position order, with listed drivers and trainers:

$213,500 Pride In Progress Free for All Trot
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Line
1-Hot Shot Blue Chip-Dave Magee-Jonas Czernyson-8-1
2-Lucky Jim-Andy Miller-Erv Miller-3-1
3-Abc Mercedes-Joe Putnam-Joe Putnam-10-1
4-Don’t Know Chip-Peter Wrenn-Kevin Hough-5-1
5-Rembrandt Spur-Richard Stillings-Richard Stillings-6-1
6-Arch Madness-Brian Sears-Trond Smedshammer-5-2
7-All Cantab-Trace Tetrick-Blair Burgess-4-1
8-Rompaway Beau-Sam Widger-Krista Williams-8-1
9-Powerful Speed-Josh Sutton-Thomas Graham, Jr.-15-1
10-Il Villaggio-Jody Jamieson-Blair Burgess-4-1