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

Nichols, NY — Almost nothing that happens in the $133,625 Empire Breeders Classic final for 3-year-old pacing colts on Sunday, May 27, at Tioga Downs could shake owner Ken Jacobs’ confidence in his standout performer Kenneth J. This career winner of $427,000 headlines the afternoon card that also showcases the Empire Breeders Classic filly finalists racing for $132,625.

Jacobs, a businessman from Baldwinsville, N.Y., said on Thursday that his Bettor’s Delight colt has been progressing exactly according to the plan he and trainer Linda Toscano have mapped out. The colt cruised in his seven length elimination victory last week in 1:52.2, his first pari-mutuel start of the year, and posted sub-1:52 miles in both his Meadowlands qualifiers.

Fred Brown photo

Kenneth J’s start in the Empire Breeders Classic final will be his last prep before the North America Cup.

“The way he won that race was very impressive,” said owner Ken Jacobs of the elimination. “It was fantastic. He’s in pretty good shape and is sound. We’re being very patient with him, but he’s coming back the way that was planned.”

His accomplishments on the track last year — winning the New York Sire Stakes championship, beating Grand Circuit stock at The Red Mile and finishing second in the Breeders Crown — prompted him to be dubbed an early season favorite for some of the top 3-year-old pacing stakes, including the $1.5 million North America Cup, to be raced at Mohawk Racetrack in June.

“We’re going to be there,” said Jacobs emphatically on Thursday of the North America Cup. “He’s more mature this year and we don’t have to be cautious every race like last year. When he was a 2-year-old each race was a new obstacle. Now we’re pretty confident in him.

“I don’t think he knows he’s racing,” added the owner. “Last year when he went in 1:50.3 in Lexington, after the races when I went to see him in the barn, he was there rolling. He wasn’t blowing. It’s like he didn’t know he just raced. He’s just such a nice horse.”

Joey Rico, another Bettor’s Delight colt, scored in the other elimination in 1:53.2, but has not yet shown the same speed as Kenneth J. The two winners were able to select their post position for the final with Kenneth J starting from the rail and Joey Rico choosing post two. The event will be contested as race nine on the 10-race program.

The $132,625 Empire Breeders Classic final for pacing fillies, carded as race seven, may be more hotly contested than the colts. In one of last week’s eliminations three fillies all finished within a head of each other. Last year’s New York Sire Stakes champion Paula’s Best prevailed over Bettoronthebeach and Sky Queen, who finished in a dead heat for second.

Paula’s Best is a Pro Bono Best filly owned by Larry Roman of Mt. Vernon, N.Y., who has earned $144,000 in her career. She set a new 1:53.4 career mark last week in her first pari-mutuel start of the year.

In the other elimination, Betting Machine had a larger margin of victory for trainer and co-owner George Teague, Jr. This was her first career start in New York and after breaking her maiden earlier this month, it was her second win in as many starts this year.

By virtue of their elimination victories the connections of the winners were able to select their post positions for the final. Teague had the first choice and decided to start Betting Machine from post three and Paula’s Best will be on the rail.

Post time for the matinee program is 1:15 p.m.