Ken Weingartner

Harrisburg, PA — A year ago, Justin Lebo was preparing for the Breeders Crown with Major In Art. On Thursday, he was looking at yearlings at the Standardbred Horse Sale and hoping to find another star.

Lebo, who will turn 28 in December, burst onto the scene last season with Major In Art. The colt won the Woodrow Wilson and Metro Pace on his way to $849,154 in purses and the Dan Patch Award as harness racing’s best 2-year-old male pacer.

Major In Art was sent to the Noel Daley Stable this year, but saw a suspensory injury end his season before it began.

A native and resident of Carlisle, Pa., Lebo this year has seen his horses win 13 of 98 starts and $125,897 while competing primarily in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

“It’s been busy,” Lebo said. “We haven’t had the luck that we had last year, but we’ve had some decent horses. It’s turned into a good year for learning and experience. I really got thrown into full force. It’s a learning process. Just having (Major In Art) got my name out there. The exposure helped me get some better horses, and with that, I got better experience.”

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Justin Lebo studies the catalog at the Standardbred Horse Sale.

On Thursday, Lebo made his first yearling purchase at the Standardbred Horse Sale, buying a colt by SJ’s Caviar for $10,000. The horse, named SOS Flyin Caviar, is out of the dam SOS Fire Fly and is a full brother to Tompkins-Geers Stakes winners Shibboleth Hanover and Sabana Hanover.

“I’ve had a few SJ’s Caviars in the past and always liked them, so I figured I’d give this one a try,” Lebo said.

Lebo, who used to work in construction and followed his father, Chester, into the sport, is in his fourth year training horses — although he has made only 138 lifetime starts. The learning process continues.

“I’ve got my dad there and he sets me straight,” Lebo said. “He lets me know what I’m doing right and doing wrong.”

Like any trainer, he is hopeful of finding another horse like Major In Art.

“Maybe (hip number) 1023 will be the one,” Lebo said, referring to SOS Flyin Caviar. “The hardest part of the business is getting quality horses and keeping them in your barn. I don’t need a world record every year. All I’m looking for is to make a decent living in the business.”