from the Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Assn.

Okemos, MI — Midway through the Michigan Colt Stakes season, there remain just two undefeated horses. One of them is a small, but speedy, 3-year-old pacing filly named Tropical Breeze.

The daughter of Canyon Wind-Freddi’s Surprise-Silver Almahurst races out of the Mike Sweeney Stables. In what’s become the preferred routine for Breeze, as she’s known at the barn, the filly rocketed to the lead in this past Tuesday’s 2012 Spartan Futurity in Midland and fended off a number of challengers to win the event. That makes eight straight wins — two pari-mutuel and six colt stakes — for the Michigan sophomore.

MHHA photo

Tropical Breeze is currently enjoying an eight-race winning streak.

During her freshman year, Tropical Breeze had a solid season with a 2-5-4 record in 12 starts and, in the process, managed to grind out $26,222 from the Michigan program. Despite winning just two races last year, it was obvious to part owner Phil Stommen that there was “something special about her.”

While watching last season’s Fair Final at Northville Downs, Stommen got an up-close look at the field as they rounded the final turn.

“She didn’t win, but I’ve never seen a horse more excited and determined to try,” he said.

Following the final 2011 colt stakes event in Hillsdale in September, Tropical Breeze enjoyed a well-deserved four month break while her connections anxiously waited to see what was in store for 2012.

After a couple of misfires at Hazel Park in early June, Tropical Breeze’s regular driver, Jeff Sweeney, realized that once on top, she simply refused to yield. Her last two pari-mutuel starts prior to the first colt stakes event of the summer were both, more or less, wire-to-wire affairs.

On June 25, she stopped the clock in 1:54.4 at Hazel Park and one week later won again on the five-eighths-mile oval in 1:54. Since then, she has rarely seen other horses or drivers in front of her — preferring to get to the top as quickly as possible and stay there no matter what.

Jeff Sweeney has missed Tropical Breeze’s last two races due to illness, but is eager to be back in the sulky. In his absence, Brad Kramer has filled in admirably, comparing Tropical Breeze’s acceleration and control to that of his Dodge Viper.

Away from the races, “Breeze can be a bit of a goof ball,” according to Jeff Sweeney.

Normally, she isn’t especially focused while jogging and can even be a little cantankerous at times. However, when it comes time to train or race, Tropical Breeze is all business.

Mike’s wife and partner Patty Sweeney and Tropical Breeze’s primary caretaker Allison Hill both agree that Tropical Breeze is one of the nicest horses they’ve seen come through the stable. She’s easy-going, curious, and very loveable in the barn.

As Allison puts it, “If only they were all as easy-going as Breeze.”

Most exciting to partners Sweeney and Stommen was Tropical Breeze’s improvement from her freshman to sophomore year and the fact that her sire, Canyon Wind, didn’t achieve his mark of 1:48.4 until the age of five.

“I don’t think she’s shown us everything she is capable of yet,” says Stommen, who hadn’t owned colts prior to 2011. Phil is the Horsemen’s Representative for the Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Association and says he invested in a few 2-year-olds with the Sweeneys to “experience what fair racing is all about.”

Stommen realizes just how lucky he is to have a part in a horse like Tropical Breeze and be partners with the Sweeneys. He adds, “It’s been a great experience and I thoroughly enjoy fair racing, regardless of how my horses finish.”