by Steve Wolf, director of North American operations, harnesslink.com

Pompano Beach, FL — Harnesslink.com has exclusively learned today from the connections that own the undefeated world champion 2-year-old pacing colt He’s Watching, that a half interest in the son of American Ideal-Baberhood has been sold to the Muscara Racing Trust.

He’s Watching is trained and co-owned by David Menary with Brad Gray and Michael Guerriero, all from Ontario. Muscara Racing Trust of Ivyland, Pa., is comprised of the Joe Muscara family who currently own and stand the stallions Art Official, Mach Three and Mister Big in additional to numerous race horses.

Mike Lizzi photo

He’s Watching was unbeaten in eight starts in 2013, including the New York Sire Stakes final.

This season He’s Watching put the harness racing world on notice of his ability, setting world records at Tioga Downs (1:50) and Yonkers Raceway (1:52.2). He also set track records at Buffalo Raceway and Vernon Downs and tied the track record on a rainy night at Batavia Downs. He concluded his 2-year-old season with earnings of $291,722. He’s Watching was purchased by Menary as a yearling for just $3,000.

Complete details of the transaction, including the price, were not revealed but David Menary confirmed that the current owners would have controlling interest of He’s Watching as a racehorse for the next two seasons and that the Muscara Racing Trust would have controlling interest of He’s Watching as a breeding stallion.

The entire arrangement is very similar to that of the great race horse and stallion Niatross, who was also undefeated at age two in 1979 when half interest was sold for $2.5 million with the same racing/breeding agreements.

“This is a good deal for everyone,” said Menary. “We are happy to have partners like Joe Muscara and his family on board. We had a great team when we started out with the colt and now the team is even better.

“I am sorry that He’s Watching was not staked to the Breeders Crown this week and can’t be supplemented. We turned him out but he was in perfect shape to keep on racing. He will be staked right for next year and we plan to be in all of the big dances.

“When I first bought him at the sale he was a June foal and a little small. He is still growing and I am sure will fill out more this winter. What he lacked in size he made up for in speed, heart and ability and he’s not done growing yet. I like to compare him to Foiled Again.”

“We are very happy with this deal,” said Robert Muscara of the Muscara Racing Trust. “He’s Watching has so much potential for the future. Two world records, eight for eight racing this year and we can’t wait to see what happens next year. We are also very happy with Dave Menary, Brad Gray and Michael Guerriero as partners. They were great to deal with on the sale. It’s going to be very exciting next season.”

On the breeding side, He’s Watching’s pedigree, despite his bargain basement yearling sale price, shows four strains of the great broodmare K Nora — through He’s Watching himself and Western Ideal via the champion mare Leah Almahurst, plus through American Ideal and Life Sign via the world champion mare Three Diamonds.

Also in his breeding is that there are duplications of Leah Almahurst and Three Diamonds that are sex-balanced (i.e. appearing via both a son and a daughter). There are also sex-balanced duplications of Abercrombie, Adios, Good Time, Knight Dream, Meadow Skipper and No Nukes. He’s Watching also has eight daughters of Tar Heel (six of them unique) in his sixth generation. That makes He’s Watching’s pedigree one of a possible real champion for his future stallion duties.