by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY — When Donald Bartling arrived home Tuesday evening, he was thrilled to see the package from the Hambletonian Society. The first filly he ever owned had captured the Hambletonian Oaks on August 6 and he was eagerly awaiting her trophy. To his dismay, however, the package was labeled with his address, but was for the filly’s caretaker.

“When I got home the package was there and I thought, there’s the trophy,” the Timonium, Md., resident explained. “Then I realized it was sent to my address, but Mike Holcomb’s name is on it, so it was the groom’s award. They did say it would be awhile (to receive the trophy) because they have to engrave it. I assume this is a plaque, because there is a stick-on label. I think I’ll see him on Sunday, so I have to give it to him whatever this is.”

Bold And Fresh, a daughter of SJ’s Caviar-Odre Coucou, was purchased by Bartling, who also owned a half interest in her sire, for $40,000 at the 2009 Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg. Conditioned by Doug Miller, the person also responsible for managing her half-sister Coulantine’s (Lindy Lane, $427,531, 1:53.3) career, the filly has faced the starter on 15 occasions with six victories and four second place finishes. She has earned $513,129 and possesses a lifetime mark of 1:53.1.

Since she was foaled on May 22, 2008, Miller never pushed her, although he knew she had potential, in the first year of her career and after she tied up shortly after shipping from his Florida base this year to commence her sophomore campaign, he once again was patient.

Lisa photo

Bold And Fresh was a 1:53.1 winner in the Hambletonian Oaks final.

Bold And Fresh, named after Bill O’Reilly’s Bold And Fresh tour, started twice at Pompano Park on May 10 and 17 in $5,900 and $6,000 conditioned races. The filly finished fifth in her first contest and got her picture taken in the second. She was then shipped to the Meadows for the Currier and Ives Filly, but fell ill, was not fully prepared and finished seventh placed eighth in her $40,000 division.

She then traveled to Pocono Downs where she hit the wire second in a $15,000 conditioned race before collecting three consecutive victories in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes competition in dominating fashion, prior to her second place finish to Iron Lady in her Hambletonian Oaks elimination on July 30 at the Meadowlands. Her pilot, Mike Lachance, opted to guide Iron Lady in the final and provided George Brennan with the opportunity to win his second Hambletonian Oaks, as well as become the second driver, joining Brian Sears, to win both the Oaks and Hambletonian in the same year.

“In spite of the fact there was a 2-5 favorite (last year’s champion 2-year-old trotting filly Crys Dream), I knew what she was capable of,” Bartling said. “Two of her last three starts she came from the back and passed the whole field. Sam McKee noted that in his commentary going to the post and said he was at Pocono Downs, saw her break at the start, settle in last and then pass them all.

“She was a very late May foal, so we weren’t expecting a whole lot out of her and she didn’t get her first start until I think the (Thursday) after the 2010 Hambletonian,” he continued. “We only got six starts out of her and we were very pleased with that. Doug got a late start shipping out of Florida (this year) and she got sick immediately after, so we missed the first leg of the PA Sire Stakes with her. Then she wasn’t really ready for the Currier and Ives, but we didn’t use her and it was a pleasant surprise in the second leg of the Sire Stakes when Doug Snyder drove her; she got off last and passed the whole field in the last three-eighths of a mile.”

Bold And Fresh’s next pari-mutuel engagement is in a $65,332 Zweig Filly Trot division at Tioga Downs on Sunday (August 28). The filly will face her Oaks foe Jezzy and six other colleagues while leaving from post seven in the third race on the program.

She does remind Bartling of another horse he once owned.

“She has the same instinct (SJ’s) Caviar had,” he said. “She absolutely loves to be out there and racing. You could see that in the Oaks. She was so ready to go when George pulled her out at the head of the stretch. Like Caviar, if there is another horse ahead of her, she is going to pass them.

“Caviar was dominant in his (3-year-old) year and unfortunately he didn’t make the Hambletonian and got sick later in the year,” Bartling continued. “She’s just coming around and progressed along the way. She didn’t just hit the track running like Caviar did. From the time he was a 2-year-old on he won every race in PA except for the final of the 2-year-old Sire Stakes.”

As far as her future is concerned, Bartling is contemplating his strategy and is simply reveling in Bold And Fresh’s success.

“She is in the Zweig on the 28th and the PA Sire Stakes Final on September 5,” he said. “After that who knows? We’ll see whether we ship to Lexington or not. We’ll just play it by ear.

“As far as next year, boy that’s a big decision I have to face and I don’t know,” Bartling continued. “I have to consult with Doug and get his opinion on that (whether to continue racing her). I’d like nothing more than to watch her race as aged horse, but there is so much wear and tear that it’s just not worth the risk in many cases and that was the case with Caviar. We had the opportunity to syndicate him, so we didn’t take the chance to keep racing.

“I’m surprised I own a filly, because I never have and it’s a whole new experience for me. It’s a whole new decision-making process that I have to get used to, but I’m prepared to own a broodmare, if that’s what it takes.”

$65,332 Zweig Filly Trot-1st division
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Birthday Bonus-Corey Braden-Paul Bernardo
2-Sheer Glide-David Miller-Jim Campbell
3-Miss Sue V-Brian Sears-Paul Kelley
4-Massive Drama-Jeff Gregory-Mark Harder
5-Jezzy-Ray Schnittker-Ray Schnittker
6-Beatgoeson Hanover-David Miller-R. Nifty Norman
7-Bold And Fresh-George Brennan-Doug Miller
8-Cedar Dove-Ron Pierce-Noel Daley

$65,332 Zweig Filly Trot-2nd division
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Celebrity Katie-Brett Miller-Staffan Lind
2-Pantholops-Andy Miller-Jonas Czernyson
3-Tap Tap Dance-Dan Daley-Dan Daley
4-Brooklyn-Tim Tetrick-Frank Antonacci
5-Some Girls-Brian Sears-Gates Brunet
6-Epona Blue Chip-Ray Schnittker-Ray Schnittker
7-Pacific Splash-Charlie Norris-Charlie Norris
8-Temper Of Will-Jim Morrill, Jr.-Trond Smedshammer