by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Williamsport, PA — She absolutely adores having her picture taken but unlike most other members of her gender, 5-year-old pacer Percee Angus detests getting all dolled up.

“Everyone is on their toes when they are working with her,” Julius Czermann, Jr., the mare’s trainer, said. “She is dangerous when you are putting the harness and hobbles on her. Anywhere from her shoulders back she is very skittish and sensitive. I guess she doesn’t want you to touch her.”

Lisa Photo

Percee Angus won a division of the White Ruffles in 1:54.1 on January 19, 2006 at The Meadowlands.

Owned by Frederick and Anita Fialkow of Wellington, Florida, the Quebec-bred daughter of Blissfull Hall and Belaud has earned $377,714 throughout her career with a lifetime mark of 1:52.3h. The dark bay miss has faced the starter 89 times, 32 of them in 2007, with 15 wins, seven seconds and two thirds.

Claimed by the Fialkows at Monticello Raceway in November 2006, ‘Percee’ was one of only four horses in North America to win more than 20 races last year. Her total of 21 victories trailed only 14-year-old pacing gelding Air Albert’s 24. The hard knocking mare was trained by Lance Hudson until she was transferred to Czermann’s care this February.

“She did really well at Monticello but not for me,” Czermann, a native of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, said. “They (the Fialkows) asked me to take her at Yonkers and here we are.”

Czermann is not sure if Percee’s fiery nature contributes to her competitiveness on the track.

“Who knows because every horse is different,” the 41-year-old trainer said. “You have horses that were puppy dogs that were great racehorses but she is tough. She doesn’t take any baloney but that is just her.”

Her conditioner contends the mare is on her best behavior when no one invades her personal space except when it’s time to eat.

“She does not want to be fussed with at all,” Czermann said. “She doesn’t like the vet or the blacksmith. Sometimes she is affectionate but more often than not she isn’t but she definitely likes her stomach full.”

While she despises preparing to race, Percee goes about her business once she hits the track.

“She is fine to train, drive and race,” explained Czermann, who is having the best year of his career with earnings of more than $1.1 million. “The only quirkiness about her is getting her ready and dealing with her every day. She is dangerous.”

After a tough 2007 campaign in which she has garnered $273,700 and is currently tied for second place for races won among North America’s leading older pacers, Percee may receive a little vacation.

“She is really good on a half,” Czermann said. “Unfortunately, we don’t see too many races for good money on a half-mile track. I will talk to the owners and give her a breather or put her into something in the Meadowlands coming up but we really don’t have any set plans for her except she will be racing next year. We are in the racing business and it’s just a question of when she is going to get a breather.”

While Percee is difficult to deal with on a daily basis, the New Jersey resident feels lucky to have her in his barn.

“She has been fantastic,” Czermann, who trains about 24 horses, said. “She is the best horse I have ever had.”