Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — It might take divine intervention for John Paul’s Legacy to win Saturday’s $600,000 Breeders Crown Trot at the Meadowlands Racetrack, but breeder/owner Emil Benvenuto will take that chance. After all, his horse is named in honor of a pope and will be driven by George Brennan, also known as The Minister of Speed.

“We’ve got a lot working for us,” Benvenuto said with a laugh.

John Paul’s Legacy was named in honor of Pope John Paul II, who died on April 2, 2005; the same day Benvenuto’s horse was born. Additionally, in 1960, Benvenuto assisted the U.S. team in the first Paralympic Games, which were held in Rome. During that time, he had an audience (and was photographed) with Pope John XXIII.

“It all just kind of fit into selecting a name,” Benvenuto said.

John Paul’s Legacy, trained by Angus MacDonald, is coming off a second-place finish at Tioga Downs on August 15. Previously, he won an overnight race in 1:54 at the Meadowlands. He finished second in the finals of the Hiram Woodruff Series in May at the Meadowlands and since then has raced predominately in the Open at Vernon Downs.

Last season, John Paul’s Legacy finished eighth in the Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Trot. He has won 10 of 52 career races and earned $170,939.

“He’s improved quite a bit since last year,” said Benvenuto, a former Connecticut state legislator who got started in harness racing in the mid-1960s. “We decided to keep him eligible, and I’m glad we did. He had a win last week and we think he’s probably in great shape right now; the greatest shape he’s ever been in. We’re optimistic. He seems to improve with age, like good wine.”

Lucky Jim has been like fine wine, too. Two weeks after losing for the first time this year, finishing third in the $662,860 Maple Leaf Trot at Mohawk Racetrack, the 4-year-old trotter won the $300,000 Nat Ray Invitational at the Meadowlands Racetrack on August 8 in world-record-equaling time.

Winless in nine races last season, Lucky Jim has won 16 of 17 races this year and earned $763,618.

“You want all of them, but (the Nat Ray win) was a little more gratifying,” trainer Julie Miller said. “I think (the loss) did give some people doubts. For him to dominate the race like that, I think there are no more doubts that he is one of the top horses.”

The Breeders Crown Trot field also includes two previous Crown winners at the age of 3 — Arch Madness, who won in 2007, and In Focus, who won last year. Rounding out the field are Su Mac Lad Series winner Lanson and 2008 Nat Ray winner Misterizi.

Benvenuto said it will be tough to beat Lucky Jim.

“He’s probably impossible to beat, but it’s still a horse race,” he said. “Anything could happen.”

Recently, Benvenuto’s wife of nearly 58 years, Elizabeth, passed away.

“I think she’s up there guiding us right now,” Benvenuto said. He added with a chuckle, referring to only having to face five other horses in the Breeders Crown, “That’s my wife up there working.”

Following is the field in post position order, with listed drivers and trainers, for the $600,000 Breeders Crown Trot: 1. Misterizi, Tim Tetrick, Anthony Montini; 2. Lucky Jim, Andy Miller, Julie Miller; 3. In Focus, David Miller, Jimmy Takter; 4. John Paul’s Legacy, George Brennan, Angus MacDonald; 5. Lanson, Michel Lachance, Don Swick; and 6. Arch Madness, Brian Sears, Trond Smedshammer.