from Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA

Freehold, NJ — When Cliff Grundy and his father, Seymour, decided one year to sample the “good life,” as they called it, they probably had no idea how good it would end up for them.

The Grundys, from Michigan, were getting more deeply involved in harness racing after owning Thoroughbreds. They decided to visit Lexington’s Red Mile, where a chance encounter with trainer Jan Nordin in a hotel bar led to the Grundys buying a couple yearlings a year with “Team Nordin.” The second year of the partnership resulted in the Grundys being owners on Spotlite Lobell, who finished third in the 1987 Hambletonian. There was no looking back.

“We had Thoroughbreds and they raced in the afternoon,” said Cliff Grundy, who owns several hardware stores in Michigan. “I couldn’t leave work, so it became no fun for me. We decided to see what we could do in the Standardbreds. We took small steps and learned the hard way. One year, we figured why don’t we see what the good life is about, and we went to Lexington.

“Everything (Nordin) picked out for us was like gold,” Grundy added. “It was a great experience. We used to travel all over; it was like I was the king of the world. Everything would make money.”

Later, the Grundys met trainer Bob McIntosh and began getting a few horses with him. One was millionaire pacer Camluck; another was multiple-stakes winning mare Electrical Express. The group eventually bred Electrical Express to Artsplace, which resulted in millionaire mare Electrical Art. Now, the connections hope a son of the Artsplace-Electrical Express pairing can follow in those footsteps.

Just Plug It In is expected to race in Sunday’s (August 19) C$600,000 Confederation Cup at Flamboro Downs in Ontario. The homebred, who has won four of 15 career starts, is owned by McIntosh, Cliff Grundy, former NHL star Paul Ysebaert and Mike Kohler.

“Electrical Express was a heck of a mare,” Grundy said. “Electrical Art is in our broodmare band now, too; we have about six broodmares and have babies every year. Bob’s lost me as a yearling (buyer), but he’s got me for life. We’ve had a great relationship with Bob. I’ve been lucky to meet and work with the right people.”

Just Plug It In pleased McIntosh with his talent and potential, but displeased him with his attitude. The decision was made to geld the horse, which seems to have helped.

“He seems to be a lot better off,” McIntosh said. “He shows a lot of go. We’re going in (to the Confederation Cup) very quietly, but he has some license to go there. He loves the half-mile track. I’ve liked him since I brought him in from the field to break him. He had great athletic ability and has a super gait. He tickled the money a little bit, but couldn’t get the big prize last year.

“We just need a little luck, and maybe a little shove.”

Last year, Just Plug It In reached the Metro Pace final, but finished eighth. He won a division of the Arden Downs and was third in a division of the Nassagaweya. He is heading to the Confederation Cup off a 1:55.1 victory at Clinton Raceway. He was scratched from a scheduled start at Flamboro on August 10.

“He had a little bit of a temperature and I didn’t want to take any chances,” McIntosh said. “He’s a real fresh horse going in.”

Which could be good news for the horse’s owners, including Grundy.

“All I need is one more Camluck,” he said with a laugh. “I still keep looking for him.”