by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY — Nowadays not many 2-year-olds compete in 15 pari-mutuel events, but Powerful Mist may just be a throwback to the good old days and he seems to thrive from his work.

“If it seemed like he was getting tired, I wouldn’t have even tried these last (Delaware) Sire Stakes with him,” said Wayne Givens, the colt’s conditioner. “But he seems to be fresh and getting better with every start, so we decided to just go for it.”

The son of Powerful Toy-Misty Speed was purchased for $27,000 at last year’s Winbak Select Yearling Sale by Legacy Racing of Delaware, Niel Gargiulo and Louie Paglierani. From 15 starts Powerful Mist has accumulated more than $200,000 in purse money, nine wins, three second place finishes, two thirds and a lifetime mark of 1:51.4f.

Fotowon photo

Powerful Mist has won nine times as a freshman and banked $207,537.

The colt captured his $20,000 Woodrow Wilson elimination on August 13 at the Meadowlands, but finished seventh placed sixth in the $473,000 final on August 20. It was the only time in his brief career he failed to hit the board.

Powerful Mist followed this performance with a second to Big Bad John in a $65,300 Standardbred division at Delaware and then reeled off four straight victories against Delaware bred company. He ran his winning streak to five with a personal best 1:51.4 score in a Matron Stakes elimination before finishing second to Feel Like A Fool in the $203,950 Matron Final at Dover Downs on Nov. 13. His next two races on Nov. 21 and 28 were also triumphs in Delaware company and his next start will be on Sunday (Dec. 5) in the $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund Final. He will leave from the eight hole as the 1-2 morning line favorite.

Powerful Mist is the first foal out of his dam, who was unraced but is a half-sister to Ringaleevio (No Nukes, p,3,1:55.2, $265,567), Sands A Flyin (Beach Towel, p,1:50, $481,436) and Beach Bretta (Beach Towel, p,3,1:52.2, $251,960). By Matt’s Scooter, Misty Speed is a full sister to David’s Day (p,1:50.3, $383,092) and her dam Misty Bretta’s first 12 foals all made it to the races. Ticket It, Misty Speed’s second foal by Dragon Again, just sold at last month’s Harrisburg Sale for $120,000.

His family tree was one of the reasons Givens decided to purchase Powerful Mist.

“I liked his conformation and his breeding,” the Seaford, Delaware resident explained. “Those are two of the things you try to put together when you buy a horse.”

The 60-year-old Givens has been around many horses throughout his career including horses his late father Melvin and his brother Les trained, but he acknowledges Powerful Mist possesses something most other horses do not.

“You could tell he was talented from day one and he’s real good gaited,” Givens said. “He’s also real smart and he’s probably one of the smartest horses I’ve ever been around.”

Besides intelligence, Powerful Mist also has been blessed with another outstanding attribute that sets him apart from his colleagues.

“He has a high rate of speed,” Givens said. “A lot of the drivers that have driven him can’t believe he goes as fast as he does. It doesn’t feel like he’s really going that fast.”

The race on Sunday will be the last one for the colt this year and he will receive a break before commencing training for his sophomore campaign.

“He is staked to all the major races next year and hopefully he can make those,” Givens said. “You couldn’t ask for a nicer horse to be around. He really is perfect.”

$100,000 DSBF 2-year-old colt pace
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Line
1-Badlands Challenge-Ron Pierce-Donald Wiest-10-1
2-Powerful Odds-John Wagner-John Wagner-20-1
3-Princely Asset-Roger Plante, Jr.-Dorothy Conner-12-1
4-Three Martini’s-Montrell Teague-George Teague, Jr.-5-1
5-Green Olives-Art Stafford, Jr.-Andrew Stafford-10-1
6-Conartist Hanover-Eric Goodell-Josh Green-15-1
7-Dyslexic-George Dennis-R. Scott Gregoire-10-1
8-Powerful Mist-Jim Morand-Wayne Givens-1-2