by Kimberly Rinker, managing editor, Hoof Beats

Columbus, OH — Dirk Simpson couldn’t be happier. Both of his sophomore trotters not only qualified for Saturday’s $120,000 Su Mac Lad Final at Balmoral Park, but both won their eliminations handily for the talented trainer. The two trotters head up a field of ten in the first race of the 14-card Super Night program.

“I’m really proud of both of these horses,” Simpson said of Mystical Banker and Before He Cheats — both gelded sons of Valley Victor.

Balmoral Park photo

Mystical Banker won his elimination in 1:57.2 for Brandon Simpson.

Mystical Banker raced only twice at two, but so far this year has racked up six wins in 11 starts and $56,616 in seasonal earnings. He won his Su Mac Lad elim easily in a near wire-to-wire 1:57.2 effort for Dirk’s 26-year-old son, Brandon.

“I never even pulled the ear plugs,” Brandon said. “He just won super-easy.”

“The horse tore a tendon last year,” Simpson explained. “So we quit with him, gave him the time he needed and swam him to keep him fit. He loves to swim.”

Dirk initially purchased the gelding for $17,000 at the Illini Classic Yearling Sale in September 2005 because he bore a strong resemblance to his full brother — the $274,976 earning, 18-race winner Litigator.

“Mystical Banker was racing good for a while this year and then re-injured the tendon in the Hanover on June 16,” Simpson said. “So we gave him two months off. It’s taken a lot of patience, but he’s worth it.”

Before He Cheats did not race as a freshman, but has entered the winner’s circle on 12 occasions in 18 tries this year, earning $87,589. He won his elim in 1:55.3, by a commanding 6-1/4 lengths for driver Jason Dillander.

“I bought this horse in a package deal last year with his then 3- and 4-year-old full brothers,” Simpson recalled. “None of them had ever raced. This horse started out great, and was purchased by Sam Bowie for $50,000 after his first four starts. He’s had a foot abscess that we’ve been battling and it’s cost us a little bit.”

Small but sturdy, Simpson says Before He Cheats is simply a “gorilla.”

“The Banker horse has more quick speed, but this horse is tough,” Simpson said. “He’s not real flashy but he takes very good care of himself. Because of the foot abscess, we had an egg-bar shoe on him, but it’s gotten a lot better, so I just switched him back to a regular plate. He seems fine now.”

“This horse is a real powerhouse,” Dillander noted. “He still races like a green horse and he’s not real fond of having a whip in his face. He gave them (the other driver’s whips) a quick look in the elim, but after the first turn he was all business.”