by James Platz, for Hoosier Park Racing & Casino

Anderson, IN — When the gate swings into motion Saturday night for the $600,000 Breeders Crown final for freshman trotting colts, Twila Harts will be at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino cheering on her first Crown finalist. The 79-year-old is one-quarter of the partnership behind Indiana-sired colt Skyway Torpedo, one of the top contenders in the division this year in the Hoosier State. She considers herself the silent partner behind the successful 2-year-old.

“I own one leg,” the septuagenarian said with a laugh. “I just go along for the ride and pay my bills. I don’t do any of the work. Alvin and Ted handle most of that.”

Linscott Photography

Indiana Sire Stakes champion Skyway Torpedo hopes to become a Breeders Crown winner on Saturday evening.

Skyway Torpedo is campaigned by a partnership that includes Harts, trainer Alvin Miller, Ted Comerford and James Lee. Since plucking the Swan For All-The Magic Of Paris colt out of the Hoosier Classic Sale last fall for $32,000, the group has been rewarded with a young trotter that has become a model of consistency. The freshman possesses a 13-5-5-1 record with $170,350 in earnings.

“We didn’t know until he raced the first few times that he would be as good as he was,” Harts said. “We just kept hoping since it was here in Indiana this year that he would get to be in the Breeders Crown.”

In talking with Miller earlier this spring, the conditioner was already impressed with the poise of his charge. At a time when many colts were working through immaturity issues, Skyway Torpedo had all the qualities of a veteran trotter.

“He can trot and he acts like an old horse. He doesn’t struggle, he’s not stressed. He’s easy,” the trainer said before the 2017 campaign began. “Everybody that trains him thinks he’s an old horse.”

The mature for his age Skyway Torpedo would deliver this summer for his owners. Driven in all but two starts by Peter Wrenn, the colt won three Indiana Sires Stakes eliminations and one $75,000 final, taking a mark of 1:55 in the process. In the $220,000 Super Final, the trotter registered a runner-up performance as All On Black went on to set a Hoosier Park track record in victory. Last weekend in his Breeders Crown elimination, Skyway Torpedo and Wrenn trotted in 1:54.3 to finish fourth and lock in a spot in the final.

“He’s not a come from behind horse,” Harts said of her trotter. “He doesn’t have that spurt on the end. He’s a grinder.”

The Amboy, Ind. resident knows her late husband, Phil, would be thrilled with Skyway Torpedo. After all, he was the one that pronounced 40 years ago his interest in buying a racehorse. The couple owned many along the way, the most successful being Rocket Fuel. In a career that spanned just shy of 200 starts, the Dontgetinmyway gelding became an Indiana champion, took a record of 1:50 and earned $784,006.

Phil passed away Oct. 19, 2016 at the age of 77. During their time together, Phil’s passion for racing became hers as well. It is one of the reasons she continues to be involved today.

“I love it. Since we didn’t have any kids, I guess they’re my kids and my grandkids,” she explained. “I guess it makes me feel closer to Phil, too, since he’s gone. I just want to do it as long as I can.”

Being involved in racing for several decades, Harts understands the highs and lows of racing. Partnering with Miller and Comerford on the pacing filly Topville Cadillac, they enjoyed a banner freshman campaign in 2015. As a 2-year-old the filly won seven of nine starts and earned $238,000. In the two seasons that have followed, she has registered three wins and earned just under $60,000. Harts had thought at one time that it might be Topville Cadillac competing this weekend in the Breeders Crown. Racing fortunes, however, can change quickly.

“For every ounce of joy there’s a pound of heartache with these horses. It didn’t take long to find that out,” she commented. “But we’ve been really lucky. Phil and I were really lucky in the horse business, so I can’t complain.”

And that’s how Harts intends to approach the Breeders Crown this weekend; no matter the result, no complaints. She’ll be thrilled to watch the latest of her “children” compete on harness racing’s biggest stage and give it his all.

“Alvin and I both talked this morning, and we’d be thrilled to death if he got a check,” she added. “I would love it if he could finish second or third, but I’d still be thrilled with him if he got a check. And I’d still be proud of him if he didn’t get a check.”

Following is the field for Saturday’s $600,000 Breeders Crown 2-year-old colt trot.

PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Morning Line
1-Crystal Fashion-David Miller-Jim Campbell-7/2
2-You Know You Do-Yannick Gingras-Jimmy Takter-6/1
3-Fiftydallarbill-Trace Tetrick-William Crone-8/1
4-Fourth Dimension-Brian Sears-Marcus Melander-5/2
5-Met’s Hall-Andy Miller-Julie Miller-9/2
6-Dawson Springs-Joe Bongiorno-Tony Alagna-30/1
7-Moosonee-Scott Zeron-Christopher Beaver-30/1
8-Missle Hill-Tim Tetrick-Tony Alagna-30/1
9-Samo Different Day-Jimmy Takter-Jimmy Takter-20/1
10-Skyway Torpedo-Peter Wrenn-Alvin Miller-20/1

Hoosier Park, in conjunction with Roberts Communications, will offer live steaming and replays of the Breeders Crown races at www.hoosierpark.com/racing/2017breederscrown/.