by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — For most of the horses in Saturday’s (June 25) $500,000 Earl Beal Jr. Memorial at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, the race is hoped to be a stepping stone to August’s Hambletonian. The exceptions are Dejarmbro and I’m The Answer, both from the Purple Haze Stables and barn of trainer/driver Trond Smedshammer.

Neither 3-year-old trotter is eligible to the Hambletonian, so the Beal is a chance to show what they can do against some of the division’s best.

On June 18, both won their respective Beal elimination races. Dejarmbro won by 2-3/4 lengths over Bambino Hall and I’m The Answer triumphed by 4-1/2 lengths over Opening Night. Both won in 1:52.4, a time that was two-fifths of a second off the fastest mile ever for 3-year-old trotters on a five-eighths-mile track. I’m The Answer’s victory set the world record for a 3-year-old gelding trotter over the five-eighths oval.

Pastor Stephen, last season’s Dan Patch Award winner for best 2-year-old male trotter, won the remaining of the three Beal elims. He won by three lengths over Broad Bahn in 1:53.1 for trainer Jimmy Takter and driver Ron Pierce.

Fotowon photo

Dejarmbro has won 11 times in 15 career starts, with $326,580 in purses.

Last year, Dejarmbro won eight of 11 races, including the New York Sire Stakes championship. He went off stride in two of his first three starts, but then won seven in a row before making a break and finishing seventh in the Breeders Crown final at Pocono Downs.

This season, the colt has three wins in four starts. His only setback was by a head to Whatever It Takes in the Empire Breeders Classic final at Vernon Downs on May 30. I’m The Answer was third in that race, a length behind the winner.

A son of Credit Winner, Dejarmbro is out of the mare Armbro Deja Vu, who happens to be a half-sister to last season’s 2-year-old Breeders Crown champion Manofmanymissions.

“(Dejarmbro) is doing good,” Smedshammer said. “The only race he got beat, he raced very good. He just had a horse following him around the whole way that just nipped him at the wire. He’s been good all spring.”

Geri Schwarz photo

I’m The Answer has earned $156,909 in 15 career starts.

As good as Dejarmbro has been, Smedshammer was also impressed with I’m The Answer’s effort in his Beal elim. I’m The Answer’s win was his third of the season. He has won five of 15 career races, earning $156,909, and finished worse than third only twice.

I’m The Answer, a son of Credit Winner-Southwind Flanders, might not have a chance to win the Hambletonian, but he has Hambletonian bloodlines. His maternal family includes 1930 Hambletonian winner Hanover’s Bertha.

“He’s been a step behind Dejarmbro, but I made a few changes before the race last week and he responded very good,” Smedshammer said. “He was very good. I would say he raced better than Dejarmbro did.

“They went the same time, but I was more pleased with I’m The Answer. He finished stronger and did all the work himself. He was very good mannered and did everything right.”

Following is the field for the $500,00 Earl Beal Jr. Memorial in alphabetical order: Bambino Hall, Big Rigs, Broad Bahn, Buffalino Hanover, Dejarmbro, I’m The Answer, Leader Of The Gang, Opening Night, and Pastor Stephen.