“Matt Hershey came from trainer Norm Parker at The Meadows,” said Pittsburgh-born Stackowicz. “I got him in January to race in these series. He was in the Clyde Hirt, the Exit 16W and the Four Leaf Clover. Putting him in the Four Leaf Clover was a little overzealous. I convinced the owner to put him in this one because it was a little easier than the Exit 16W, but we’ve started off stuck with the eight-hole [with George Brennan driving].

“He’s a one-move horse, and you can’t waste it leaving,” said the 39-year-old conditioner. “His last two lines were sharp [both seconds]. Two starts back he got shuffled to last, had to wiggle his way out and came flying down the stretch. So, last week he was out, grinding first over and just missed with a game effort.”

Although he has earned more than $18,000 this year with three seconds and a third, so far he is winless in 11 starts.

“He’s a handful around the barn because he’s a stud, and let’s us know that on occasion,” said Stackowicz, who is stabled at the Meadowlands. “I tried a Kant-See-Bak bridle on him recently, but that wasn’t enough. He needs something to make him more aggressive. We also let his hobbles out one hole to give him a bit more room.

“I’m not one to train them a lot of trips,” she explained. “I blew him out one mile [Tuesday] because he raced last week. I think you would lose a lot with him if you trained him too much. You just want to keep him happy. We turn him out at Blairwood Farm so he can play. My two retired horses are there, Power That Will and No Nonsense Man.

“Matt Hershey’s owner, D. Lloyd Mathieson [of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania], is in his late 80s and he got into the business late in life,” noted Stackowicz. “He raced the dam, Thruway Hershey, and did well with her. He has a couple of other broodmares, and he also races Seagull Hershey, and a few more up in Canada.”

The four-year-old Matt Hershey is rated 12-1 in the morning line. Dream Believer, teamed with Daniel Dube, is 8-1 in the morning line of the second division.

“Dream Believer is a big thrill to train,” said Stackowicz. “The owner, Israel Galarza [of Hoboken, New Jersey], called me one day, and we weren’t able to get anything at the Harrisburg Sale. So, we claimed him [Dream Believer] for $62,500 [on January 23]. He been very consistent, but he brushes his one knee. We’ve been playing around a bit with his shoeing. This week we’re going to put a new headpole on him. It’s going to straighten him out. He tends to lug in around the turns, so we put it on the inside. He was actually turning his head to the inside on the straightaway and bearing out. That would cause him to brushing his right knee a little bit. Usually, it’s mostly conformation and a little bit soundness. In his case, he’s just not a very wide horse, and he’s not lame at all.

“He raced last Saturday [finishing second in 1:51.2], so we definitely don’t need to train him up,” she noted. “Daniel Dube knows what he’s doing with him. I’ll never tell him what to do. He’ll likely look to sit a trip and make one big move in the stretch. We’re going to win one soon with him.”

The four-year-old son of Dream Away has one win, two seconds and six thirds from 11 starts this year for seasonal earnings of $42,183.

Stackowicz provides a lot of hands-on care to her small stable of seven and some of her biggest successes have come with modestly priced trotters. No Nonsense Man earned $50,100 and Power That Will banked $78,527 before injuries sidelined them.

“I had such high hopes for No Nonsense Man, but unfortunately he’s done [with a broken knee],” she said. “I love going to the sales. I bought both Power That Will and No Nonsense Man for $5,000 each. I would rather buy a green three-year-old that has impeccable breeding and needs more time.”

Stackowicz paid for her college education while working as a caretaker and assistant trainer. It was supposed to be a means to another career. But she was lured back to racing from the business world by her love of horses.

“My degree in psychology helps me deal with the people and other issues,” she conceded. “As far as the ups and downs of the business go, my husband [veterinarian Dr. Rick Baumer] told me it’s not a business for the weak hearted.”