by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Freehold, NJ — Throughout the spring, the USTA Web site will provide occasional glimpses at some of harness racing’s stars as they get ready for action on the track. This week, we take a look at 8-year-old pacing gelding Boulder Creek.

BOULDER CREEK
Pacific Rocket – Hayser Creek – Threefold

Owner: Larry Baron
Breeders: Debbie Bird, Barry Bird, Cyril Hayes
Trainer: Josh Green
Driver: Tim Tetrick

2007 Record: 21-4-3-2; $589,590; 1:48.3f
2006 Record: 23-6-1-5; $470,331; 1:49
2005 Record: 25-6-6-3; $978,645; 1:48.4
2004 Record: 30-7-8-4; $641,165; 1:48.1
2003 Record: 27-8-3-3; $263,548; 1:50.3
2002 Record: 17-5-5-3; $327,408; 1:52.3s
Totals: 143-36-26-20; $3,270,687; 1:48.1

Boulder Creek has 36 lifetime wins and career earnings of $3,270,687.

Honors: 2005 Dan Patch Award and 2005 Nova Award, best older male pacer.

Time of his life: Boulder Creek’s career mark of 1:48.1 came in winning the 2004 Breeders Crown at the Meadowlands at odds of 20-1. Four Starzzz Shark was the favorite, and finished seventh.

Age is but a number: Last year, at the age of 7, Boulder Creek equaled the world record for gelding pacers on a five-eighths-mile track by winning the Ben Franklin Pace in 1:48.3 at Harrah’s Chester. The time was one-fifth of a second off the fastest-ever mile on a five-eighths-mile oval.

Price of fame: Larry Baron bought Boulder Creek for $185,000 at the Tattersalls January Select Mixed Sale at the Meadowlands.

“I looked at him at the sale and told Larry I couldn’t fault him,” said trainer Josh Green, who took over the conditioning of Boulder Creek from longtime handler Mark Silva. “For being 8 years old, he looked absolutely fabulous. The only thing that scared me was trying to follow Mark. To know what he’s done in his career, and to have him in your stable, it’s just very nice.”

The road back: Boulder Creek’s final start of 2007 was a fourth-place finish in the Gold Cup at Woodbine Racetrack on Oct. 27. He returned to the racetrack on May 13, winning a qualifier in 1:54 at Chester. He followed that effort with a 1:54.3 Q victory on May 20 at Chester.

“We bought him with the intention of racing him as an open pacer at Chester. Anything above that would be great,” Green said. “He’s such a big horse; he’s a heavy, fat thing. It takes those horses so long to get race tight. We did stake him fairly strong, but it’s just a matter of whether he can go with them. He’s prepped back very strong. We’ve been very patient with him and, knock on wood, we haven’t had any setbacks. Time will tell.”

USTA/Mark Hall photos

Boulder Creek is a three-time champion in the Classic Series and has also won a pair of Breeders Crowns.

Winning attitude: Top career triumphs for Boulder Creek include the Breeders Crown (2004 and 2005), the Pacing Classic (2005, 2006 and 2007), the 2007 Ben Franklin and Des Smith, and the 2005 U.S. Pacing Championship.

“He takes care of himself,” Green said. “Horses like him, they have a different attitude about them. They just show up to race. Week in and week out, it doesn’t matter if they don’t have their ‘A’ game, they give their full effort. It just makes them different. Those are the ones that are just fun.

“He’s lazy as far as training. Once we got him to Chester and around other horses, he’s definitely been a different animal. Our horses go in the field every day unless they’re dealing with injuries. He goes out in the field with about five other horses and he’s definitely the ringleader. He knows that he’s top dog, and you can just tell. He’s just a class racehorse.”

More class: Green credited former trainer Silva for Boulder Creek’s fine condition and got tips from Silva about the horse.

“For him to be 8 years old and have the starts that he’s had and to look the way that he does, it’s just a testament to Mark’s training,” Green said. “The horse has been well cared for. It’s kind of sad (Silva) doesn’t get to finish out his career. He’s told me little things about him, and he didn’t need to do that. He’s just class.”

Money, money, money: Boulder Creek ranks third all-time in earnings among pacers, trailing only Gallo Blue Chip ($4.2 million) and Eternal Camnation ($3.7 million).

“I couldn’t even fathom beating that,” Green said. “I could never imagine that. He’d have to race the way he has been for another two years. But you just don’t know.”