Bella Bellini, who in 2022 became only the second 4-year-old mare in history to be voted Trotter of the Year, will kick off her 5-year-old season Saturday (May 6) at The Meadowlands in the first round of the Miss Versatility Series.
Tag: Ken Weingartner
Espresso gets nod as Dexter favorite
Julie Miller is hoping to enjoy a strong Espresso on Saturday (May 6) at Freehold Raceway. Espresso, a two-time Grand Circuit winner and Kentucky Commonwealth Series champion last year, is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in Saturday’s $137,775 Dexter Cup for 3-year-old male trotters at Freehold’s half-mile oval. The Hambletonian-eligible gelding, who is making his seasonal debut, will start from post two with Andy Miller in the sulky.
Bernie ready to hit the road for Mindlin Memorial
For nearly three years, a weekend at Bernie’s has meant a trip to MGM Northfield Park. On Saturday, that will change. Bernie will leave his home at Northfield for the first time since trainer Jessica Millner and Pod Stable purchased the pacer in June 2020 when he competes in the $100,000 Pacey “The Wizard” Mindlin Memorial Invitational at Miami Valley Raceway. Mindlin was Miami Valley’s on-air handicapper until his death at age 81 in March.
Focus is on improvement for Joemikiyoursofine
Joemikiyoursofine was lightly raced last season as a 2-year-old because of sickness and immaturity, but if he can blossom into a stakes-level performer like stablemate Western Joe and half-brother Fourever Boy, his connections will think he’s even better than fine.
Whole Lotta Lou breaks through at Big M
Stacy Chiodo has always felt a whole lotta love for Whole Lotta Lou, so it’s been gratifying for the trainer to see the 5-year-old pacer enjoy a breakout season in 2023. Whole Lotta Lou already has set career highs this year for wins, with five, and purses, with $49,420, while climbing the class ladder at The Meadowlands.
Dexter Cup attracts field of seven
Seven horses were entered for the Dexter Cup, the first Grand Circuit event of the season for 3-year-old male trotters, making eliminations unnecessary this Saturday at Freehold Raceway. All seven horses advance directly to the Dexter Cup final, which will go for a purse of $137,775, on May 6 at the half-mile track in central New Jersey.
Prushnok getting a bang out of Dynamite Dylan
After being limited to three starts last season, Dynamite Dylan exploded on the scene at Miami Valley Raceway this month by breaking his maiden with a 1:50.4 win in the first start of his sophomore campaign and following with a victory last week in his elimination of the James K. Hackett Memorial for Ohio-sired 3-year-old male pacers. On Thursday, the homebred colt will try to make it 3-for-3 in ’23 when he faces eight rivals in the $50,000 Hackett championship.
Multi-talented Witherite ascends to position of Hoof Beats editor
James Witherite did not spend his life preparing to become the editor of Hoof Beats magazine. Rather, life itself readied Witherite for the role. Witherite, a 36-year-old Pennsylvania native whose interests and talents encompass not only harness racing but multiple facets of the arts, ascended to the position of editor earlier this month following a one-year stint as assistant editor. He took the helm from Kathy Parker, who joined Hoof Beats as editor in 2021 and will continue with the magazine as a contributing writer.
Brennan talks milestone, Borgata and Matchmaker
George Brennan was 14 when he drove a horse to a paycheck for the first time. The teenager, making his only start of 1981, steered Myron’s Bunny to a fifth-place finish in an amateur race, with the trotter collecting $50 in purse money. Brennan has accumulated — since that initial $50 start — nearly $199.7 million in purses as he prepares for the first Grand Circuit finals of the season Monday (April 24) at MGM Yonkers Raceway.
Stars to shine on Saturday in New Jersey Breeders Maturity at Big M
Some of harness racing’s top 3-year-olds of last season — Treacherous Dragon, Niki Hill, Bythemissal, Fashion Schooner, and Pretender — will begin their 4-year-old campaigns Saturday (April 22) in the first of two weekends of New Jersey Breeders Maturity races for pacers and trotters at The Meadowlands.