Toscano well represented in Matron Stakes events at Dover
November 9, 2011,by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications
Ken Weingartner
Freehold, NJ — Of the three horses from trainer Linda Toscano’s barn in this weekend’s Matron Stakes races at Dover Downs, Breeders Crown winner Chapter Seven and New York Sire Stakes champion Heston Blue Chip are likely to get much of the attention, but do not overlook Forever Just. He has done nothing but surprise Toscano throughout the season.
“He’s been an overachiever from day one,” Toscano said about the 2-year-old pacing colt, who has won seven of 13 races and earned $188,689 for owners Stake Your Claim Stable and Fred Wallace. “He’s been such a pleasant surprise this year. We thought he was going to be an OK sire stakes horse and never dreamed he would achieve what he has so far this year. He’s raced against, and beaten, some very good horses this year.”
Forever Just and Heston Blue Chip are in Saturday’s $177,275 Matron Stakes for 2-year-old male pacers. A son of Bettor’s Delight out of the stakes-winning mare Forever Cam, Forever Just was purchased for $35,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale. Forever Just’s second dam is 1991 Jugette winner and Breeders Crown runner-up Sara Loren Rd.
Paul White photo
Forever Just has hit the board in 12 of his 13 freshman starts.
A five-time winner on the New York Sire Stakes circuit, Forever Just was second to Heston Blue Chip in the $175,000 final on Oct. 1 at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. He also won divisions of the Tompkins-Geers and Simpson stakes.
“I tell my owners all the time, you give them all a chance,” Toscano said. “You don’t count anybody out. You train them all down together and you give them all an honest chance. You never know until you get them to the races which ones are going to pop up and surprise you. You just have to race them.
“Going back in time, probably one of the worst training horses I ever trained was (world champion) Jet Laag — and a million dollars later he made a liar out of me. Some of them are bored with training. When they get to the races that’s when it becomes fun.”
Forever Just finished seventh in last week’s Matron Stakes elimination for 2-year-old male pacers, which was won by John McDermott’s Hurrikane Kingcole in 1:51.2. Forever Just was 10 lengths behind, but Toscano was not overly concerned.
“He was a victim of a very fast last three-quarters and he was coming from the back,” she said. “He’s got some good tactical gate speed; whether or not they use it this week, I don’t know. John McDermott’s colt is a good colt. We’ll give it our best shot.”
Forever Just will start from post No. 7 with driver Tony Morgan and is 15-1 on the morning line. Heston Blue Chip will start from post six with driver Tim Tetrick and is 6-5 while Hurrikane Kingcole got post three, with driver David Miller, and is 1-1.
Heston Blue Chip has won 10 of 12 races and finished second twice, including in last week’s elim. A son of American Ideal-Shot Togo Bluechip, he was purchased for $30,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale and is owned by Ken Jacobs. Heston Blue Chip’s family includes Kikikatie, who was the Dan Patch Award winner as best 2-year-old pacing filly in 2003.
“He’s been a really good horse all year,” Toscano said. “I think he’s a hair better than just a (sire stakes) program. We wanted to try him once just so we kind of had an idea how to stake him next year.”
Chapter Seven drew post No. 3 in Sunday’s $174,940 Matron Stakes for 3-year-old male trotters. Hambletonian winner Broad Bahn also is among the field’s eight horses, along with Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion Opening Night.
USTA/Mark Hall photo
Breeders Crown champion Chapter Seven will be seeking his fifth straight win in the Matron final.
Last weekend, Chapter Seven and driver Tim Tetrick won the Matron elim by three-quarters of a length over Broad Bahn in 1:53.4.
Chapter Seven has won four consecutive races, including the Breeders Crown, for owners Richard Gutnick, Gary Cocco, Southwind Farm and Jerry Silva. For the year, he has five victories in nine starts and $676,657 in purses.
“Chapter Seven is finally living up to what I thought he could do,” Toscano said. “He’s a very good horse that’s kind of been through the mill this year. The last couple races he’s probably been as good as he’s been all year. He’s a good horse. I hope he goes out there again and does what I know he’s capable of.”
Following is the field for the Matron Stakes for 2-year-old male pacers with listed drivers and trainers: 1. Mattacardle, Corey Callahan, Rich Gillock; 2. Steelhead Hanover, Joe Pavia, Jr., Pavia Jr.; 3. Hurrikane Kingcole, David Miller, John McDermott; 4. Divulge, Marcus Johansson, Jimmy Takter; 5. Bakin On The Beach, Ross Wolfenden, Mark Harder; 6. Heston Blue Chip, Tim Tetrick, Linda Toscano; 7. Forever Just, Anthony Morgan, Toscano; 8. Allstar Legend, Andy Miller, George Teague, Jr.
Following is the field for the Matron Stakes for 3-year-old male trotters with listed drivers and trainers: 1. Opening Night, John Campbell, Jim Campbell; 2. Big Rigs, Dave Palone, Kelly O’Donnell; 3. Chapter Seven, Tim Tetrick, Linda Toscano; 4. Magnum Kosmos, Anthony Morgan, Tabitha Teresczuk; 5. I’m The Answer, Trond Smedshammer, Smedshammer; 6. Broad Bahn, George Brennan, Noel Daley; 7. Bambino Hall, Ron Pierce, Tyler Raymer; 8. Big Sky Storm, Brian Sears, Andrew Adamczyk.