by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — When Charlie Norris prepared to ask Treviso for her best effort in her Bluegrass Stakes division last week, the 2-year-old female trotter was ready. In fact, she didn’t even really need to be asked.

Treviso pulled out from behind leader Broadway Idole, driven by Brett Miller, in the stretch and trotted to a two length win in 1:54.1 last Friday at Lexington’s Red Mile. The time is the second-fastest of the season for a 2-year-old female trotter and the third-fastest clocking overall.

“She was very good,” said Norris, who trains and drives Treviso. “She came out of the hole pretty good. I tipped off Brett’s shoulder there, and I actually didn’t even pull her, she just came out on her own. She was ready to roll. She likes to race.”

Nigel Soult photo

Treviso was a 1:54.1 winner in her Bluegrass division on Sept. 30.

Treviso has won four of eight races this year and earned $112,694 heading to this Friday’s International Stallion Stakes at Lexington. Treviso competes in the first of four $63,750 divisions and will start from post seven in a seven-horse field. The division also includes Bluegrass division winner Thats All Moni.

A daughter of stallion Muscle Massive out of the Taurus Dream mare Valbonela, Treviso was purchased privately by Norris for owners Klis Brothers Stable and Carrie Norris.

Treviso’s family includes former Quebec star Val Taurus as well as stakes-winner Valdonna and Foot Bowl, who won races in the U.S. and Europe and is the dam of stakes-winner Bruschette and second dam of stakes-winner Smokinmombo.

“I like the Muscle Massives,” Norris said. “They’re a pain in the butt a lot of times, but they do have some go.

“She looks good, she’s just small. She’s not a very big filly but she has a very efficient gait.”

Treviso won her debut, a division of the Pennsylvania All Stars, and then posted a second-place finish followed by two wins on the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes circuit. Her only blatant misstep this season came in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship, where she went off stride behind the gate and finished seventh.

“I don’t know what the heck happened,” Norris said. “She was just acting up, but that’s not usually her at all.”

With a strong performance in the International Stallion, Treviso could punch her ticket to the upcoming Breeders Crown at the Meadowlands later this month.

“As long as she’s sound we’ll probably give her a shot,” Norris said. “She’s really on top of her game now, I think.”

Multiple-stakes-winner Ariana G headlines the second division of the International Stallion Stakes while the third division includes Bluegrass division winners Onda Su and Overdraft Volo. Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion Fine Tuned Lady, who has finished no worse than second in nine races, leads the final division.

For Friday’s complete Red Mile card, click here.