by Joshua Potts, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Springfield, IL — During the 2006 season, Illinois’ 2-year-old colt and gelding pacer division was one of its strongest ever. With Home Bed Advantage, Fox Valley Barzgar, Glass Pack, and The Quiet Mon leading the charge, fans of Illinois harness racing were poised to see them all do battle as sophomores. Certainly, one of these fine equine athletes was going to take home Illinois Horse of the Year honors during their 2007 campaign. Wouldn’t they?

What a difference a year makes. Not only are none of these four favored to win Illinois Horse of the Year in 2007, but none of their names are even printed on the ballot.

Of course, it isn’t entirely these horses’ fault. Not only must a horse be fast and talented, but he or she must have a healthy amount of good luck as well. But good luck was in short supply for this quartet. Health problems, among other things, seemed to get the best of them during their 3-year-old campaigns.

As a result, this season showcased a Prairie State-bred cast of characters that no one expected. We were treated to thrilling performances by one trotter owned by a basketball great, as well as a pacing mare owned by a former governor. We saw a pacer that went 1-for-14 with under $40,000 in the bank last year win 11 of 25 races in 2007, while almost increasing his earnings tenfold. As if this weren’t enough, we saw a 9-year-old earn his lifetime mark of 1:48.4 at the Illinois State Fair. And finally, we saw a ‘big dog’ fight his opponents, winning 13 of 24 races en route to almost a quarter of a million dollars.

Yes, it was quite a year to be a fan of Illinois harness racing. Looking back over the season, there are eight horses that have a legitimate shot of taking home the hardware for 2007 Illinois Horse of the Year. Let’s look at each of their resumes, in alphabetical order.

Before He Cheats
3-year-old gelding trotter
Pedigree: Valley Victor – Nina Yorktown – Pride N Pleasure
Breeder: Earl York
Owner: Sam Bowie
Trainer: Dirk Simpson
Races: 28-21-5-0 Purses: $320,189 Mark: 3,1:53.3
Analysis: After dominating the Illinois-bred sophomore trotting set throughout the season, this son of Valley Victor showed he could tangle with out-of-towners as well while winning a division of The Galt during Grand Circuit action at Maywood Park, beating the likes of Prayer I Am and New Hampshire Boy. Furthermore, he has shown year-long durability while winning four straight between November 29 and December 20, facing tough competition at Chester. His owner, Kentucky Wildcat basketball legend Sam Bowie, knows a thing or two about winning. And apparently, so does his 3-year-old trotter.

Booze Cruzin
3-year-old gelding pacer
Pedigree: Art’s Conquest – Cruzin Suzin – Cam’s Card Shark
Breeder: Broekhuis Stables, LLC
Owner: Broekhuis Stables, LLC
Trainer: Joseph Seekman
Races: 25-11-6-2 Purses: $350,677 Mark: p,3,1:51
Analysis: Between July 10 and November 30, this pacer won 10 of 19 contests. His biggest win of the season came in the $220,000 Windy City Pace at Maywood Park, beating a good field that included Glass Pack, Home Bed Advantage, and Ohio Triple Crown winner KF St Patrick. On November 3, he faced his biggest test of the year in the $275,000 American-National at Balmoral Park. He finished second, a head behind the very talented Won The West.

Crawdad
4-year-old gelding pacer
Pedigree: Art’s Conquest – Smiling Fantasy – Kentucky Spur
Breeder: Cottonwood Farm, Inc.
Owner: Red Barn Stable
Trainer: Erv Miller
Races: 13-9-3-0 Purses: $180,150 Mark: p,4,1:49.4
Analysis: It’s unfortunate that we didn’t get to see more of this talented 4-year-old. His last start for a purse was on April 19. While sidelined for the last eight months, he certainly made the most of his earlier opportunities. During action at the Big M, he won a leg of the Clyde Hirt Stake, two legs of the Senior Trendsetter, a leg and the final of the Four Leaf Clover, and two legs and the final of the Fox Sports Net. While the abbreviated season may hurt his chances in the eyes of some voters, he certainly merits consideration for Horse of the Year.

Free
4-year-old pacing mare
Pedigree: Armbro Mackintosh – Liberation Day – Cole Muffler
Breeder: Robert Le Roy Enterprises, Inc.
Owner: Joseph Alflen
Trainer: Kelvin Harrison
Races: 20-8-5-4 Purses: $256,727 Mark: p,4,1:49.2
Analysis: This gutsy performer has knocked heads with the continent’s best open pacing mares all season long. Her best effort came in her third place finish in the Breeders Crown Final. She finished just 2-3/4 lengths behind the race winner, 2007 Dan Patch Award winner Moving Pictures. Hitting the board 17 times in 20 attempts against the best in her division helps this miss make a compelling case for Illinois Horse of the Year.

King Johnny
9-year-old pacing gelding
Pedigree: Kingston – Swift Sister – Artsplace
Breeder: John Liviakis
Owners: Marlene and Clark Fairley
Trainer: Clark Fairley
Races: 11-4-3-1 Purses: $92,668 Mark: p,9,1:48.4
Analysis: More than just a sentimental favorite, this classy veteran set his lifetime mark of 1:48.4 back in August of this year at the Illinois State Fair. For those voters interested in times, his 2007 mark is the fastest of any horse on this year’s ballot. Not too shabby for a foal of 1998. His biggest win this year came on Super Night at Balmoral Park, winning the Dan Patch Championship against the likes of My Boy David, Thisbigdogwilfight, and Coldheartedrevenge. He might have an outside shot at best, but this crowd favorite merits consideration as well.

Sportsfancy
3-year-old pacing filly
Pedigree: Sportsmaster – Finish Firstfancy – Life Sign
Breeder: Finish First Stables
Owner: Larry Baron
Trainer: John Butenschoen
Races: 23-15-4-3 Purses: $359,280 Mark: p,3,1:50.2
Analysis: This miss was campaigned for most of the season by owners HBH Standardbreds, Inc. and trainer Homer Hochstetler. Her 2007 bankroll is tops amongst any horse on this year’s ballot, and deservedly so. She dominated the Illinois-bred sophomore filly pacing set all season long, including her win in the Grandma Ann Championship on Super Night at Balmoral Park, beating the likes of Faith Leigh and Kiss Of Heaven. From there, she picked up a win against out-of-towners in the Cinderella Stake at Maywood Park during Grand Circuit racing action. Finally, she finished third in the $206,000 American-National, 3-1/2 lengths behind the victorious Go On BB. There is much to like about this fast and fancy sophomore filly pacer.

Street Dancer
4-year-old pacing mare
Pedigree: Richess Hanover – Magical Cassie – Magical Mike
Breeder: Freedom Hill Farms
Owners: Jim Edgar, Terry Rathgeber, Ted Lock, and James Reynolds
Trainers: Nelson Willis and Mark Silva
Races: 22-5-4-4 Purses: $304,980 Mark: p,4,1:49.3
Analysis: Willis and Silva have traded the training chores with this talented mare, who is yet another member of the $300,000-plus club. Like Free, she has gone up against some of the top older pacing mares in training today. Her best win of the season came against a good field in the Overbid Final at the Meadowlands back in March. A second place finish in the $225,000 Lady Liberty Final, a third place finish in the $100,000 Matriarch, and fourth place finishes in the Cape & Cutter, Roses Are Red, and Silk Stockings finals make an impressive case for Horse of the Year honors. Owned in part by former Illinois governor Jim Edgar, she too can expect to be a popular selection at the ballot box.

Thisbigdogwilfight
4-year-old pacing gelding
Pedigree: The Big Dog – Vicky Varius – Tyler B
Breeders: Diana and Tim Wilson, Sr.
Owners: Redbud Stable and Michael McNeely
Trainer: Jim Eaton
Races: 24-13-3-4 Purses: $244,348 Mark*: p,4,1:49.3
Analysis: This tough free-for-all competitor has terrorized the best that the Chicago circuit has to offer all season long. His top win came in the Carey Memorial at Hawthorne back in August. Combined with wins in The Associates, The Egyptian, and The Cook County at Maywood, his 2007 bankroll is just shy of a quarter of a million dollars. This ‘big dog’ has made a serious case for Illinois Horse of the Year.

*Note: All race and purse statistics shown are for the horses’ 2007 campaigns only. All contenders, except for Thisbigdogwilfight, set a new lifetime mark this season (Thisbigdogwilfight’s lifetime mark of 1:49.2 was taken at age 3 in 2006).

As you can see, there is no cut-and-dry favorite amongst this talented and speedy group. The voters have a tough task ahead of them, deciding who will win the coveted title of 2007 Illinois Horse of the Year.

Attention Illinois USTA members: Only horses conceived and foaled in Illinois are eligible. Your ballot must be returned postmarked no later than January 2, and must be received in the USTA Customer Service Department no later than January 7. Mail your 2007 Illinois Horse of the Year ballot ONLY to: Sara Short, USTA Customer Service Department, The United States Trotting Association, 750 Michigan Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215.