Memorable NYSS action on Monday at Monticello
Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY --- If one ever wonders whether video gaming or slot machines are an asset to harness racing, just gaze at the overnight purse schedules at New York racetracks and check out the money being offered in the New York Sires Stakes program.

On Monday afternoon, August 27, in the southern Catskills of New York, three divisions for 3-year-old pacing fillies went to post at Monticello Raceway for a total purse in excess of $344,000, which equated to around $115,000 per division.

When the dust had settled in the three NYSS splits a track record dead-heat, an inexpensive filly, and a momma-to-be made the headlines.

Racehorsephoto.com photo

Hanna’s Delight and Lislea Phia score a 1:54.3 track record dead-heat victory and equal the mark for 3-year-old filly pacers.

The first $115,585 split appeared to be another venue for Tim Rooney’s Lislea Phia to showcase her talents and add another victory -- and a good size purse check -- to her resume. And it started out as figured with Brian Cross sending the daughter of Lislea to the front in a swift :27 quarter with JK Pure Pearl (Stephane Bouchard) trying to take command, which was rebuffed by Lislea Phia.

Once the pressure was off, Lislea Phia cruised to the half in :55.2 and was comfortable on the lead at the three-quarters in 1:25. When Cross stepped on the gas, Lislea Phia hit another gear and seemed destined to be an easy winner; that is, until she crossed a shadow as she came off the final turn. The filly made a misstep, which after a few more strides turned into a break to the delight of Hanna’s Delight’s driver Jimmy Morrill, Jr., who was chasing the leader.

When Lislea Phia went off stride at the top of the lane, Albert Hanna’s Hanna’s Delight took command. That is, until Cross got his filly back on gait and incredibly she made up the lost ground, and the two fine distaff pacers came to the wire simultaneously.

Upon further review by the judges it was determined that Cross broke no rules -- Lislea Phia lost ground while on a break -- and her late rally put her on the finish line exactly the same time as Hanna’s Delight. And the 1:54.3 clocking was not only a new dead-heat record at the Mighty M, but also tied the 3-year-old filly track record set last year by Rita J.

This article appears with the expressed consent of the U.S. Trotting
Association

Delaware duo seeking success in Standardbred sport
Friday, October 19, 2007 - by Charlene Polk, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Berlin, MD --- Although it's not The Meadowlands or The Red Mile, the half-mile Ocean Downs oval, just minutes from Ocean City, Md., is known throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

The track has suffered something of a decline since its heyday in the 1950s, but over the years it has remained a place where horses and horsemen can get a good education. As many before them, two young men who grew up at Ocean Downs are preparing to use what they've learned there in an attempt to become successful horsemen.

John McIntyre (left) and Justin Brenneman are both looking forward to a career in harness racing.

Justin Brenneman, who turns 18 today (October 19), and John Michael McIntyre, 19, have spent years together working for various trainers at Ocean Downs in an effort to learn all there is to know about harness racing.

"I've (been able) to train horses and work with people here at the track that I wouldn't have (been able) to at a farm," McIntyre said. "I've been exposed to more."

McIntyre and Brenneman have been coming to the track, when they weren't in school, since they were less than 10 years old, giving them plenty of exposure to the sport -- and to each other.

"We've grown up together," Brenneman said, "since we were about knee-high to a polecat."

They can recount past adventures all day long, whether they were training horses or hunting birds in the woods.

"One time we were in the woods with our beebe guns and somehow Justin shot me in the tooth," McIntyre said.

"But I didn't mean to," Brenneman added.

In the barn area, McIntyre and Brenneman have worked with trainers such as Richard Ringler, Whitey Moore, Mike Hall, Roman Miller and Gregg White at Ocean Downs. Right now, they both have a couple horses of their own and help Ringler in their free time.

In addition to working with various trainers, both young men have learned from their families, as both are third-generation horsemen.

Charlene Polk photos

John McIntyre, pictured while training a horse at Ocean Downs, had his first win as a driver earlier this year.

McIntyre's grandfather (James McIntyre) was a blacksmith who trained horses his whole life, while Brenneman's parents' families have worked with Standardbreds.

And they appear to have learned something, as both had successful meets at Ocean Downs this summer. McIntyre won his first race as a driver, with Trinity Lass N for trainer Gary White. He also had two wins with his own horse, the 13-year-old pacing gelding Free Beach.

"He's an old classy horse," McIntyre said. "I just got him in shape and kept him sound."

McIntyre is jogging Free Beach in preparation for Rosecroft Raceway's winter meet.

Brenneman, although he was too young to drive this summer, qualified numerous horses for local trainers in order to be qualified to get his ‘P’ license, which he expects to get today. With the help of his father, trainer Carl Brenneman, he also collected multiple wins during the meet as an owner with the horses Walkinandlaughin and Future's So Bright.

The Brennemans purchased Future's So Bright (Falcons Future-Sweet Dahrlin) shortly after the meet started from a New Jersey trainer. The horse's performance quickly improved with some shoeing changes.

"I also started towing him," Brenneman said. "He gets really hot jogging so it helps keep him calmer."

Under the Brennemans' training, Future's So Bright had two wins at Ocean Downs, the fastest in 1:56.3. Brenneman plans to race him at Rosecroft this winter.

Both Brenneman and McIntyre hope to develop larger stables of their own in coming years, as they would both like to focus on training and just occasionally drive their horses. But whether they run their own stable or work for someone else, they say they won't regret being in the horse business.

"I love racing," McIntyre said. "I like not having a boring, 40-hour a week job. This way I can work with the horses and still go to the beach in the afternoon!"

This article appears with the expressed consent of the U.S. Trotting
Association

Fox Valley Assault, Vivere win Thursday Dover features
Friday, January 11, 2008 - by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs Dover, DE --- Fox Valley Assault and Vivere turned in victories in the Thursday, Jan. 10, feature races at Dover Downs.

Foto Won photo

Fox Valley Assault rallied on the outside to win the Dover feature.

Albert Hanna's Fox Valley Assault closed strongly for Corey Callahan to score a 1:52.2 victory in the $25,000 claiming allowance. Little Rock Spur (Jim Morand) had the lead until the final strides and finished second. Tristate Hanover (Jonathan Roberts) was third.

Vivere, with George Dennis at the controls, scorched a :27.4 final quarter en route to a 1:53 triumph in a $20,000 claiming pace. Al Winton and trainer Billy Moffett own the Life Sign gelding. Midnight Eyre N (Tony Morgan) beat Now That's Art (Ross Wolfenden) for second.

Four drivers had two wins each -- Tony Morgan, Jim Morand, Ross Wolfenden and Corey Callahan.

This article appears with the expressed consent of the U. S. Trotting Association.

Lachance takes two of three Yonkers features
Sunday, February 10, 2008 - by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY - The Saturday Night Special divided into $30,000 tri-features once again at Yonkers Raceway Feb. 9, with Stan (1:58.3), Best Chance Hannah (1:56.1) and Image Of Dawn (1:55) each copping wins.

In the blind-draw Filly and Mare Open Pace, second-choice Best Chance Hanna (Pat Lachance) slalomed her way through the lane, zigging and zagging before outgaming 11-10 favorite Peine Bubbles by 1 1/2 lengths.

Longshot Binions gave her backers a six-furlong joyride, leading through fractions of :27.3, :57.1 and 1:26.4. However, she was done when turning for home, surrendering the sword to a first-up Monte Carlo Madam. Then the two choices, both buried inside, found their best strides, with those of "Hanna"--who left from post 2--a bit better.

Best Chance Hanna, a 5-year-old daughter of Western Ideal trained by Lachance for Z Tam Racing, it was her second win four '08 efforts. She paid $4.70, leading a $7.60 exacta and $40 triple.

In the open-draw Open Pace, Image of Dawn (Lachance), who outdrew everyone, outleft everyone except invading 5-2 fave Sandro Hanover. Sandro Hanover put up intervals of :28.1, :58.3 and 1:26.4, with Great Plains offering mild, first-over pressure.

Sandro Hanvoer owned a 1 1/4-length lead turning for the big coin, but Image of Dawn ducked inside, edging past by a half-lemgth. Mr P B N, stting behind the winner, closed deeper in the passing lane to snatch second, with King Cat Anvil N--winner of this race a week ago--Sandro Hanover and Great Plains leaving with something for their troubles.

For Image of Dawn, a 9-year-old son of Life Sign owned and trained by Lachance, it was his second win in five seasonal sojourns. He paid $10, with the exacta returning $37.40 and the triple worth $189.

This article appears with the expressed consent of the U. S. Trotting Association

TETRICK DRIVES LITIGATOR, ONE OF FIVE WINS, IN $25,000 FEATURE

DOVER, Del. --- Tim Tetrick began a four-straight win streak driving Litigator to a 1:55.1 victory in the $25,000 Winners-Over trot on Wednesday, March 5 at Dover Downs. Tetrick completed a sweep of the top three races guiding Jessie Hall and Instant Photo to wins in a five win night.

In the $25,000 feature, Tetrick took Parent Racing and Crystal Ball stables’ Litigator right to the top and never was headed in a 1:55.1 victory, the third of the year for the Valley Victor gelding. Safari Heat finished second for Roger Plante with Eddie Davis Jr. steering Go Nano Go third.

One race later, Howard Kaufman’s Jessie Hall won for the second time in her last two trips as Tetrick directed a 1:56.1 triumph in a $22,000 Mares Winners-Over trot. Financial Glider came on strongly to finish second for Eddie Davis Jr. Star Swagger and Roger Plante was the third finisher.

Tetrick teamed with Trillium Racing Stable’s Instant Photo for a 1:55.3 score, the first win of the year for the SJ’s Photo gelding. Customize came on for Sam Belote for place money. Laser Lavec and Jonathan Roberts were third.

The $16,500 conditioned trot went to Winbak Red, owned by M&M Harness Racing and Pat Lachance, with Jim King reining the Muscles Yankee gelding to a lifetime record 1:55.3 performance. Brite Speed N (Brandon Givens) was next. Armbro Emma (Ben Stafford) was the third-place finisher.

On the pacing side, Star Drifter N was a strong 1:52.4 winner of a $30,000 Claiming pace. Owned by David Clark and trainer Trevor Stafford, the New Zealand bred Dream Away gelding withstood a late rally from Kilkerran Scot (Tim Tetrick) and Steam The Windows (Roger Plante).

Tim Tetrick drove Mako Sica to a 1:52.4 victory in a $25,000 Claiming Allowance. Rich Lester and trainer Tony Domino own the Badlands Hanover gelding now a three-time winner in 2008. Art’s Sake (Jonathan Roberts) was runner-up. Fully Exotic (Brandon Givens) was the show horse.

Mike Cole pinch hit for leading driver Tony Morgan, away due to illness in the family, and drove Tina Clark’s Who’s Next to a 1:54 success in a $15,500 Delaware 4&5-Year-Old Male pace. Mesquite Heat (Roger Plante) and Shady Mountain GA (Tim Tetrick) were second and third respectively.

In addition to Tim Tetrick’s five wins, Wayne Long and Mike Cole had two driving wins. Meanwhile Rich Ringler haltered two trainee winners.