Category: Win Announcements

This was a long time coming and two-plus years of mostly frustration. Leaving out of the six hole last night without his normal break (for non-horse race people this means gallop which is illegal in a trot race) at the gate Stormy shot to the lead as the first quarter went in 29.3. Stormy settled and allowed Lofty , who was parked to the quarter to take the front spot.

The straightaways are where we normally find the most difficulty maintaining speed as he has a tendency to interfere quite a bit. For non-horse race people this means his front legs clobber both his back leg and knee with each step. I could see the skipping starting towards the end of the backside but he was still setting a comfortable second when the leader hit the half mile pole in 59 seconds flat.

The third quarter of the race is where we need him put in his best effort as he trots turns like a state champ. So halfway through the turn Matt Avenatti, driving him for the second time, pulled from the two hole to take on the leader and the two were head to head when they passed the 3/4 pole in 1:29.2 and hit the top of the stretch.

I was pretty certain we wouldn’t be able to handle the long Hawthorne stretch and that we would either make a break or be gobbled up by a fast closing field; but my lack of faith was unwarranted. Stormy trotted a respectable 29.3 last quarter to win by three lengths. He won at odds of nearly 30-1 returning $60 for a $2 bet. Although I did not make a bet, but I am very happy with the purse money.

He is a bit of a family pet (“pet” is a bad word for this racing business) as we bred, broke and trained him his whole life. ..and now a maiden no more… with a new lifetime mark of 1:59.1.

Bryce Fenn gave her a perfect drive coming from a second over trip, three wide at the top of the stretch with a 28.3 last quarter winning by a neck in 1:53.1.

The big mare raced a tough mile off a first over trip winning by a neck in 1:53.1. She was also the longest shot on the board at 29-1.

Excelerated Speed wins her 4th of the year. Winning wire to wire at Pompano Park in her second start in Florida.

Stormy is the most aggravating animal I ever owned and trained. He has plenty of speed and an incredible want to win attitude – but he just can’t stay on the trot. I am about at the point of giving up on him as I can’t think of anything else I can do to help him, I even loaned him out to see if someone else could catch something I could not see.

I raced him in the Illinois State Fair and he broke stride in both the elimination and the final, my driver told me that it was time for me to accept what he is and quit; and I had to agree. But at the same time due to the draw schedule of the county fairs I had already entered him into the fair in Whiteside County at Morrison Illinois. I knew there were only three horses in his race, so being guaranteed third I decided that I would take him there anyhow.

It was a miserable rainy day and the track was bad and Stormy was in the ninth and last race. We thought they were going to cancel twice due to the downpours and the track was starting to come up a bit. We call it cuppy because he horses hooves flip up the dirt like a teacup would shoveling sand. The ninth race came on the track at about 3 in the afternoon and the three horses went to the gate for the last race of the fair, Stormy had the three post. It was a good start for Stormy, which 60% of the time is not a claim he can make, and he got away from the gate on the trot. Gary Rath was driving and he filed into line third behind the other two horses. As the horses were leaving the first turn on the way to the quarter Stormy did what I expected, he made a break and galloped. I kind of shook my head and began to really accept that I needed to find him a new home. When the leader reached the quarter pole Stormy was 3 lengths behind and at least he was back on the trot, so it looked like I would not be too embarrassed from his effort.

When Stormy hit the far turn it was pretty obvious he may catch the second horse – and the grandstand started erupting in cheers. It started as a low rumble and grew. We aren’t used to racing anymore with fans in the grandstands. Computer wagering and all the other entertainment options have really affected our sport – so hearing people cheer was pretty moving. This county fair had a good crown in their old grandstand – maybe just a place to hide from the rain and eat a corn dog; but they were all getting into the race. Stormy flew past that horse in second and it started to seem possible he could catch the leader.

The leader hit the stretch 2 seconds before Stormy with a 10 length lead. Stormy was still coming with the velocity looking to be in his favor… EXCEPT this was now in the stretch, about 1/8 of a mile of straight, muddy, cuppy dirt… With the crowd screaming Stormy passed the leader with about 100 yards to go…. THEN HE BROKE AGAIN…. Luckily Gary grabbed him up and got him back on stride to record a two length win.

I guess I will keep him a few more weeks, maybe something in his walnut sized brain is starting to work. Maybe he is starting to understand he can trot. I love this sport and you have to admire all these animals that participate.

Todd Warren piloted the 6 year old mare this evening to a very tight win in 1:55.1. Leaving from the 6 post he eased her out towards the back of the field. Moving to the outside down the backside she lost her cover and had to grind the mile out first over. She took the lead halfway down the stretch and just nosed out a charging closer in the last stride.

Storm Winds notched his first lifetime win at a race at the Martinsville Agricultural Fair in Martinsville Illinois. Driven that day by Todd Warren, he cut the mile winning wire to wire in 2:05.2 drawing off from the field by 10 lengths. I am really pleased with him as this is a horse I bred, broke, trained and have driven in a few races.

Todd Warren drove a perfect race finding second over cover up the backside, making a winning move coming into the stretch to cruise home in a game winning mile of 1:55.2. Thank you Todd, Amanda, Samantha and Rick for helping me out this week to get her raced.

Excelerated Speed won her first start of the year. Sharing first money in a dead heat finish on a very cold 5′ night at Hawthorne. She left very well and cut the mile on the front end battling a very strong headwind down the stretch. I am very pleased with her effort considering she was off for three weeks.