Iwon’t Backdown As stands his ground

Over the years, harness racing trainer Anette Lorentzon has named some of her family’s homebred horses after songs, but Iwon’t Backdown As (Lionhunter-Fortunes Dream) is more than a nod to a Tom Petty hit. It fits her 4-year-old trotter to a T.

“When he was growing up, whether against horses or people, he would not back off if you went in the paddock,” Lorentzon said. “He was very tough. That’s where it came from, that ‘I won’t back down.’ I usually name them from songs, but this one came because of the way he was as a baby.”

Iwon’t Backdown As has not changed over time. He still stands his ground.

“He would never hurt a fly, but he still thinks he’s tough, which is good when you’re the size he is,” Lorentzon said. “He’s not very big. But his conformation and everything, he’s a very nice-looking horse. And size doesn’t really matter. The most important things are the will and the heart, and he’s got both of them.

“I love the horse. He’s such a cool horse. He always gives you everything when he goes out there on the track. He’s been very good to us. He’s a real homebred, and that makes it even better.”

Iwon’t Backdown As is a son of Lionhunter-Fortunes Dream, both owned by the Lorentzons’ ACL Stuteri AB breeding-and-racing operation. Lionhunter, an unraced son of Muscles Yankee-Pampered Princess, was purchased by Lorentzon and her parents in December 2013, just prior to the stallion turning age 5.

Fortunes Dream was a Grand Circuit winner for Lorentzon before competing in Europe for two years. She returned to Lorentzon to finish her career and then joined the farm’s broodmare band.

Iwon’t Backdown As has hit the board in 21 of 31 career races, winning seven and earning $311,225 for owners ACL Stuteri AB and Kjell Johansson. His victories include the 2022 Kentucky Commonwealth Series final, which he won in a career-best 1:51.2 at the Red Mile.

Last month, Iwon’t Backdown As finished third in the Kentucky Sire Stakes final for 4-year-old male trotters. He was beaten by less than a length as Keg Stand captured the title in 1:51.1, equaling the fastest mile ever at Oak Grove. On June 16, Iwon’t Backdown As tried the Grand Circuit for the first time, finishing second to 1-5 favorite Jiggy Jog S in the second round of the Graduate Trotting Series for 4-year-olds at The Meadowlands.

On Saturday, Iwon’t Backdown As returns to The Big M for the third-and-final preliminary round of the Graduate. He will start from post five with driver Tim Tetrick and is the 4-1 third choice on the morning line. Cool Papa Bell, the 2022 Hambletonian winner, is the 3-1 favorite for driver Todd McCarthy and trainer Jim Campbell. He starts from post four.

Jiggy Jog S will take the week off after winning the two previous prelims.

“It’s still a very tough race,” Lorentzon said. “I’m just hoping (Iwon’t Backdown As) gets a good trip and get a good piece of it. It’s always tough to race there.”

Last week, Iwon’t Backdown As went off at odds of 62-1, eighth highest in the 11-horse field. He started in the second tier’s post 11 and was seventh at three-quarters, but sprinted home in :26.3 to finish in 1:51. Jiggy Jog S got to the line in 1:50.3.

“I was surprised by his odds,” Lorentzon said. “We weren’t going to beat Jiggy Jog, but underneath her, I thought he had as good a chance as the other ones. He had raced really well in the Kentucky Sire Stakes. He showed me there that he belongs with them.

“He’s raced good, and I think he’s going to get better and better. I train hard during the winter, but I do not train any speed. We take care of them and try not to over-race them. You’re going to get in spots when you have to sometimes, but we try to take care of them early. We want to have them for the long run.”

Iwon’t Backdown As is spending his time now at New Jersey’s Magical Acres with Lorentzon’s sister, Anna. Following the Graduate Series, which concludes with the final on July 8 at The Meadowlands, he will return to Lorentzon’s base in Kentucky because he is not eligible to the Hambletonian Maturity for 4-year-olds on July 15 at The Big M.

He has several Grand Circuit stakes in the late summer and fall remaining on his schedule, including the Charlie Hill, Dayton Trotting Derby and Breeders Crown.

“If he’s good, he’s still going to have a few good races,” Lorentzon said. “I didn’t want to put him into too many races this year, I just hope he makes some good money. He’s only 4 and I’m hoping he can step up next year.”

Saturday’s card also features two $50,000 divisions of the Graduate Pacing Series and the $40,000 third leg of the Miss Versatility Series for older female trotters. Racing begins at 6:20 p.m. (EDT) at The Meadowlands.

Free TrackMaster programs for the Big M can be found by clicking here.

For complete Graduate Series points, click here.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA