Freaky Feet Pete impressive in Crown elimination

Racing for the first time outside of Hoosier Park, the Indiana-bred won convincingly Saturday night by 1¼ lengths at Woodbine Racetrack in the first Breeders Crown elimination for three-year-old male pacers.

 

Not there was much doubt. He was bet down to 4-5, the heavy favorite in the field of seven.

 

Fresh off his impressive victory against the mighty Wiggle It Jiggleit in a $220,000 Indiana Sires Stakes race exactly a week before at Hoosier Downs, Freaky Feet Pete had proven himself at home. Breeder/trainer Larry Rheinheimer, whose wife, Mary Jo and son, Marty, own the colt by Rockin Image, supplemented the superstar for $62,500, feeling his horse deserved the chance to compete in the Crown. His victory in the US$20,000 race stamps him as a serious contender going into the final next Saturday.

 

Driver Trace Tetrick settled the colt into third, behind pacesetter Reverend Hanover, who set fractions of 27 1/5, 56 and 1:23. It was after the half-mile point that Tetrick began a first-over move and claimed control at the top of the stretch and then it was just a matter of how much he would win by and how fast. He paced the mile into a steady wind in 1:49 1/5 with breathtaking ease.

 

It was not only the first victory for Freaky Feet Pete outside his home track and country, it was the first win in Canada for the 71-year-old Larry Rheinheimer.

 

"We're pretty proud of him," Rheinheimer stated. "We've always liked him real good and we've always been high on him. We're giving him a chance."

 

Anyone who has watched the development of this colt had to feel good that Rheinheimer opted to pay the supplement and showcase him to the racing world.

 

"We talked about it earlier, then it got a little bit harder, but then he raced good," Rheinheimer said.

 

It was the convincing win over Wiggle It Jiggleit, who had beaten him earlier in the season at Hoosier Park, that convinced Rheinheimer to take the shot and literally buck up.

 

"I was hoping to get a trip with him," Rheinheimer said.

 

It was actually a dream trip.

 

Freaky Feet Pete paid $3.60, $2.30, $2.10. Artistic Major, who rallied late to overtake Reverend Hanover for second, paid $11.50, $3.90. Reverend Hanover, who has battled bucked shins in his rookie and sophomore season, paid $2.30 to show.

 

With his 12th win in 14 starts this season and his 21st overall in 24 career starts, Freaky Feet Pete eclipsed $600,000 in lifetime earnings.