Actions speak for What Say You

Hightstown, NJ – What Say You (Long Tom) has said a lot with his harness racing performances at the Ohio fairs to begin his career, going unbeaten in three races. Now, he is preparing to take his next step in Saturday’s $150,000 Next Generation for 2-year-old Ohio-sired male trotters at Eldorado Scioto Downs.

The three Next Generation races will be featured during national coverage of racing from Scioto and The Meadowlands from 8-11 p.m. on FS2 as part of the New York Racing Association’s “America’s Day at the Races” telecast. The Next Generation events are races 10, 11 and 13 on Scioto’s 16-race card that also includes Ohio Sire Stakes divisions for 3-year-old pacers and trotters.

What Say You, trained by Tyler Bates, captured his three fair starts by a total of 13 lengths. The son of Long Tom-Cometpedia was purchased for $14,000 at the Ohio Selected Jug Sale and is owned by Joel Shivak and Suzanne Bates. His dam is from the family of Hall of Fame mare Delmonica Hanover and includes Grand Circuit-winner Angelpedia.

“I’m not a top-tier-buying guy, so I try to look at as many as I possibly can,” Bates said. “He went in our price range, and I loved his dam’s family.”

On Saturday, What Say You will start from post eight in the eight-horse Next Generation field and have Luke Hanners in the sulky. He is 10-1 on the morning line.

“It kind of fell in our lap,” Bates said about going to the Next Generation, which features purchased slots that can be used, traded, sold, or given away by their buyers. “Jeff Nisonger called me about two hours before the (entry) deadline and offered us a spot. We thought about it and decided he was good right now, let’s see what happens. Then we drew the eight-hole, but post positions don’t matter quite as much early in the year with trotters.”

What Say You will head to the Next Generation off a 1:59.1 qualifier win by 9-1/2 lengths on June 30 at Scioto. His best race time, 2:04.3 at the Putnam County Fair, came in his previous start on June 24.

“He has never had a bad day yet,” said Bates, who has a stable of 12 horses, predominately 2-year-olds. “You don’t know how fast they’re going to go and where they’re going to stop, but we haven’t found the end to him yet. I’m sure we will sometime.”

So far, Bates has been impressed with What Say You’s versatility.

“If you want to leave a little bit, he’ll leave. If you want to float, you can float. If you want to grab, you can grab,” the trainer said. “He’s honest and really smart on the track.”

What Say You is eligible to the Ohio Sire Stakes, Buckeye Stallion Series and Ohio Breeders Championship, but Bates will let the horse dictate his future.

“It will depend on how we fare, if he’s more than a fair horse,” Bates said. “You don’t know how good you are until you beat somebody.”

Uncle Danny is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the Next Generation for 2-year-old male trotters. He won his debut in a maiden race at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows and finished second against older horses in his second start on June 26. Anthony MacDonald will be at the lines for trainer Jason McGinnis, leaving from post five.

For complete race entries, click here: US Trotting entries

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA