Bulldog! It’s all Bulldog!

As a member of the United States Harness Writers Association for close to 50 years, it’s been my honor to have served that harness racing organization as president and on a number of committees. I am also honored to have voting rights for selection of the Horse of the Year and various divisional awards…and this year is no exception.

Many times, it takes a “photo finish” to make up my mind on Horse of the Year—but not this year.

In two words, it’s BULLDOG HANOVER.

No need to go over his stats as they should be etched in stone in any harness racing fan’s mind.

Yes, it took two words to make that selection and many more to describe his feats on the racetracks of North America…unbelievable, miraculous, incredible, inconceivable, unprecedented, remarkable, striking, prodigious…you name it!

So, let’s now take a look at the divisional honors.

Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt or Gelding—Volume Eight—9-7-0-0 ($432,232)

Got started a little later than his classmates but was so impressive in his final five starts—especially the last two—that he proved his point as the best. His win in the Kindergarten was ferocious (1:52) and the Valley Victory win in 1:52.2 was equally impressive.

Two-Year-Old Trotting Filly—Special Way—9-7-1-0 (697,475)

Put together a seven-race winning streak to seal the deal including a pair of 1:52 performances in the warmth of Lexington and the cold at Woodbine. Proved versatility with wins on the engine and off the pace. Walner Payton chased her throughout but never could catch her.

Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt or Gelding—King Of The North—15-3-3-3 ($592,470)

Photo finish here and torn between King Of The North and Cool Papa Bell. Breeders Crown win very impressive out in :26.2 with a mile in 1:50.2 on a cool Canadian night.  Crushed them at Hoosier. Did the most damage late. Cool Papa Bell did win the big one—The Hambo—but King Of The North trounced him the final two starts. So, it really does come down to the Breeders Crown.

Three-Year-Old Trotting Filly—Joviality S—16-11-2-2 ($1,083,642)

Close call again with a photo alongside Jiggy Jog but, for me, the deciding factor was that she was right there in the Hambletonian against Cool Papa Bell and beat all the other boys. Consistent as they come, she won more money than ALL three-year-old trotters and was only back of third one single time—her last start in a rugged campaign.

Older Trotting Horse or Gelding—Ecurie D—8-3-2-1 ($733,439)

Very lightly raced with only eight starts but that’s been the story his whole career both overseas and in North America. He was his best in the Breeders Crown at Woodbine and the TV G Open at The Meadowlands with his :26.4 final panel at the end of a 1:50.2 mile completing his season.

Older Trotting Mare—Bella Bellini—19-9-4-5 ($968,702)

In a class which contained the great Atlanta and When Dovescry, Bella Bellini missed the board only one time and had a 1:49.4 performance to put her signature on another great season where she has won over $2,000,000 total the past two seasons. Of course, these three mares threw punches at each other (along with a couple of others, too) and Bella Bellini was left standing at the end with a TVG win in 1:51.4, capping her season with a final quarter in :26.1.

Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt or Gelding—Confederate—7-5-1-1 ($443,700)

Blazed off the wings to start his career winning his second start in 1:51.2—:26.3 and following it with a 1:49.3 win over The Red Mile featuring a final quarter in :25.3. Took a mark of 1:49.2 in the $400,000 Kentucky Championship Series, won a Breeders Crown elim at needed a noter couple more long strides to win the final, which fell a half-length short, pacing last 3/4s in 1:21.3. Edge in evenly matched group.

Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly—Twin B Joe Fresh—10-8-2-0 ($598,162)

Yes, she loves The Red Mile but went up to New York and won a couple of times up there, too. One of their most impressive performances was in Lexington when she this two-year-old filly won in 1:48.4—her last 3/4s in 1:20.3. Was 8-for-10 and held her form all season long winning her last start in 1:50—:26.

Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt or Gelding—Beach Glass—13-9-3-0 ($1,079,649)

In a “class” that was loaded with “class,” Beach Glass earns the nod, not only on his scorecard, but the fact that he came back after a throat operation to close out his season with three straight wins—the last in 1:48.4f. His Meadowlands Pace win was sensational—1:47.2—capped off with a :25.4 finale.

Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly—Treacherous Dragon—15-9-0-3 ($717,835)

Came roaring out of the gate with eight straight wins, kind of hit a roadblock for s few starts and then came back to win the Breeders Crown. She wasn’t invincible but she was dominant in her class and earned the edge. By the way, her Breeders Crown win was very impressive being hard pressed to take charge at the :26 opener and then rugged at the end to win in 1:49.1.

Aged Pacing Horse or Gelding—Bulldog Hanover

Aged Pacing Mare—Test Of Faith—19-11-6-1 ($890,043)

She’s put together three seasons in a row of greatness and earns the edge again. She had 19 rugged starts, won 11 of them against top competition and lowered her mark to 1:47 in the Haughton, capping that mile off with a :26.1 finale. Grace Hill, Niki Hill and Treacherous Dragon were among the foes that photos her out this year, but, at the end of her miles, she earned her great stature as one of the best ever.

Pacer of the Year—Bulldog Hanover

Trotter of the Year—Bella Bellini

Horse of the Year—BULLDOG HANOVER

“MAY THE HORSE BE WITH YOU!”

by John Berry, for Harnesslink