The influence of Sanders Russell stronger than ever

The great Hall of Fame harness racing driver and trainer Sanders Russell passed away over 40 years ago but his influence on our sport still continues today…even stronger than ever.

Born in the last year of the 19th century in Stevenson, Alabama, his career began well over a century ago when he drove his first race in South Pittsfield, Tennessee in 1915.

Of course, he’s best known for his 1962 Hambletonian win with A.C’s Viking while driving with a cast on his injured leg and, again, of course, in the early stages of the career of millionaire trotting mare Fresh Yankee.

But his influence on today’s racing herein the States actually began 75 years ago in 1948.

Russell spotted a pacer rambling along a “hilltop” on a farm in Spring Hill, Tennessee and liked what he saw.

He, subsequently, bought the colt for $1,500 who turned out to be good enough to be in the 1950 Little Brown Jug and earned $2,826.27.

That colt was Hal Tryax and Russell eventually sold the horse for $7,000 to New Zealand interests with his career as a sire including Robin Dundee, Tactile and…the first millionaire our sport has ever witnessed, Cardigan Bay.

Over the years, horses with the “N” (New Zealand) branded next to their names in programs here—as well as “A” (for our Aussie invaders) have enjoyed an explosion of success with the grand mare Shartin (N) in the spotlight with her dominative performances.

This year is no different, in fact, it’s getting even more explosive.

Take the upcoming MGM Borgata and Blue Chip Matchmaker events at Yonkers Raceway on Monday, April 24.

Ironically, with Sanders Russell spotting Hal Tryax on a “hilltop” and Yonkers, known as the “Hilltop” Oval, it’s only fitting that Russell be remembered on this occasion with “down under” entrants comprising a healthy percentage of entrants.

When the Matchmaker Series was first announced, more than one-third of the nominees were either from New Zealand or Australia.

In the Borgata, Southern Hemisphere entrants accounted for more than half of the initial entrants.

And, to top it all off, two of the brightest stars from “down under,” Dexter Dunn and Andrew McCarthy, will try and put icing on the cake for their respective homelands.

The $328,200 Blue Chip Matchmaker for the ladies includes a pair of Aussie breds, Dougs Babe (A) and Lucky Artist (A) and one Kiwi bred, Amazing Dream N (Bettor’s Delight), with the latter drawing the coveted rail with Yannick Gingras in the bike for Hall of Fame trainer Linda Toscano and owners Enviro Stables, Richard Gutnick, Thomas Pontone and Joseph Lobito, Jr.

This seven-year-old mare is 5 to 2 in the morning line and has won three of four starts in Matchmaker competition this semester—her only loss being in her last start when she was nailed on the wire.

Off since that event on April 7, it remains to be seen if the two-and-a-half-week layoff will play a role in the outcome.

Dougs Babe A (Western Terror) is on a roll with three straight wins and this eight-year-old mare has proven her versatility with wins on and off the pace.

Kiwi Dexter Dunn will be in the sulky for trainer Nifty Norman and owners Tom Vassiliou, Nicholas Tallerico, Patricia Stable and Ended Racing Stable.

Dougs Babe (A) has drawn the three post in this grand octet and is 5 to 1 on the early line.

Lucky Artist A (Artistic Fella) is the senior citizen off this group at 10-years-old and this mare has two wins in five Matchmaker starts—both on the engine when the wings opened. She’ll leave from post three with the youngest driver, 23-year-old Braxton Boyd, in her sulky.

Meanwhile, morning line favoritism belongs to Racing Bell (So Surreal) at 2 to 1.

The consistent six-year-old mare has two wins and two seconds in her four Matchmaker starts and won last week despite taking a week off from the competition.

Racing Bell is trained by David Dewhurst, who has hired Jason Bartlett for the Matchmaker final.

Lit De Rose, Drama Act, Incaseyoudidntknow and Karma Seelster complete the start studded field with the eight mares accounting for 219 lifetime wins and over $5,700,000 in lifetime bounty.

The $511,000 MGM Borgata includes half of the field from “down under” with Funatthebeach (N) the New Zealand representative and Ideal Sunshine (A), Leonidas (A) and Lochinvar Art (A) on the Aussie roster in this octet.

Funatthebeach (N), a nine-year-old gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere has a pair of wins in this series and was nailed on the wire in his last start but the six post has him at 20 to 1 on the morning line.

He’ll have the driving services of Jordan Stratton, in the bike for trainer Jeff Gillis and owner Mark Ford.

Idealsomemagic (A) has three wins, a second and a fourth (DH) in this series and this nine-year-old altered son of American Ideal will have the services of George Brennan, in the sulky for trainer Cory Stratton and owners VIP Internet Stable and Bukers Stable.

He comes off a rousing win in his last, capping the come-from-behind victory with  a :53.3 final half and :26.4 last panel. He’s listed at 6 to 1 from post three.

Leonidas (A) is an eight-year-old gelding by Mach Three trained by Matthew Medeiros for the Jesmeral Stable.

After winning in the opening round, he’s come up just a bit short in his two most recent events, finishing second, and will have Austin Siegelman in the bike with the morning line at 9 to 2. He will start from post position four.

The ultra consistent Lochinvar Art (A), with 57 1-2-3 finishes including 33 lifetime wins in 63 starts has a pair of wins in the Borgata Series and will have Lauren Tritton in the sulky for trainer Shane Tritton for Team Tritton and is 8 to 1 on the early line.

Covered Bridge, This Is The Plan, Hullabaloo and Backstreet Shadow complete this talented field with This Is The Plan (Somebeachsomewhere) the morning line favorite at 2 to 1 on the strength of a “wake up” 1:50.4 gate-to-wire score last week.

This eight-year-old gelding has drawn well—post two—and will have Yannick Gingras in the sulky for trainer Ron Burke, the Burke Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Lawrence Karr and The Silva Clan-Purnel & Libby.

Covered Bridge (American Ideal) has drawn the coveted rail for Tyler Buter, who handles the lines for Jeff Gillis and owner Mark Ford.

The seven-year-old gelding comes off a pair of wins—both off the pace—and is listed at 5 to 2.

This gifted group has combined for over 250 lifetime wins and over $9 million in career bounty.

Altogether, some 37 horses from New Zealand or Australia are listed to go on the Monday card at Yonkers.

And to think…it all started some 75 years ago…because of one great gentleman…Sanders Russell.

by John Berry, for Harnesslink