Grant reflects on It’s Academic as stallion approaches retirement

As trotter It’s Academic (Uncle Peter-Annapolis) prepares for the final races of his career, it’s safe to say the 7-year-old harness racing stallion has brought owner Brad Grant on a memorable ride.

Grant, an Ontario resident, purchased It’s Academic at the age of 3 in October 2020 hoping for a horse to send out regularly in the Preferred at Woodbine Mohawk Park. But when racing in the province was suspended in April 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, It’s Academic returned to the U.S. and his former trainer Ron Burke.

“The rest is history,” Grant said.

A fitting choice of words, from an academic standpoint.

Since that April, It’s Academic has earned $2.22 million for Grant and Burke. He hit the board in 47 of 70 starts, winning 20, during that time and was the 2023 Dan Patch Award winner for best older male trotter.

For his career, he has won 34 of 97 races and earned a paycheck 84 times on his way to $2.69 million (nearly $3 million Canadian) in purses. His North American earnings rank seventh among trotting stallions in history.

“It’s been great,” Grant said. “Ronnie was good enough to take him back down there, and he just continued to excel. He’s taken on all comers. Since I’ve had him, he’s never been in less than the Preferred and raced in every stakes race going. That says something.

“Night after night, he’s raced against the toughest and shows up and wins his fair share. I think most nights you can’t count him out. The horse is a dream.”

It’s Academic has won 12 times on the Grand Circuit in his career, with his triumphs including the John Cashman Memorial, two editions of the Spirit of Massachusetts, the Caesars Trotting Classic, and Crawford Farms Open Trot.

He has finished second in eight Grand Circuit starts, including a Breeders Crown, Maple Leaf Trot, and TVG (now FanDuel) Championship.

In addition, It’s Academic was invited to the MGM Yonkers International Trot on three occasions, with a best finish of third from post eight, and never was worse than fifth.

“There’s not really one race that stands out, I just like to watch him race every night,” Grant said. “You never get tired of watching him. I think you knew that every night he was going to give it his best and you knew he would give it a run.

“Every year there is a horse that steps up and pushes all the right buttons, but this guy showed up every year. Ronnie and his crew have done a great job with him. The credit goes to them and the caretaker. They’re the ones that should get the credit.”

On Friday, It’s Academic will head to MGM Yonkers Raceway as the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the $250,000 MGM Grand Prix Trotting Series final, which will be contested at 1-1/16 miles. He will leave from post six with David Miller in the sulky. It’s Academic posted two wins and a second in the event’s three preliminary rounds.

“The size of a track doesn’t seem to bother him, so he’s versatile that way,” Grant said. “Ronnie has given him every chance. Hopefully, we can get it done this weekend and finish with the FanDuel (Championship) and put him away sound and see what happens going forward. When I bought him, I never dreamt he would be the horse that he turned out to be. I was just looking for a horse to race on Saturday nights at Mohawk.

“We couldn’t have asked any more of him.”

Following the completion of his campaign, It’s Academic will retire to stallion duty at Tara Hills Stud in Ontario.

“There are a couple of good, solid, stallions up here, but I think there is room for another good one,” Grant said. “I want to support the Ontario sires program as much as I can, so we thought this would be the place to put him. I’m excited to see how his foals turn out. He’s a beautiful horse. He should throw good, tough racehorses. I think he’s got all the credentials to be a great stallion.”

Racing begins at 7 p.m. (EST) Friday at MGM Yonkers Raceway. For free daily programs, visit the Standardbred Owners Association of New York website.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA