One final look at 2023

What a year! I can’t wait to see the voting by the USHWANs who have been this honor to vote on this important issue.

I have been asked why I took the time to do all this work.

Simple! Few realize the financial implications of a single vote can be huge and, since many USHWAns, these days, look at the packet of stats sent out, HarnessLink, as usual, goes the extra sixteenth of a mile to help secure the most accurate vote possible.

When we see others posting their choices on-line, one might think that it may be a persuasive move to their choice or choices.

In a presidential election, do voters on the west coast see how the voters on the east coast have voted three hours earlier? Of course not!

To us at at Harnesslink, this IS just as important!

So, here’s the final of the year—this one for our “aged” horses by earnings (with no endorsement for any listed)

AGED PACING HORSES AND GELDINGS

Bythemissal (Downbytheseaside) had a grand campaign winning 11 of 16 races and never missing a check against the best pacers in the sport. To refresh memories, he began his season at The Meadowlands in a pair of New Jersey Futurities which turned nearly into walkovers—nearly—as he beat a single rival by 75 lengths and 62 lengths, respectively, before winning the tuneup for the Juravinski at Flamboro with a “scratch” keeping him out of the final. On to the Meadowlands again where he paced a mile (and 30 yards) in the $444,000 Haughton and paced in 1:48 but no better than fifth to Charlie May that night. A trifecta to wins after that at The Meadowlands, Northfield and at Woodbine for a warm-up for the Canadian Pacing Derby—1:47.1, 1:48.2. 1:47.3—setting the stage for a classic confrontation with Tattoo Artist, who nailed him in the $455,100 Final in 1:47.4 after cutting the mustard.

On to Yonkers, Bythemissal impressively won the $250,000 Invite py pacing a MILE AND A QUARTER in 2:21.2…on a sloppy oval over their half-miler, pacing his last half in :55. A tough journey at Hoosier from the nine post in the Pacing Derby and, again, he went a long journey hung out to dry with 3/4s in 1:20 before the giant killer, Allywag Hanover, won that in 1:48—Bythemissal fifth. Then, over east a bit to Dayton, Tattoo Artist got him again in 1:48 while BTM finished third. From then on, the “game” was n as Bythemissal won the Allerage at The Red Mile in 1:47.4, the Breeders Crown Elim and $600,000 Open—the latter in 1:48 on a sloppy oval—and the Potomac at Rosecrcot in, again, 1:48 (54.1 out, :53.4 home). He closed out his season on a cold night at The Meadowlands in the Fan Duel and paced his last half in :53.4 with, again, the giant killer Allywag Hanover nailing him on the line. This grand gelding won $984,688 to go along with his 1:47.1 mark and  iifetime bounty $2,153,591

Tattoo Artist (He’s Watching) was a “busy bee” this semester with 24 starts with nine wins, eventually showing a scorecard of 9-6-2 and bounty of $960,562. He was off to a “slow” start at Yonkers in the Borgata Series and had but $45,000 on his card after his first six races. He missed by a scant nostril in the $40,000 Send It In in Philadelphia—fractions :25.4, :52.4 and 1:20 along the way—and, finally, won his first race of the year in an $18,000 conditioned event in Philly in 1:48.2. Joining the stakes scene, he was second at Woodbine in the Gold Cut, fifth in the Brower at The Big M, nailed one the line in the $444,000 Haughton by Charlie May after a Hughe brush in the lane to take short lead in the lane, bailed again in the Gerrity at Saratoga and second to Bythemissal in the McKee.

Three weeks later, he caught “fire!” He swept the Canadian Pacing Derby events at Woodbine—the $455,100 final in 1:47.4—:26.1, followed that by winning the $26,000 Ewart at Scioto Downs in 1:48.2—26, and went back up north over the border to Woodbine , wiring his foes in 1:47.3—:25.3. Back down to Ohio for the $250,000 Dayton Derby, he wired his foes in 1:48 featuring a final half in :52.4.  Yet another win at Woodbine followed in a FFA event in 1:49.1.

Back down to Indiana for the Breeders Crown, Tattoo Artist stretched his streak to seven by winning his elim in a well-rated 1:50. In the $600,000 Breeders Crown Final over a sloppy oval, mid-mile fractions of :53.2 and 1:21.4 left his defenses open a bit and Bythemissal got him late (as did a first over Lou’s Pearlman) as he finished third. After finishing third to Bythemissal in the Potomac, he wound up his grand season with a closing fourth to Alleyway Hanover capping 2023 with a final quarter in :25,4…his lifetime earnings at $2,822,098.

Allywag Hanover (Captaintreacherous) had another solid season against the top competition in the sport. The “giant killer” only won four times in 2023 but picked some of the most opportune times to get those wins while adding $587,038 to his resume, bringing his lifetime total to $2,258,418. Remembered for conquering the great Bulldog Hanover last season in 1:46, this year’s conquest of Bythemissal capping his season was in the $350,000 Fan Duel at The Meadowlands with his last 3/4s paced in 1:22 on a cold night as winter was approaching. Allywag Hanover missed but one check this season—at Woodbine in the Gold Cup with the nine post when he was bothered.

As far as the “speed parade” goes, there were two performers under 1:47 this semester—Ruthless Hanover (Somebeachsomewhere) and Warrawee Vital (Captaintreacherous). Ruthless had six wins on the year with a memorable 1:46.3 performance in the $100,000 “Joe Auger” in Philadelphia in late May and complimented that with a 1:46.4 gate-to-wire win at The Meadowlands in the $158,140 Dave Brower Memorial off fractions of :25.2, :52.4 and 1:19.4. He won $243,572. Warrawee Vital )Captaintreacherous) put together a 1:46.4 mile at Woodbine in a preferred event and zipped through fractions of :25.3, :53. and 1:20.4 in the process.

Aged Pacing Mares

Grace Hill (Always B Miki) was in high gear from the get-go, Winning three straight Opens for the gals at Scioto—1:49.2 the fastest—she extended the streak at five at Woodbine sweeping the Rosed Are red, including the $231,800 Final in 1:47.4, her fastest performance of the season. After a couple of second place finishes in the Perfect Sting and Dorothy Haughton, she rebounded with identical half miles in :54.2 to win the $100,000 Cleopatra at Scioto Downs.

After finishing third after a tough journey in the Lady Liberty at The Meadowlands (third) she went back to Scioto and won another open for fillies and mares, this one in 1:49.4. Her next stop was at Woodbine was the beginning of another winning streak as she won the $162,800 at Woodbine in 1:48, the $250,000 Dayton Distaff and the Allerage for the ladies at The Red Mile. She closed out her season at the Hop in the Breeders Crown after finishing fourth coming from far back in the elimination (:26) and becoming a “1-percenter-er” in the final after cutting the mustard. She won $573,526 vaulting her lifetime earnings to $1,741,616.

Silver Label (Bettor’s Delight) spent the majority if the year in Canada competing at Woodbine but her most significant win was at The Meadowlands in the $171,400 Lady Liberty, winning in 1:47.3. She also took the $142,260 Perfect Sting at The Big M in 1:49—from the second tier, no less, with a final quarter in :25.3. Other significant performances were in the Breeders Crown for Mares, where she finished a fast closing second to Max Contract (by a length), and a second in the $231,800 Roses Are Red at Woodbine. He lifetime bankroll grew to $1,114,422.

Max Contract (Huntsville) had a significant 2023 with an 8-1-2 scorecard in 15 starts while banking $360,166  Her biggest performance of the year came in Indiana at Hoosier Park when she swept through the Breeders Crown Elimination in 1:50.3 and proved that win no fluke with a solid first over win in the $400,000 Breeders Crown Final, winning in 1:50.2. Her fastest performance came at The Red Mile when she exploded in the lane with a :25,3 finale to score in 1:48.3.

On to the trotters…

Aged Trotting Colts and Geldings

It’s Academic (Uncle Peter) won eight times during 2023 and garnered $951,111 in bounty leaving his lifetime earnings at $2,311,223 and complimented that with a 1:50.2 win in the $155,140 Crawford at The Meadowlands starting the second half of the year. Other significant wins were at Plainridge ninth $250,000 “Spirit” and the $278,000 Cashman (formerly the Nat Ray) at the Meadowlands and the $100,000 Aldrich at Northfield. He also captured the $222,500 Caesars at Hoosier Park and managed sharp closing second in the $600,000 Breeders Crown Open for yet another good payday. Taking a bit refreshing time off, he closed out his season with a third place finish in the Fan Duel in a game effort on a cool might at The Big M. Competing at Yonkers in the $1,000,000 MGM International, he made a huge brush from far back and outside the entire route, he finessed fourth after looming boldly.

Southwind Tyrion (Muscle Hill) had a “lightly raced” campaign in 2023—12 starts—but still earned $655,816 showing a 5-2-1 scorecard. After winning a $100,000 Invitational Trot at Pocono Downs in mid-August, “Tyrion”  the five-year-old had only a bit over $100,000 on this year’s card and, event second place finishes in the Allerage at The Red Mile and in the Breeders Crown Elimination, earnings were still under $200,000. That all changed in his final two starts as he handily won the $600,000 Breeders Crown in the slop and 3 1/2 weeks later, capped off his season with a handy win in the Fan Duel, winning in 1:51 and vaulting his career earnings just a “ns” below the coveted million dollar plateau—$984,623.

Vivid Wise As IT (Yankee Glide) had been racing in France, Italy and Sweden before getting an invite to participate in thee MGM International at Yonkers with some of those races overseas at distances being longer than one mile. Having a win in his second start back in Italy, this nine-year-old, is more than used to the standard one mile distance and led every step of this mile and a quarter event, winning in 2:23.1 over a rain soaked Yonkers oval. His winnings this year, of course, $500,000 and we’ll never know if could have—or would have—taken home any accolades as he left the grand mare Jiggy Jog S in his wake almost three lengths away.

Aged Trotting Mares

Jiggy Jog S (Walner) had a year to remember as she posted an impressive “Oreo” scorecard of  8-3-0 in her 11 starts. She started her season with four straight wins, ended her season with four straight wins and had three second place finishes. After closing out her two-year-old season in 2022 with a Breeders Crown win at Woodbine, she picked up where she left off by winning her first start in the Graduate at Woodbine in 1:50.3. Traveling to The Meadowlands, she won the Meadowlands version of the Graduate, the $112,500 Six Pack and the $230,000 Graduate Final. After the “Oreo” effect where she was second in the Hambletonian Maturity and Steele (to M-M’s Dream in both), and second to the European invader Vivid Wise As IT in the MGM International, she started sewing things up with wins in the $250,000 Dayton Oaks, the Breeders Crown Elim and $400,000 Final and the $175,000 Fan Duel. Her lifetime earnings are $2,166,279.

M-M’s Dream (Swan For All) was 1-2-3 in 13 of 15 starts this year with seven wins and $673,453 in bounty, sending her lifetime total to $1,4338,464. She kicked off her season at Hoosier Park in an event for Fillies and ores and win in 1:52.4 with a final half in :55. Her first big success was in the $410,250 Hambletonian Maturity where she took home the prize in a photo finish peer Jiggy Jog S in 2:04.3—yes, it was a mile-and-an-eighth, Her other successes were in the $131,250 Steele and he $250,000 Trot at Yonkers in 2:24.4 in the slop—at a mile and a quarter. It was a game effort as she was headed and fought off the challenge to win! She then went to Delaware, Ohio and took the Miss Versatility. From there she was on the board in the Allerage at Lexington (3rd), the Breeders Crown (2nd in the Elimination and Final) and third in the Fan Duel back of Piggy Jog S and the three-year-old Bond. Her lifetime bounty now is $1,438,464.

As for speed, Just For Trix (Trixton) who had both a fortunate and unlucky racing season, was the only sub-1:50 trotter of the year, cutting all the mustard in a Lexington Open by wiring together fractions of :26.3, :54.3 and 1:21.4 along the way. The week before, he had a similar experience but stitching together fractions of :53.3 and 1:22.1 before hitting the beam in 1:50.

That’s a final look at the year 2023…a great year it was.!

“May The Horse Be With You”

by John Berry, for Harnesslink