Twins update: Serena and Venus doing just fine

The pair of Long Tom twin fillies, who were foaled on Jan. 30, are doing terrific, according to harness racing breeder Jerry Welch of Waterford, Ohio.

The two now-4-month-old daughters out of the Call Toll Free mare Call Them Over t, 4, 2:04h ($23,520) are growing up, says Welch, as they remain at Andy Burkholder’s farm in Homesville, Ohio.

“They’ve been going outside every day into a private paddock,” Welch reported. “They haven’t been out with the other mares and foals yet, because we felt since the mare has to watch two of them it might be a bit tough on her.  Every day, as soon as it warms up, they go out and stay out until early evening.”

Welch says that Jurassic Serena, the filly with the small star and snip on her forehead, was stricken briefly with a stomach bug, but after treatment, is recovering quickly and is in great shape. Her sister Jurassic Venus has remained healthy despite her sibling’s brief ailment.

“Venus has just kept growing and stayed strong and is doing quite well, but Serena is quickly catching back up to her,” Welch stated. “We are waiting to get the mare bred to Volstead before we bring all of them back home.”

Bred by Success Acres, Call Them Over, now 20, has nine previous foals (besides her twins), including Abequa (by Neely Dunn) 4, 1:57.2f ($107,277); Neely Spring (by Neely Dunn) 4, 1:57.2h ($101,265); Over Six (by Team Six) 4, 1:57.2h ($73,719); and Callit As U Seeit (by Malabar Maple) 4, 1:59.1h ($44,257). She was purchased by Welch from Fred Polk’s estate on April 6, 2019.

Twins are a bit of a rarity in the Standardbred community, as USTA records indicate just 50 prior pairs raced successfully in the past five decades. Harnesslink will keep readers updated on the life and times of “Venus” and “Serena,” who both appear to be enjoying their new world.

by Kimberly Rinker, for Harnesslink