Voukefalas is more than just a hard name to say

You might want to try and remember the name of this harness racing pacer.

Voukefalas and he is by Lazarus N.

Don’t worry, most people have trouble trying to pronounce it. Try to say it three times fast!

It’s Greek and it was the name of Alexander The Great’s favorite horse. Alexander The Great was so enamored with Voukefalas that when the horse died in battle, he gave his favorite animal a state funeral.

Actually, Voukefalas translates from Greek to mean large oxen head.

Bred and owned by long time Standardbred horseman Michael Pagonas of Saddle River, NJ, Voukefalas is a homebred from Pagonas’s top racehorse and now broodmare, Inittowinafortune p,5,1:49.3 ($698,002). Pagonas gives all of his homebreds Greek names.

Now comes the part of Voukefalas’s trainer, Michael Russo, also of Saddle River. Michael has been involved with Voukefalas since the day the colt was foaled. And it was Russo who selected Initowinaforune at age 3 in a sale and got Pagonas to purchase her for just $11,000.

When did Russo feel he had something special with Voukefalas?

“Almost from the start,” Russo explained. “In February he just kept breaking through barriers. His manners, his desire, his incredible speed. He literally had everything. At that point I felt like it was my job to manage his training and not screw him up.”

What convinced the two Michael’s to breed Inittowinafortune to Lazarus N?

“Breeding to Lazarus was a no brainer,” Russo said. “The mare was as fast as any mare could ever be. Breeding her to a durable high-speed son of Bettor’s Delight made perfect sense. Plus, I wanted to support the NJ breeding program.”

In his first two starts, Voukefalas was second and then won a baby race at Gaitway Farm in 1:56.1. Then he went to the Meadowlands where he was third twice in the two $30,000 preliminary legs of the New Jersey Sire Stakes.

Next up was the $240,000 NJSS Final at the Meadowlands where with Jordan Stratton in the bike, Voukefalas exploded after the first quarter and went on to score a two and three-quarter length triumph in 1:50. And to date no two-year-old has been faster in North America.

“It was an amazing feeling, Russo said of the big victory. “Much more emotional than I ever thought it would be. My driver told me after the 2nd leg of the NJSS that he would win the final. He came into the race perfectly and he knocked it out of the park.”

Now this Saturday, Voukefalas heads one of three $20,000 divisions of the Arden Stakes at The Meadows. He is the only horse (13^th race) in the field that has won a race so far in 2022. He drew post one and is the 6/5 morning line favorite.

Voukefalas in 2022 has earned $127,200 in purse money. The other six rivals in the race have combined earnings this year of $23,450.

But what happens for Voukefalas after Saturday’s race?

“He’s slated for 10 races this year,” Russo explained. “I won’t race a 2-year-old more than that. That’s still dependent on evaluating his races, how he went, how he came out, the results and keeping an eye on his attitude.

VOUKEFALAS WINNING NJSS FINAL

“He has the BEST attitude of any horse I ever had,” Russo added. “I want to make sure that he is feeling strong. He loves to train and comes out of his training miles like he just took a casual stroll. I need and want him to always feel that way. If all goes well between now, then The Governor’s Cup will be his final start of the year.”

By Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink