by Chris Lomon

Kasey Bendix has come to embrace the unexpected moments in her racing life.

Ask the horsewoman from Hebron, MD, if she ever saw the successes, personally or otherwise, in her future and the response typically starts with a hearty laugh.

“I can honestly say that over my time in racing, I never anticipated a lot of what has happened,” she said. “But I think that has made me even more grateful for the times when you experience those highs.”

Just like the evening of June 30, 2021, at Ocean Downs.

Bendix, in her rookie year of training, was chasing her milestone first win.

The odds appeared to be in her favor of making it a reality when she sent out Always Strong in the eighth race at the half-mile oval in Ocean City.

Lining up as the 1-2 choice in the field of six pacers, Always Strong, a son of Always A Virgin—Delightful Party, had the services of Jason Thompson that night.

After getting away second, the brown gelding was a half-length in front after three-quarters in 1:30.3. Mid-way down the lane, he was a head behind the 3-1 second choice on the tote board.

From there to the wire, it was a blur for Bendix, who also owns the veteran campaigner.

“Of course it was an unexpected win,” Bendix said. “We would pick up checks with him, but we weren’t sure if we would ever see him get into the winner’s circle. Jason said, ‘We might be able to get there tonight.’ And when they did, I just stood there and thought, ‘Wow… we just won.’”

It took a moment for Bendix to process the outcome.

“I am always screaming or yelling, whether it’s a close race or we are way out in front,” she said. “Everyone knows where I am when the race is on.”

It would be the lone victory of the year for Bendix.

The following season, she upped her win total to six, and then to 11 in 2023.

This year, Bendix has already set several notable career-best marks, including wins, purse earnings and top three finishes.

Did she envision any of it?

Her answer is no surprise.

“Absolutely not,” she said, accompanied by a laugh. “I honestly didn’t.”

Thanks to a sophomore filly, Bendix is perhaps no longer taken aback by the fruitful campaign.

Fancy Like That, a horse she co-bred and co-owns with Virginia Marvel, has been a force throughout the Old Line State.

The daughter of Rustys For Real—Scootin Woody has posted 11 wins and 16 top three finishes from 20 starts in 2024.

“She has been a whirlwind; I am telling you,” Bendix said. “I breezed her and when we were training her down, we were all saying that she might have what we think she has. Until she hit the racetrack, we were all hoping and praying.”

Those prayers have been answered in the form of an outstanding year for the bay filly whose lifetime bankroll stands just shy of $265,000.

And while Fancy Like That is a menace to the competition, she is also a handful for Bendix and her team.

“It’s her way or no way,” Bendix said. “It’s pretty much a battle of wills. It’s you trying to do things on her terms. When she is ready to do something is when she decides she’s ready.”

Bendix, who currently has four horses in training, three of them racing, is hardly complaining.

“We love her,” Bendix said. “She just has a determination when she hits that racetrack, where she is 100 per cent, ‘game on, let’s get it done.’ I love that about her.”

Although it would be easy to get swept up in the success, her own and Fancy Like That, Bendix has resisted such temptation.

Instead, her focus is on the day-to-day operation of her stable.

“I like to stay in the moment and then go from there,” she said. “There are so many ups and downs in this sport, so you appreciate the good times and understand you will have to face the bad times head on.

“If I see a horse who might fit into our program, I will consider buying one or two, but it depends on what is going on at the moment for us.”

Horse racing isn’t Bendix’s only career.

Her other role could not be more different than her time spent in the stable.

“Three days a week, I am a pharmacy tech,” Bendix said. “I have been doing that since 2000. As I have had more horses over time, I have cut back on my days working as a pharmacy tech to concentrate more on the horses.

“I tell people the horses are my stress relief from the other job.”

Bendix has near lifelong ties to the harness racing world.

Her early days were spent as a young fan of the sport.

“I have had family members, off and on throughout the years, who have been in racing,” Bendix said. “My aunt and her ex-husband had horses together, and I would go down to the track with them all the time. When she got divorced, she met Jerry Nock, and I have been helping him groom for years.

“My aunt and I started buying horses together and as things progressed, we figured I might as well go ahead and get my trainer’s license, and things went from there. We were just talking about how things have flown by so quickly.”

As for what her racing future holds, Bendix is content to maintain the formula that has helped shape her success.

While she would jump at the chance to have a horse in the Hambletonian or Meadowlands Pace, it is all about the here and now.

“I love what I do,” she said. “I get to the barn around 6:45 each morning and we’re usually on the track around 7. If it isn’t a race day, we are done around 9:30.

“When I am not doing the pharmacy tech job and I am done for the day at the barn, I like to read a book. It’s a good way for me to relax.”

When it comes to the next chapter of her harness racing career, Bendix is content to let it play out like a mystery novel, where the unexpected always keeps her coming back for more.

“My definition of a successful year would be that we accomplished what we set out to do, had a few nice surprises along the way, and got to do what we love,” Bendix said.