Another round of foolishness

by Murray Brown

On July 9, 2023, I wrote what, when looking back, was a very foolish column. In it, I was forecasting the winners of that year’s Dan Patch awards. In early July, I apparently thought I was wise enough to adequately forecast the year-end results.

Perhaps the only thing sensible about it was that I left out all the 2-year-old categories. Even as daft as I can be, I was not going to pick the top 2-year-olds when the majority of them had probably not even raced.

The intent back then was to see how good a prognosticator I could be that early in the race season. How did it turn out, you might ask? The answer would be mixed. There were a few I hit right on the mark. I was much better at picking the top pacers than I was for trotters.

As for the pacers, I picked Confederate as the top 3-year-old pacing colt, even though he had not quite shown the amazing talent that was yet to come. He became the Dan Patch winner not only in his category, but also Pacer of the Year and Horse of the Year. I picked Sylvia Hanover as 3-Year-Old Pacing Filly, which she became. I also picked Grace Hill as the Older Pacing Mare and she was that. Bythemissal was the Older Pacer of the Year, but I didn’t even mention him.

With trotters I was way off the mark. I picked Special Way as the top 3-year-old filly and Trotter of the Year. She garnered none of those awards. The top filly turned out to be Bond.

I actually did say that I couldn’t pick a top 3-year-old colt at the time. I felt that if there was one, I hadn’t as yet seen it. It turned out to be Tactical Approach.

With the older trotting males, I felt that at the time it was a mixed bag. It turned out to be It’s Academic. Regarding the females, I mentioned Jiggy Jog S and Bella Bellini as the two main contenders. Of the two, I picked Bella Bellini. The winner turned out to be Jiggy Jog S.

I am about to embark on another round of foolishness, although with the benefit of more than 2½ extra months in the racing season. But with a much more reasonable time frame, I’m going to add the four 2-year-old categories.

TROTTERS

2-YEAR-OLD COLTS

Jimdougie Armitage — This category is as much a mixed bag as it is possible to find at this time. I suspect the upcoming Mohawk Million will give us a better picture of the category. The two leading money winners as this is written are the geldings Uncle Rob ($321,825) and the undefeated Swan Good Bi ($320,800) who have earned their spurs in sires stakes competition. I’m going against logic by picking a lightly raced colt trained by one of the true trotting greats Ake Svanstedt. Thus far, Jimdougie Armitage has won three of five starts and earned $222,707.

Jimdougie Armitage is sired by Captain Corey. Uncle Rob is by Mets Hall and Swan Good Bi is by Swan For All.

2-YEAR-OLD FILLIES

Wall Of Fame — It’s hard to go against perfection and Wall Of Fame has been perfect, going nine-for-nine and earning $561,250. Nearly her equal insofar as perfection is concerned is the homebred winner of the Jim Doherty, Birr Castle going five for six and earning $476,356. An extremely talented long shot in the category might be Kountry Plunge who is five-for-five with earnings of $277,100.

Wall Of Fame is by Walner, Birr Castle is by Captain Corey, and Kountry Plunge is by Chapter Seven.

3-YEAR-OLD COLTS

Apex — He leads the category with five of seven wins and earnings of $860,460. If not by losing by a nose in the Hambletonian, the leader might very well be Big Ranger who is six of nine for the season with earnings of $552,307. To me, these two stand alone. But there remain several battles yet to be fought.

Apex is by Walner and Big Ranger is by In Range.

3-YEAR-OLD FILLIES

Nezuko Kamado S — She stands at the top of what I regard as a good, but not totally stellar group. She has won six of nine starts and has earned $582,305. Next in line, to me, is Victorianas Secret, who has eight of 11 wins with earnings of $369,931.

Nezuko Kamado S is by Chapter Seven and Victorianas Secret is by Tactical Landing.

OLDER MALE TROTTER

Super Chapter — If there is a total standout in any of the categories I believe this horse to be it. He is only slightly behind the overall money leader, the pacer Brandon Blvd, winning six of eight starts and earning $1,071,707. He looks to me to be a possible horse for the ages. He seems to be getting better with each start. I’m hoping against hope that his connections decide to test the European waters and take him to the Prix d’Amérique and/or the Elitloppet in the next two years. The stud barn can wait.

Super Chapter is sired by Chapter Seven.

OLDER FEMALE TROTTER

Bourbonista S — This is a particularly bare category in my estimation. The leading money winner is the Italian mare Diva Ek IT who made only one start on these shores and earned $250,000 in finishing second in the Yonkers International Trot. Following her, is the good mare R Dutchess with earnings of $243,968. I placed Bourbonista S as the leader because of her world record of 1.48.4 in one of her four seasonal wins.

Bourbonista S is sired by Face Time Bourbon, R Dutchess is by Father Patrick, and Diva Ek IT is by Trixton.

TROTTER OF THE YEAR

Super Chapter — See above

PACERS

2-YEAR-OLD COLTS

Starstruck Dreamer — It’s kind of silly, to go against perfection. That is exactly what I’m doing in picking this colt over the undefeated Shalom Hanover. He’s a world champion in winning in 1.48.4 in his victory in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes (PASS) at Chester. If not for his drawing the 8-hole and being forced to cut the mile, giving Shalom Hanover the perfect trip in the PASS final at Pocono, I believe he would have won the race at Pocono. In my many years involvement in the sport, I know that would haves, could haves, and should haves mean zilch. It’s the winners that deserve the plaudits. There are still several battles yet to be fought. They will tell us if or how foolish my pick might have been.

Starstruck Dreamer is by Captaintreacherous and Shalom Hanover is by Papi Rob Hanover. I have written several times about the similarities in these colts’ pedigrees.

2-YEAR-OLD FILLIES

Seaside Ubeaut — The four leading money winners in the category are Cleveland Darby ($341,825), Tempting Flames ($321,012), Seaside Ubeaut ($271,000), and JK Lady Liberty ($244,368). All of them have raced only in regional stakes. I went with Seaside Ubeaut because I consider the Kentucky races to be somewhat less regionally restricted, I’ve seen her race the most, and I am most attracted to her pedigree. Those may not be the most valid reasons, but they are the ones that I chose to follow.

Seaside Ubeaut and Cleveland Darby are by Downbytheseaside, Tempting Flames is by Catch The Fire, and JK Lady Liberty is by Captain Crunch.

3-YEAR-OLD COLTS

Brandon Blvd — He has earned the title based on talent, consistency, earnings, and being there and winning the big races more than any of his foes. He is now the leading money-winning horse of the year with eight wins in 11 starts, with earnings of $1,135,695. Most of his competitors have either fallen by the wayside or have been subject with inconsistency.

Brandon Blvd is sired by Downbytheseaside.

3-YEAR-OLD FILLIES

Miss Jum Jabber — Much as Brandon Blvd is all alone with the colts, so is this remarkable filly all alone at the top of the filly ladder. She leads all in earnings ($606,139), speed (an over powering win in 1.48 in the KYSS championships), and consistency (13 wins in 15 starts). In my opinion, she is the most dominant of all the pacers.

The sire of Miss Jum Jabber is Bettor’s Wish.

OLDER MALE PACER

Best Chip — At this point Best Chip appears to be the best. No doubt he is the fastest, with a winning time of 1.46.1. He is second in the category with earnings of $470,805 with nine wins in 15 starts. The leading money winner is Prince Hal Hanover, who has never been off the board earning $581,191 with a resume of 5-6-3 in 14 starts.

Best Chip is sired by Heston Blue Chip and Prince Hal Hanover is by Captaintreacherous.

OLDER FEMALE PACER

Miki And Minnie — Before being sidelined with an injury, she was far and away the best winning six of eight starts and earning $372,099. The leading money winner in this category is the New Zealand import Louies Girls N with eight wins in 18 starts and earnings of $420,337.

Miki And Minnie is by Always B Miki and Louies Girl N is by Lord Forbes.

PACER OF THE YEAR

Brandon Blvd — See above.

HORSE OF THE YEAR

Super Chapter — See above.