AN ASTRONOMICAL OPPORTUNITY World Champion Free Legged Pacer astronomical p,2,1:55h, 3,1:50.4-1:51.3f-1:52.2h, 1:50f-1:52h ($781,873) Astreos Hey Girl Matts Scooter Set the then world record for a free-legged pacer of 1:50f at Georgian Downs. At two earned over $94,000 and was race-timed in 1:51.4f. Winner of two OSS Gold Finals and Jug Preview at three. Top half-mile track performer 1:52h at Flamboro. From a half-sister to LARGO p,1:51 ($736,910) and the dam of CANYON WIND p,1:48.4 ($691,906). Astronomical had the quickest gate speed I have ever seen. He set the then world record for a free-legged pacer of 1:50 at Georgian Downs driver jody jamieson As a two-year-old Astronomical showed that he could pace a quarter in 26 seconds. Track size made no difference because he had such a beautiful stride. He was a class horse. trainer Dr. Ian Moore Standing his first season in Ontario 687 Northern Central Rd., Hagar, ON P0M 1X0 Inquiries to Murray McConnell 705 967 5491 or Fax 705 967 5013 www.casimirfarm.com service FEE $2,500 ($500 prompt payment 30 day discount and an extra $250 discount for 2:00/$100,000 winner or producer of same)
FILLY POWER The talent FBS TERROR showed on the racetrack last season as a two-year-old was matched by the enthusiasm of her many connections, especially trainer Mario Macri for whom she also provided vindication for his career choice. By Paul Delean The Woodbine winner s circle was awash in emotion on Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final night last November, but one victory party stood out for both its size and zeal. At least 30 people crowded into the photo after FBs Terror scored a mild upset in the $300,000 final for two-year-old pacing fillies, and another dozen or more would have if they d been able to find their way. A lot of family and friends came, parents, cousins, uncles. We were close to 50, recalled co-owner Michael Guerriero. They were able to witness and celebrate not only the most impressive race of the Western Terror filly s career, but also the biggest career win for her driver, 20 year-old Scott Zeron and her trainer, 39 year-old Mario Macri. For Macri in particular, the race had significance well beyond the purse. It was vindication for years of work and struggle out of the spotlight with a small stable that normally wins only five to 10 races a year, proof he could succeed in an activity that many, including his late father Vince, considered a very bad idea. He was right against it at first, said Macri. He was old school. You went to work at a place and you stayed. He said I d probably never make it, and he wasn t the only one. Macri had no direct connection to horses growing up in North York. His father worked all his life at a GE factory. Macri did factory work one year at a plant that made airplane parts and couldn t stand it. Instead, he became a bricklayer. Cousin Anthony Macri was his link to horse racing. Anthony owned Standardbreds and Mario started accompanying him to the races and to the stable in Welland, Ontario, where he d pitch in doing stalls. It was a whole new world and I loved it. If not for him I wouldn t even be in this business, Macri said.
The FBs Terror team includes, back row: Jason Melmer (caretaker), middle row: Mileo Monte, Mario Macri, Anthony Nicoletta, Front row: Mike Guerriero and Vincent Mastrangelo.
FILLY POWER Photo by New Image Media He obtained his trainer s licence in 1993 and two years later, his first win at Western Fair with the Balanced Image trotter Razors Image, one of many castoffs he bought from his cousin. The previous trainer couldn t get him to do anything and it took me six months to get him going. He didn t do much but he did win a couple at London and he was a good one to learn with. Training a modest stable of five or fewer horses didn t pay nearly as well as bricklaying, in fact, he and longtime partner Eric Urdzal lost money those early years but Macri was undeterred. With horses, you do it because you love it. It s not about a steady paycheque. Some years were slow, and I d work at bit in construction to make ends meet. When you take on too many, you dig yourself a hole, he said. But after Daylon Boy, I just stuck with the horses, through thick and thin. Daylon Boy was a Dexter Nukes colt Macri purchased as a yearling for $5,700 at Woodbine in 2002. Halfway through jogging him, I knew he was a nice one. At two, Daylon Boy won a $24,000 elimination of the Battle of Waterloo at Elmira and then finished fourth to Groovie The rookie pacing filly FBs Terror provided young driver Scott Zeron with the biggest victory of his career when she won last season's $300,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final at Woodbine. Day in the $200,000 final. He also had a second and third in $130,000 OSS Gold finals that year and competed in the $300,000 Super Final, finishing eighth. Daylon Boy finished his two-year-old campaign with earnings of $130,000 and I had a piece of him, with two partners. He was Macri s first six-figure winner, and went on to collect $320,849 in a six year career that ended in 2008. He s now retired and frolicking in the fields. I found a place for him, Macri said. He deserved a home for life. He made this year possible. Daylon Boy also was the horse that helped reconcile Macri s father with his son s career choice. The first time he came to a race was the Battle of Waterloo elimination with my sister, and Daylon Boy won. I said he had to show up every time after that. One time he couldn t make it and my sister Josie cut a lock of his hair and brought it. He died the next year, when Daylon Boy turned three. Macri also appeared to have a good one in 2004 in Armbro Chivalry, a Grinfromeartoear gelding who d cost just $6,000 as a yearling. He won a $130,000 OSS Gold event in 1:53.3 in just his second start at two. He also competed that year in the Battle of Waterloo, Nassagaweya Stakes and OSS Super Final, but failed to hit the board. He just got tired as the season went on, Macri said. After that came a few lean years, the ones when doubts and insecurities start gnawing away. You can t get lucky all the time with $5,000 or $6,000 horses, said the separated father of two children, ages 7 and 16. But Macri got a boost when Guerriero, 33, came in as an owner three years ago. Proprietor of a liquidation company called Sales Gone Wild, Guerriero had been involved previously with Thoroughbreds. He went to school with Macri s nephew, Vince Mastrangelo, who brought him around to the barn to meet Mario. What I like about him is that he s a tireless worker and the horse always comes first, Guerriero said. He tries 100 February 2010 The Harness Edge
THE EMPIRE BREEDERS CLASSIC Early Closing Event For New York Sired Three Year Olds in 2010 Sponsored By: The Agriculture & NY State Breeding and Development Fund, New York Breeders, Tioga & Vernon Downs Tioga Downs THREE YEAR OLD COLT PACE $12,500E Eliminations: Sunday, May 23 $250,000E Final: Sunday, May 30 (2009 Purse $218,925) Vernon Downs THREE YEAR OLD COLT TROT $12,500E Eliminations: Saturday, May 22 $250,000E Final: Monday, May 31 (2009 Purse $206,275) THREE YEAR OLD FILLY PACE $12,500E Eliminations: Sunday, May 23 $250,000E Final: Sunday, May 30 (2009 Purse $203,425) THREE YEAR OLD FILLY TROT $12,500E Eliminations: Saturday, May 22 $250,000E Final: Monday, May 31 (2009 Purse $212,875) If a New York eligible stallion that bred fewer than 20 mares in 2006 fails to pay into this event, the owner of that NY eligible stallion s progeny may pay a March 15, 2010 supplemental fee of $6,000 to make a single three year old horse eligible for the 2010 race. 2YO Payment Schedule* March 15 $350 Supplemental $1,000 *This payment must be made for nominees to be eligible as 3 Year Olds in 2011 3YO Payment Schedule March 15 $1,000 Supplemental $6,000 Entry Fee $2,500 To be eligible for nomination, the nominee must be sired by a stallion registered for the NYSS program in the year nominee was bred and that sire must be nominated to the Empire Breeders Classic events by the stallion owner. The nominee must further have been nominated as a yearling to the NYSS program or have made the supplemental payment to those races as called for in their conditions. If a New York eligible stallion that bred fewer than 20 mares in 2007 fails to pay into this event, the owner of that NY eligible stallion s progeny may pay a supplemental fee of $1,000 to make a single two year old horse eligible for the 2011 race. Further eligibility requires completion of the regular sustaining payment schedule for three year olds. A list of eligible stallions is available at www.tiogadowns.com. These events are not NYSS events and finishers will not be awarded points toward the NYSS Finals. EVENT HORSE AGE GAIT SEX SIRE DAM AMOUNT EBC EBC EBC All owners, trainers and drivers of nominated horses must be approved to race or entry may be denied. TOTAL Conditions available upon request Nominator: Trainer: Address: Phone: Email: Checks made Payable to Tioga Downs Send To : Racing Office c/o Tioga Downs, 2384 West River Rd, Nichols, NY 13812 www.tiogadowns.com (607) 699-7688 www.vernondowns.com
FILLY POWER per cent, but the animal s well being is always first. There s a real kinship there. They re his babies. One of the lines you re sure to hear from him is it s not a machine, it s an animal. Guerriero had modest success with a couple of purchases prior to shelling out $12,000 for FBs Terror at the Forest City Sale in 2008 in partnership with his uncle Mileo Monte, cousin and business partner Anthony Nicoletta, and Mastrangelo. From the Abercrombie mare Speedy Shopper, the compact filly was bred by Kentuckiana Farm and Marlo Stables. Her full brother Fast Pay paced a mile in 1:49, but unfortunately for the sellers, didn t do it until months after the auction. Macri looked her over and gave the okay. I wanted a horse able to compete on the OSS and we decided we wanted a Western Terror, Guerriero said. We couldn t believe the price. Western Terrors were going for $60,000 and $80,000, but this one just sort of fell by the wayside for everyone else. Within a month, Macri was convinced they had something special. She was a handful to break for three months, bucking and kicking like a rodeo horse, but she had tons of speed. She never wanted to jog behind horses. The only way you could get her to settle was to let her sprint a bit and get it out of her system, he said. Mario Macri What I like about him is that he s a tireless worker and the horse always comes first. He tries 100 per cent, but the animal s well being is always first. One of the lines you re sure to hear from him is it s not a machine, it s an animal. Mike Guerriero on trainer Mario Macri Mike Guerriero FBs Terror raced from off the pace, however, in her first start, an OSS Gold elimination at Mohawk in July. With Paul MacDonell driving, she finished third. In the $130,000 final, she was ninth of 10 at the first call and wound up eighth. MacDonell was down to drive again in her next start, the Battle of the Belles elimination at Grand River on July 27th, but had commitments at Mohawk. So did the second driver Macri had penciled in, Rick Zeron. Rick s son Scott was there, however, and that s how he ended up in the sulky for a partnership that endured the rest of the season. I like the kid, Macri said. He s starting to show some stuff now and he ll just get better. Zeron and FBs Terror won their elimination in 1:57.4 and then rallied three-wide for a 9-1 upset a week later in the $150,000 final in 1:56.2. In August and September, FBs Terror tested some of North America s top fillies in the Champlain Stakes and eliminations of the Eternal Camnation and Shes A Great Lady, and while she didn t win, she was competitive and collected cheques while consistently showing early speed. Then came three consecutive defeats to Western Silk in OSS Gold finals at Flamboro, Windsor and Woodbine. Twice she finished second, the other time fifth. They were up against Western Silk again in the season-end- February 2010 The Harness Edge
Add a jolt to your bank account!! Breed to Village Jolt!! Only two-year-old ever to win the Woodrow Wilson and Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old of the Year in United States and Canada Won Historic Goshen Cup, Metro Pace elimination, NJSS and was second in $1 million Metro Place final (timed in 1:50) at two Captured The Adios (in straight heats), a Little Brown Jug heat (second in final), Progress Pace elimination (career best 1:50.4), finished second in $1 million Meadowlands Pace (timed in 1:49.1), NJSS at three Fastest and richest two-year-old ever by Cams Card Shark Village Jolt p,2, 1:51.1, 3, 1:50.4f-1:52.3h-ʻ05 ($1,634,220) Cams Card Shark-Village Jingle-Life Sign 2010 FEE $4,500 (U.S.) Semen Transport Available From just one crop: From only 33 starters, the sire of 15 winners and 2 PASS winners (8 stakes placed in all). 56% started as two-year-olds while 45% of those took records. 625 Street Rd., New Hope, PA 18938 (215) 598-0886 Fax (215) 598-0786 www.fashionfarms.com
FILLY POWER ing Super Final on November 14, so the FBs Terror team decided to swing for the fences with their 5-1 shot. All season long, we d played second fiddle. I figured it had to be our turn, Guerriero said. We told Scott this is it, she ll be getting time off after, let s see what she can do. Zeron had her flying off the gate. She paced the opening quarter in :26.1 and the half in :55.1. At the three-quarter mark, she was still leading by a length in 1:23.2 and Macri, Guerriero and company were holding their breath and pleading for the wire. St Lads Trixie made it close in an agonizing final quarter but at the end, FBs Terror was still a half-length clear in a career-best 1:53.1. Despite the initial elation, the result took a while to sink in Guerriero said. Talking about it now, I still get goose bumps, he said. It was really exciting and very emotional. It s like a winning lottery ticket. Not a lot get it. FBs Terror concluded her two-year-old season with $367,186 in earnings from four wins, three seconds and three thirds in 14 starts. It was by far the most lucrative campaign ever for Macri, whose highest previous earnings total was $162,214 in 2005. It truly is a team effort with the group involved with FBs Terror. They have even gone so far as to create jackets with the interesting declaration We Do Filly s (shown above). That came about because we had read in the Care & Training of the Pacer and Trotter that if one wants to lose all their money focus on buying yearling fillies. People we met in the industry told us the same thing. So what did we do? We bought fillies, said Guerriero. While there are no guarantees that two-year-old success equals more of the same at three, Macri has a good feeling about FBs Terror, who is being pointed to open events like the Fan Hanover, Roses Are Red and Breeders Crown this year in addition to the OSS circuit. The way she ended her two-year-old year, I think she ll be a great three-yearold. She got sounder as the year went on. Usually, it s the other way around. He also has seven two-year-olds in his barn at the Baycairn Training Centre in Campbellville this year, a significant investment and vote of confidence from his owners. Among them is a $40,000 Rocknroll Hanover colt called Assets. Whatever happens next, Macri will always treasure the memory of November 14, 2009, the night FBs Terror put him over the moon. That was the best night of my life and I was even happier for the horse and owners. I wanted it for them. It made me feel that I d accomplished something, which matters more than money. All the doubts I had, that people had about me, just lifted away. Dad said I d probably never make it; that s not nice to hear from anyone. I was never looking to be a superstar, just to be able to keep doing what I m doing for as long as I can, to be a survivor. Even now, every day, I think back to that night and the feeling s there. It keeps me going. February 2010 The Harness Edge
He Had The Look Of Eagles Photo by New Image Media Eagle Luck p,2,1:54s, 3,1:50s, 1:48.3-1:51.1h ($1,159,774) Camluck Duncans Artsplace Artsplace Winner of $250,000 Molson Pace in 1:51.1h over Western Fair s half-mile track. Took his 1:48.3 record at the Meadowlands winning the $85,000 Classic Series leg over Won The West, Total Truth, Mr Feelgood, Palone Ranger, Western Shore and Casimir Camotion. Captured a $135,002 Simcoe Stake division at Mohawk Racetrack. Won the $154,400 Clearwater Cup Final at Hiawatha Horse Park by 7 lengths in 1:50, a new track record. At three won an elimination of the Confederation Cup in 1:54.1h. Multiple OSS winner defeating the likes of Mister Big. Finished second in OSS Super Final at three. Paced 9 miles in 1:50 or faster. Fastest son of Camluck at stud. Eagle Luck raced against the very best in North America for a number of years. He always raced with incredible determination and was able to grind it out. From my perspective he always gave me the supreme effort and was always passing horses at the finish line. driver John Campbell He was a very versatile horse that could race any way you wanted. A good looker who liked to race and what I loved about him was that he always had a strong last quarter to give me, not all of them do. driver Mike Saftic What a slick gaited horse. He was the ultimate iron horse and tough as nails. He raced and defeated the best horses of this era (Mister Big, Doonbeg, Won The West, Mr Feelgood, etc.). I can t say enough good things about him. driver Luc Ouellette SERVICE FEE - $2,500 Multiple foal discount. 9661 Trew Road, R.R.#1, Campbellcroft, ON L0A 1B0 (905) 797-2124 Fax (905) 797-2081 Website: www.kendalhills.com Email: kendalhillsstud@on.aibn.com