The Canadian Sportsman
Tongue Tie Off
Back To Tongue Tie OffFebruary 25, 2010
If you buy into the premise that harness racing is first and foremost a gambling game, there is a form of wagering this year in Ontario that promises bountiful rewards if you can pick the right horse. And in all my years of following the sport, I have never seen a more wide-open field of impressive candidates. It is a handicapping puzzle of the highest order, and once you’ve made your picks, be prepared to wager thousands of dollars, because that’s the minimum buy-in.
I am speaking of the challenge of choosing a pacing stallion to breed to in 2010. And good luck to you if you can come with a strong opinion, either for who will wear the crown at the end of the 2013 racing season, or who will be wearing the dunce cap. I guess there are safer choices, like the reigning king Camluck, still producing winners after all these years. But many students of pedigree believe the breed gets faster in each generation, and would look away from a grandson of Most Happy Fella now that there are great-great-great-grandsons of the Most Important Sire of the last 40 years available. So how about proven quantities like Badlands Hanover, No Pan Intended, and Mach Three, who are all capable of producing the best horse in the province, or in the latter’s case, both hemispheres? Excellent choices, clearly. Sensible bets. And there are other sires who have shown they can get the job done, such as Blissfull Hall and Electric Stena and Royal Mattjesty. But maybe when looking out over the post parade, another contender has caught your eye. A horse who hasn’t had any babies old enough to stare down a starting gate. That would remove numbers and facts and just reduce the debate down to opinions. No shortage of those around a racetrack, huh?
Could the Big horse of a few years down the road be the iron-tough free-for-aller Mister Big? It would be hard to argue with a breeder willing to take a large position on this magnificent multi-millionaire. But if you’re partial to horses who left an impression as full-grown older horses, particularly those who in addition piled up the wins as three-years-olds, isn’t it tempting to land on the dazzling Artistic Fella? Or Lis Mara, who only a few short years ago was as dominant a pacer as any of these? Maybe you’re the type who values two-year-old accomplishments above all. Well, then, could it be the brilliant freshman Major In Art, who, racing out of a small stable, landed the one-two punch of Wilson and Metro victories before an injury sent him to the stallion ranks? He might not even be the best siring son of Art Major in the province, as the imposing Santanna Blue Chip will be servicing his second large book of mares in 2010. How about a Jug winner like Shadow Play, who had the misfortune of coming along in the same crop as Somebeachsomewhere and Art Official and still set two world records and won over a million dollars at three? Or the wickedly fast son of Western Ideal, Armbro Deuce (above, Dave Landry photo), whose unforgettably vivid Confederation Cup win alone has been responsible for dozens and dozens of bookings in his first years at stud. Confusing, right? I’m just getting started.
Why not Jeremes Jet, who did it as a young horse, took a little time off, and did it again as an older animal? Or Astronomical, who did it all and free-legged, to boot? Or the ultra-talented and popular Stonebridge Regal, or the impeccably-bred Perfect Union, or Whosurboy? How about Secrets Nephew, Eagle Luck, or the younger, more affordable brother to both Bettors Delight and the aforementioned No Pan Intended, Classic Card Shark?
And there are others, and they will have supporters too. I’m on the verge of making a few bets myself. Happy gambling, and looking forward to comparing results a few years down the road.
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