Well Said versus Somebeachsomewhere; getting interesting

When Well Said stormed home alone in 1.47.3 to win the Meadowlands Pace, my only wish was to see Art Official and Beach in the stretch with him, the 3 pushing each other to see who could prevail. Even though Somebeachsomewhere was nipped at the wire by Art Official in 2008, their times of 1.47 flat were a world record and in my mind Beach's only "loss" was his greatest race ever. It's difficult to criticize the driver, because even if you can watch the video a thousand times you will always wish there was an opportunity for Beach to get to the rail but there was no way for Paul to have tucked in and stayed behind Art Official and then killed him in the stretch. In any case, Artie was spent after that race and took months to recover, while Somebeachsomewhere went on to dominate the 3 year old pacing ranks in a very tough year that also included Shadow Play, Badlands Nitro, Santana Blue Chip and Dali.

It seemed it would be years before a colt as quick as Beach came along, and decades before Maritimes harness racing fans would ever experience another year like Somebeachsomewhere and Shadow Play provided, if ever. He may not be from PEI, but Well Said is well bred and looking like a true champion. After finishing 2008 with an impressive Breeders Crown win, this year he has been close to invincible and his Adios elim in an all ages track record of 1.49 last night shows this baby can really fly, and Pierce says the pacer wants to go faster...

As the season goes on, we will compare the race times and earnings of Well Said and Somebeachsomewhere. 2008 was a record-deep field for three year old pacing colts, so Well Said is well positioned to become the single season earnings champion, Inshallah. Considering that, we'll be keeping a close eye on the progress of his times, and at this early juncture it is definitely possible that either Somebeachsomewhere's race record (1.46.4) or Cambest's time trial record (1.46.1) may fall by September.

August 14th UPDATE: Muscle Hill is becoming the Beach of this year!!!

World Of RockNRoll finishes Third in Pacing Debut

Ken Weingartner, media relations manager for Harness Racing Communications, pictured with the Rocknroll Hanover - World Of Beauty colt who would become World Of Rocknroll.




The foal that has been followed by readers of USTrotting.com for over 2 years now left from the 10 hole, got away 7th and was patient in the lane, where he was fit enough to pass several game colts to get up for the show position.

In the official results of the first race of World of Rocknroll he finished third and was race-timed in 1.54.1, while Brian Sears drove home the winner Delmarvalous in 1.53.1, a new lifetime mark.


Foal Patrol:


Foal Patrol: Peaceful Night (Wednesday, April 11, 2007)


Foal Patrol: Still waiting (Wednesday, April 18th)


Foal Patrol: Special birth (Wednesday, April 25th)


Foal Patrol: the birds and the bees (Wednesday, May 2nd)


Foal Patrol: Mother’s little helpers (Wednesday, May 09th)


Life Story of World of Rocknroll, from before birth


Foal Patrol World of Rocknoll:


Foal Patrol: Baby, what a beauty (World Of Rocknroll is born!) (Wednesday, May 16th)


Foal Patrol: A year later (Thursday, May 15, 2008)







Foal Patrol: At the Harrisburg Yealing Sale (Tuesday, November 04, 2008)





Foal Patrol: World Of Rocknroll prepares for freshman campaign (Tuesday, March 17, 2009)


Foal Patrol: World Of Rocknroll heads to baby races (Thursday, June 18, 2009)




USTA News Foal Patrol: World Of Rocknroll wins in 1:56.4

Top Harness Racing Drivers and Trainers at WEG Racetracks

Without revealing my super-secret statistahunch formula, here are trainers and drivers to include in your boxes in coming days:

(Calculated as of July 13, 2009, published July 16th)

Top Trainers at Mohawk

AAA Group (HOT):


Coleman
Brainard
Charlton
McIntosh
Henriksen
O'Sullivan
Baillergeon
Gillis
Fletcher
Fine
Young

More to watch for:

Christoforou
Hughes
Allard
Austin


Hot Lately:


McCall
Montini


Top Drivers at Mohawk


AAA Group:

Jamieson
Waples
Condren
Macdonald
Marks
Henriksen
Baillergeon
Allard
Ritchie
Christoforou
Filion


Hot Lately:


Zeron


When I update this list in the future I will try to include an initial, and maybe even an entire first name!

TOP 10 Standarbred Racetracks: US Harness Racing Pays Best in NY, NJ, PA, IN and DE

Here are the top standardbred racing tracks in the USA, based on purse payouts in June (minimum $1,000,000 total or $10,000+ average per race), ranked by average payout per pacing or trotting race:

Track State Races Total Purses Paid Avg. Purse per Race Starters Avg. Earnings per Starter

#1 - YONKERS RACEWAY New York 226 $6,053,802 $26,787 1733 $3,493


#2 - THE MEADOWLANDS New Jersey 172 $4,146,704 $24,109 1475 $2,811


#3 - THE MEADOWS Pennsylvania 269 $4,242,302 $15,771 2292 $1,851


#4 - HARRAHS CHESTER Pennsylvania 295 $3,908,538 $13,249 2230 $1,753


#5 - MOHEGAN SUN POCONO Pennsylvania 246 $3,183,245 $12,940 2015 $1,580


#6 - HOOSIER PARK Indiana 261 $2,660,900 $10,195 2396 $1,111


#7 - HARRINGTON RACEWAY Delaware 289 $2,531,610 $8,760 2177 $1,163


#8 - TIOGA DOWNS New York 129 $983,000 $7,620 1028 $956


#8 - BUFFALO RACEWAY New York 208 $1,451,512 $6,978 1609 $902


#10 - BALMORAL PARK Illinois 192 $1,211,885 $6,312 1621 $748


#10 - SARATOGA HARNESS New York 208 $1,266,400 $6,088 1607 $788


Source of data: Hoofbeats Magazine article on standardbred purses June 2009 at ustrotting.com