May 8, 2012
Twenty Remain Staked to this Year’s Battle of Lake Erie
The $100,000 (est.) Battle Of Lake Erie is set for Saturday, July 21. Since its inception in 1986, it has drawn the best veteran pacers the sport has to offer. Past Battle Champions include racing greats Falcon Seelster, Quite A Sensation, Jaguar Spur, Dorunrun Bluegrass, Cambest, Riyadh, Gallo Blue Chip, Maltese Artist and Foiled Again.
Foiled Again could become the first horse in Northfield Park history to win the Battle of Lake Erie three times. The eight-year-old son of Dragon Again (2000 Battle Champion) won the event in 2009 and 2011, joining Jaguar Spur (winner in 1988-89), Peruvian Hanover (winner in 2002-03) and Maltese Artist (winner in 2005 and 2007) as the only four horses to win the Battle of Lake Erie twice.
The twenty horses sustained to the 2012 Battle of Lake Erie have combined earnings of more than $12,500,000, winning 290 races. Two millionaires, Aracache Hanover and Foiled Again, are among the eligibles.
Complete list of horses nominated to the 2012 Battle of Lake Erie:
Horse Owner(s) Trainer
Aracache Hanover William Switala and James Martin R Gregg McNair
Betterthancheddar Steve Calhoun and West Wins Stable Casie Coleman
Classic Rock Nroll Frank Bellino Tony O’Sullivan
Clear Vision Burk Racing Stbl, Weaver Bruscemi, etc. Ron Burke
Dana’s Sharp Smart Stanley Kaufman Kevin Hough
Eighteen Dr. Ian Moore, RG McGroup, etc. Dr. Ian Moore
Flipper J Francis Azur Kevin McDermott
Foiled Again Burke Racing Stbl, Weaver Bruscemi, etc. Ron Burke
Hugadragon Burke Racing Stable Ron Burke
Nathan Feelsgood Patricia Mulder and Gerald Mulder Mark Ford
Picture Me Robert Key Walter Carroll
Powerful Mist Legacy Racing, Niel Gargiulo, etc. Melvin Givens
Prodigal Seelster Larry Menary, Denis Breton, etc. David Menary
Razzle Dazzle Ira Kristel Richard Silverman
Shark’s Legacy Joseph Smith Thomas Fanning
Something For Doc Country Club Acres, William Robinson, etc. Brian Brown
Stonebridge Tonic Leonard Gamble and R Gregg McNair Mark Ford
Trick Man Carolyn Brechler, Douglas Brechler, etc. Ray Paver
Valentino KDM Stables Nicholas Surick
Warning Zone VIP Internet Stable Boyd Hudson Jr.
Foiled Again Wins Sloppy Battle of Lake Erie in 1:52
Matt Kakaley piloted Foiled Again ($3.80) to victory in the 26th Annual $100,000 Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield Park, leading at nearly every call to win in 1:52 over a sloppy track dulled by a night-long rain. Favored Foiled Again edged Giddy Up Lucky in a photo finish, with defending champ Hypnotic Blue Chip finishing third.
Foiled Again, who also won the Battle in 2009, took the lead and yielded to Fire On The Water, but retook at the 27-second quarter mile mark. He took the field to the half in 55.1 as Hypnotic Blue Chip challenged. Giddy Up Lucky went three-wide at the 5/8 and pulled close to the top two at the 1:23.2 third quarter, but Foiled Again had enough left to hold off all challengers in the stretch.
Ron Burke trains Foiled Again, a seven-year-old son of Dragon Again for Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and JJK Stables. The win was his eighth in 15 seasonal starts and pushed his career earnings to $2,556,808.
The 26th Annual $100,000 Battle of Lake Erie is Saturday July 23, 2011
ELEVEN ELIGIBLE TO BATTLE- We started to tell you about the $100,000 Battle of Lake Erie nominees last week, and now we can tell you the rest of the story, thanks to the United States Post Office, which delivered the final several hopefuls after press time last week. Defending Battle champ Hypnotic Blue Chip leads that group, along with This Is Wyatt and Giddyup Lucky, who sits just outside the Top Ten in the Harness Racing Communications weekly poll. They join Fire On The Water, 2009 champ Foiled Again, I Wanna Go Fast, Razzle Dazzle, Trick Man, Valentino, Vertical Horizon and All Tiger N on the list for the July 23 race. Declarations are due Wednesday morning, July 20 at 9 AM, and only the eight horses with the highest 2010-2011 earnings who declare in will race. That currently puts All Tiger N and I Wanna Go Fast on the outside looking in, with Trick Man, Fire On The Water and Vertical Horizon on the bubble.
The 2010 $100,000 Battle of Lake Erie Goes to
Hypnotic Blue Chip in 1:49.4... Win Equals All-age Track Record
Francis Azur’s Hypnotic Blue Chip ($8.60) won Saturday’s $100,000 Battle of Lake Erie with a track-record equaling 1:49.4 effort. He defeated Won The West by five lengths, with favored Foiled Again, who set the fractions, finishing third.
Foiled Again and Dave Palone battled Pilgrims Toner for the early lead and took the field to the quarter in 26 seconds. Pilgrims Toner backed off and Foiled Again hit the half in 54 second, but driver Jody Jamieson had Hypnotic Blue Chip underway. By the three-quarter pole, the pair were on even terms, and Hypnotic Blue Chip put the favorite away with a 27.4 final panel. Kevin McDermott trains Hypnotic Blue Chip, a four-year-old son of Art Major.
In addition to the track record, the mile equals the fastest ever on a half-mile commercial racetrack and equals the fastest at night on a twice-around mile.
Diane Dylong is $10,000 richer when her assigned horse, Unknown Solider, won the George Verban Memorial in 1:52.2. Diane was one of nine finalists selected to participate in the contest. DeLong qualified with a winning Mystery Ticket she received in the mail. The $10,000 check is being presented by Vice President of Marketing Bill Seese and Executive Vice President of Racing/Simulcasting Dave Bianconi.
Defending Champ Foiled Again Favored in $100,000 Battle of Lake Erie
Draws Rail In Northfield Park’s Premier Event
Defending Battle of Lake Erie champ Foiled Again drew the rail for Saturday’s 25th edition of the race and has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite by Director of Racing Dave Bianconi. Foiled Again will be driven by Dave Palone, who will be inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame on Sunday. Ron Burke trains the millionaire pacer for owners Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and JJK Stables.
The 7-2 second choice, Pilgrims Toner, drew post three. The only horse owned by trainer Frank Catalfamo and partners Joe Spezio, Patrick Daley and Robert Mills, set an age-group 1:48.2 world record at Pocono Downs on May 29. Won The West, a career winner of $2.4 million, has been installed as the third choice at 4-1. He drew post seven and will be driven by Matt Kakaley, who drove Foiled Again to victory last year. Kakaley is the youngest driver in harness racing history to reach 1,000 wins. Last year’s runner-up, Jeremy’s Successor is 10-1 from post six.
The Battle of Lake Erie is the 12th race on a14 race-card that includes Ohio Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing and trotting fillies. First race post time is 7:00 PM Eastern, with the Battle of Lake Erie set for about 11:05 PM
$100,000 Battle of Lake Erie 7/3/10
Race 12 Post 11:05 EDT
|
Post
|
Horse
|
Driver
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
Odds
|
|
1
|
Foiled Again
|
Dave Palone
|
Ron Burke
|
Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, JJK Stables
|
2-1
|
|
2
|
Royalton Star
|
Ryan Stahl
|
Max Shaw
|
Max Shaw
|
15-1
|
|
3
|
Pilgrims Toner
|
Tony Hall
|
Frank Catalfamo
|
J. Spezio, P. Daley, R. Mills & F. Catalfamo
|
7-2
|
|
4
|
Hypnotic Blue Chip
|
Jody Jamieson
|
Kevin McDermott
|
Francis Azur
|
6-1
|
|
5
|
Cammabis
|
Mike Micallef
|
Paul Holzman
|
Melvin Fink
|
20-1
|
|
6
|
Jeremy’s Successor
|
Chris Page
|
Dean Eckley
|
Andrea Ann Hill
|
10-1
|
|
7
|
Won The West
|
Matt Kakaley
|
Ron Burke
|
Strollin Stable, Wm. Robinson & James Koehler
|
4-1
|
|
8
|
Corky Baran
|
Greg Grismore
|
Jean Drolet
|
S. Schneider & W. Siegel
|
12-1
|
The 2007 Battle of Lake Erie
The 2008 Battle of Lake Erie
Battle of Lake Erie History
Year
|
Winner
|
Driver
|
Odds
|
Favorite
|
Fave Odds
|
Time
|
Field $$
|
Purse
|
|
86
|
Falcon Seelster
|
Harmer
|
2-5
|
same
|
Same
|
1:55.2
|
??
|
$50,000
|
|
87
|
Quite A Sensation
|
Trevor Ritchie
|
2.9-1
|
same
|
Same
|
1:55.1
|
$3.90
|
$50,000
|
|
88
|
Jaguar Spur
|
Dick Stillings
|
6-5
|
same
|
Same
|
1:54.4
|
$4.10
|
$100,000
|
|
89
|
Jaguar Spur
|
Dick
Stillings
|
3-5
|
same
|
Same
|
1:54.3
|
$6.70
|
$100,000
|
|
|
(when Matts Scooter was disqualified for interference)
|
|
|
|
$100,000
|
|
90
|
Dorunrun Bluegrass
|
Herve Filion
|
2-5
|
same
|
Same
|
1:54.0
|
$3.50
|
$100,000
|
|
91
|
Dare You To
|
Pete Wrenn
|
22-1
|
DRR Bluegrass
|
1.4-1
|
1:53.1
|
$6.40
|
$100,000
|
|
92
|
Odds Against
|
Mike LaChance
|
6-5
|
same
|
Same
|
1:53.1
|
$6.00
|
$100,000
|
|
93
|
Cambest
|
W.Hennessey
|
6-5
|
same
|
Same
|
1:52.3
|
$5.30
|
$100,000
|
|
94
|
Arrive At Five
|
John Campbell
|
3-5
|
same
|
same
|
1:51.4
|
$5.40
|
$100,000
|
|
95
|
Lusty Leader
|
Joe Essig, Jr.
|
8.2-1
|
Pacific Rocket
|
.8-1
|
1:54.2
|
$5.10
|
$100,000
|
|
96
|
Riyadh
|
Jim Morrill, Jr.
|
4-5
|
same
|
Same
|
1:52.1
|
$6.30
|
$100,000
|
|
97
|
Village Connection
|
Luc Oullette
|
1-1
|
same
|
Same
|
1:53.3
|
$4.70
|
$100,000
|
|
98
|
Western Dreamer
|
Stephane Bouchard
|
3-5
|
same
|
Same
|
1:52.4
|
$5.40
|
$100,000
|
|
99
|
BJ's Whirlwind
|
David. Miller
|
1-1
|
same
|
Same
|
1:51.0
|
$5.40
|
$150,000
|
|
00
|
Dragon Again
|
John
Campbell
|
2-5
|
same
|
Same
|
1:51.0
|
$5.50
|
$150,000
|
|
01
|
Gallo Blue Chip
|
Walter Case, Jr.
|
4-5
|
same
|
Same
|
1:51.0
|
$6.40
|
$150,000
|
|
02
|
Peruvian Hanover
|
Ron Pierce
|
9-5
|
same
|
Same
|
1:52.2
|
$7.40
|
$150,000
|
|
03
|
Peruvian Hanover
|
Jim Pantaleano
|
9.7-1
|
Art Major
|
.4-1
|
1:51.3
|
$11.75
|
$150,000
|
|
04
|
Royal Mattjesty
|
Stephane Bouchard
|
2-1
|
Allamerican Captor
|
1.3-1
|
1:51.0
|
$5.46
|
$125,000
|
|
05
|
Maltese Artist
|
Brett Miller
|
1.00
|
Same
|
Same
|
1:51.2
|
$3.77
|
$125,000
|
|
06
|
Buckeye One
|
Dan
Clements
|
31-1
|
Spirit Of A Shark
|
1.3-1
|
1:51.2
|
$6.40
|
$125,000
|
|
07
|
Maltese Artist
|
Brett Miller
|
6-1
|
Gold Dust Beach
|
8-5
|
1:49.4
|
$4.92
|
$125,000
|
|
08
|
Bono Bests
|
K. Kash, Jr.
|
9-2
|
Tigerama
|
1-5
|
1:52.2(SL)
|
$4.72
|
$100,000
|
|
09
|
Foiled Again
|
Matt Kakaley
|
3-5
|
Same
|
Same
|
1:50.4
|
$3.45
|
$100,000
|
|
10
|
Hypnotic Blue Chip
|
Jody Jamieson
|
3-1
|
Foiled Again
|
1-2
|
1:49.4
|
$6.7
|
$100,000
|