Making his first start out of his home state of Indiana, and paying $62,500 to do so, sophomore Freaky Feet Pete was one of last weekend's more impressive Breeders Crown elimination winners.
After making a first over bid just past the half, Freaky Feet Pete’s final quarter of :26.2 propelled him to a 1:49.4 win for driver Trace Tetrick, trainer Larry Rheinheimer and Indiana-based owners Mary Jo & Marty Rheinheimer.
In talking to Larry at Tuesday's Breeders Crown media conference, he's not only proud of his colt but the Indiana harness racing program in general. With stars like Colors A Virgin, Always B Miki, Wiggle It Jiggleit and now Freaky Feet Pete winning Grand Circuit events, the trainer is thrilled to see Indiana-bred horses showing the strength of the state's breeding program.
That pride also shows in his thoughts on the colt's driver -- who Rheinheimer admits gave him a bit of scare last week when flight problems delayed Tetrick's arrival and nearly caused him to miss the elimination drive.
Rheinheimer points to Tetrick's patience and detailed knowledge of Freaky Feet Pete as key reasons for why the duo get along so well. And that confidence translates into the relationship between trainer and driver as well.
"He's on his own; I drove too many races years ago and when that gate folds you don't know what's going to happen...so I don't tell Trace anything. Now and then we'll talk about a race but that's about it."
As his lines show, many of Freaky Feet Pete's 12 seasonal wins have come in gate-to-wire fashion. But in watching last week's elim win and listening to his trainer, this horse is extremely versatile.
"I don't think the trip even matters for him; he can leave, he can come from behind, it doesn't make any difference."
"I'm hoping they're good," Rheinheimer dryly replied when asked about his chances. "But things change when that gate swings."
$531,250 Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Colt Pace
1 – Dealt A Winner - Yannick Gingras - 20-1
2 – Penji Hanover - Jody Jamieson - 20-1
3 – Wakizashi Hanover - Tim Tetrick - 5-2
4 – Freaky Feet Pete - Trace Tetrick - 9-5
5 – Artspeak - Scott Zeron - 3-1
6 – Dudes The Man - Corey Callahan - 20-1
7 – Lost For Words - David Miller - 6-1
8 – Reverend Hanover - Chris Christoforou - 10-1
9 – In The Arsenal - Brian Sears - 15-1
10 – Artistic Major - Matt Kakaley - 20-1
As a fan on Saturday night, Rheinheimer is most looking forward to watching the showdown between Indiana-bred Always B Miki and Foiled Again in the Open Pace. But don't expect him to throw his hat into that fray if the opportunity presents itself. The Meadowlands will invite the winner of the 2015 Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Colt Pace to race against the older horses in the TVG Free-For-All Final next month. If Freaky Feet Pete does win the Breeders Crown, Rheinheimer will decline the invitation even though he feels his colt would hold his own against the older pacers.
"I think he'd race OK; I've raced the same night in Sires Stakes races with the Grand Circuit horses in there, and he's went faster than they have," noted Rheinheimer. "But I'm pretty firm on shutting him down after the American National; I wouldn't do that to him this year....he might have been faster than some of them but it's a different type of racing with the older horses."
For the first time in three years, Woodbine Racetrack will again host the Breeders Crown, harness racing’s most spectacular evening, when 12 championship finals, offering more than $6 million in purse money. It’s the richest day of horse racing in Canada as North America’s best two-year-olds, three-year-olds and older pacers and trotters will be in the spotlight seeking to claim divisional and possibly Harness Horse of the Year honours. TSN2 will air a special one hour telecast across Canada from 9:00 – 10:00 p.m. and will televise two of the 12 Crown finals live, the $500,000 Three-Year-Old Colt Trot at 9:19 p.m. and the $531,250 Three-Year-Old Colt Pace at 9:44 p.m. ET.
Among the marketing activities on Breeders Crown night are WEG’s First Bet On Us $2 voucher and a free toque (while supplies last), available on the 3rd Floor; $10,000 in Instant Cash Giveaways (wager through a self-serve wagering terminal at Woodbine for 100 chances to win $100) and a mandatory Jackpot Hi 5 payout on Race 13 (the carryover pool is currently at $557,000) scheduled for 11:27 p.m.
In addition, there will be two $100,000 Guaranteed Pick 4’s, Early (Races 4-7) and Late (Races 8-11).
To view the entries for the Breeders Crown card, and for past performances for the Breeders Crown entrants courtesy TrackIT, click one of the following links:
2015 Breeders Crown Finals:
