When it comes to finding needles in a haystack, Melvin Segal does a pretty good job.
Segal, who purchased reigning U.S. Horse of the Year Test Of Faith as a yearling in 2019, now is enjoying success with another female pacer in the form of Earthwindfire. She has finished no worse than second in seven of eight lifetime starts, winning five, and brings a three-race victory streak to Thursday’s (Nov. 3) $156,500 Matron Stakes for two-year-old fillies at Bally’s Dover.
Earthwindfire’s most recent triumph came in the New Jersey Sire Stakes Standardbred Development Fund final at Freehold Raceway, where she scorched the half-mile oval in a track-record 1:53.4. She won by nearly 11 lengths as she lowered the previous mark of 1:54.3 set by Darlins Delight in 2005 and equaled by I Kill Time and Podium Girl.
Two starts earlier, Earthwindfire won the Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stakes at Harrah’s Hoosier Park by 5-1/2 lengths in 1:51.3. Her time equaled the second-fastest mile in the event’s history. The horses she tied were two notable Dan Patch Award winners, Warrawee Ubeaut and Segal’s own Test Of Faith.
“It’s hard to believe we could have the excitement with Test Of Faith and come back with an Earthwindfire,” Segal said. “Trying to find them is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
“I don’t need a Test Of Faith every year, because I know one thing, they aren’t coming. I’ll take [horses like] Earthwindfire all day. I don’t think I’ll find another Earthwindfire, especially for a hundred thousand. We’ve been very blessed.”
Earthwindfire, who like Test Of Faith is trained by Brett Pelling, was purchased for $100,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. She is a daughter of American Ideal-Road Bet and a half-sister to millionaire stallion Cattlewash and Dan Patch Award-winning filly Niki Hill.
“I was following Niki Hill and just loved the family,” said Segal, who owns Earthwindfire with Test Of Faith partner Kentuckiana Racing Stable and Tulip Racing. “I loved her, and Brett approved her. He liked her very much. I was willing to go a lot, lot more on her.”
Earthwindfire began her career with two wins and a second in four preliminary legs of the New York Sire Stakes and finished second to Twin B Joe Fresh in the final.
She rebounded with her victory in the Kentuckiana and followed up with a win in the opening round of the NJSS Standardbred Development Fund and then her tour de force with driver Jack Pelling in the final when she was parked for more than a half-mile while battling for the lead.
“I thought she was done at the half,” Segal said. “I thought she would be going backwards somewhere. But she got stronger and stronger. I was in shock. She can take a lot of air and she wants to win.
“Brett liked her from day one. He’s done a heck of a job with her.”
Earthwindfire, who has earned $268,075 this season, is the 8-5 morning-line favourite in Thursday’s Matron, where she will start from post five with Tim Tetrick in the sulky. Vivians Dream, a six-time winner in the New York Sire Stakes and runner-up in a division of the Bluegrass, is the 9-5 second choice.
The Matron Stakes for two-year-old filly pacers is one of four Matrons for the freshmen on Thursday. Quick Stop, a winner on the Grand Circuit and second in her most recent start in a division of the International Stallion Stakes, is the 8-5 favourite in the filly trot while Grand Circuit winner Ervin Hanover is the 2-1 favourite in the colt and gelding pace.
A four-horse field will compete in the colt and gelding trot, which will be held as a non-betting event at 4:10 p.m. (EDT) prior to the start of the main card at 4:30 p.m.
(USTA)