Chuck Sylvester isn’t sure how many wins he might get out of his three-year-old filly trotter, but he’s pretty certain she has the ability to turn a profit.
The renowned trainer should have a pretty good feel for Southwind Moni, since he also trained her mother, Miss Goal.
“This mare is a very good mare,” Sylvester said. “I think no matter what race she’s in if she gets a trip she’ll get a cheque. She’s well mannered, behaves herself.
“She won’t be one of the favourites, but they’ll know at the end of year she was there and she’ll make money. You like any horse that will make money.”
Southwind Moni sounds a little like mom, who won four of 17 races in her career and earned $190,777. Miss Goal was a bridesmaid to some beautiful brides in her day, finishing second in the 1996 Hambletonian Oaks to future two-time U.S. Horse of the Year Moni Maker, and finishing second in the 1996 American National to Continentalvictory, who was that season’s U.S. Horse of the Year.
Sylvester said his purchase of Southwind Moni, who went for $30,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale, was influenced by having Miss Goal.
“She’s a nice, big, good looking mare,” he said. “Her conformation was very good, her mother was a nice mare, and I thought the price was right. You take everything into consideration and the price was good.
“It definitely helps when you have the mother and you know her quirks and the things they like to do and what they can’t do. That kind of influences you when you look at the babies: Do they look like the mother? Do they have the same attitudes?”
A big difference between the two is that while Miss Goal was able to race from the front or behind, Southwind Moni is a little picky about where she trots.
“I think this mare possibly is gonna be better,” Sylvester said. “Last year we found out if we put her on the front end she didn’t like that very well. This year we’re willing to race her from behind more, but we’re still not sure if she’s able to race with the big boys.”
Sylvester owns Southwind Moni with Neal Goldman, Melvin Hartman and Rodney Andrews.
Southwind Moni made an impression last year, winning the American National Stakes and finishing second by a head to Maven in a division of the Bluegrass Stakes. This past Sunday, she won a division of the Historic-Coaching Club Oaks with driver David Miller for her first victory in three 2012 starts.
“That was a nice race,” Sylvester said. “He pulled her. He went the first quarter real slow, got away in the two-hole and went back in front. That’s not her best run being in front like that. From now on she’ll be in stiffer competition so we’ll see what happens.”
Sylvester plans on racing Southwind Moni in the Hudson Filly Trot and will go from there. Eliminations, if necessary, will take place on June 30 at Yonkers Raceway and the final is schedule for July 7.
The fact Southwind Moni has just one win this year isn’t surprising, as horses usually take four to five starts to get tight under Sylvester’s training style.
As for her personality, the trainer said, “She’s a little crabby around the barn; you kind of want that with mares. She wants her own way around the barn, she gets turned out. But her manners are very good on the track.”
And in the coming weeks, Sylvester will discover her talent level.
“We’re still a little unknown,” he said. “After two more starts we’ll know where she can go. She only went [1]:55 and a piece the other day, the best ones are going [1]:52.”
Having trained four Hambletonian winners, Sylvester was asked if it’s sometimes nice having less pressure with a horse that doesn’t have great expectations, but can still make some noise.
“It’s nice, but I’d rather have the great ones,” he said with a laugh. “I’d rather have the pressure.”
But he’ll have no complaints with Southwind Moni if she keeps making money.
This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.