Try Try Again Takes $65,600 ONTSS - GE In New Track Record

August 13 - Try Try Again (Kadabra - Sweetspellosuccess) earned his second ONTSS - GE victory tonight at Rideau Carleton, ensuring his place in the big ONTSS - GF later this year. Getting away third from post 1 for driver Chris Christoforou, Try Try Again assumed the lead before the half and was never headed in a 1 ½ length victory in 1:54.4f. The time established a new Rideau Carleton track record for 3TC&G, eclipsing the previous mark established by the great Arch Madness. Try Try Again is now 9 - 6 - 2 - 0 with earnings of $96,489 (USD) for trainer/owner Dustin Jones. Additional media coverage can be found here.

Long Tom Captures $161,500 (div.) Stanley Dancer Memorial

July 15 - Long Tom (Muscle Hill - Ilia) confirmed his status as a top Hambletonian contender with a solid 1:52.4 victory in his $161,500 division of the Stanley Dancer Memorial Trot at the Meadowlands tonight. Leaving from Post 4 for driver Tim Tetrick, Long Tom settled in fourth through very modest fractions (28.1, 57, 1:25.4) from pacesetter What The Hill. With Long Tom apparently locked in along the rail, What The Hill drifted out just enough that Long Tom was able to squeeze through on the inside for a 1 ¼ length victory. Long Tom now is 12 - 7 - 2 - 1 with $339,200 lifetime earnings. Walner, Devious Man, and Long Tom now appear to be the top colt contenders for the $1,000,000 Hambletonian on August 5. Watch Long Tom's decisive win here.

Long Tom Defeats Ariana G, Is Second in $500,000 Beal Final

July 1 - Long Tom (Muscle Hill - Ilia) ruined Ariana G's attempt to beat the boys, but could not hold off a hard charging Devious Man in the $500,000 Earl Beal Memorial at Pocono Downs. From Post 1, Long Tom was third at the quarter before settling into the lead. Ariana G had a difficult trip from post 8, forced to race uncovered first over to engage Long Tom in a head to head battle lasting through the third quarter and into mid-stretch. Both could not deny a great inside rush by winner Devious Man and driver Andy Miller for the victory in 1:52.4. Long Tom finished second, with Ariana G third. Nevertheless, Long Tom picked up the biggest check of his career ($125,000) to increase his lifetime earnings to $258,450. Watch the race here.

Try Try Again Remains Undefeated With $68,000 (div) ONSS Gold Win

June 27 - Try Try Again (Kadabra - Sweetspellosuccess) remains undefeated with a victory in his most challenging start to date, a $68,000 Ontario Sire Stakes Gold division at Mohawk. Leaving from post 4 for driver Chris Christoforou, Try Try Again tucked fifth behind heavy favorite Mass Production. Following Mass Production's first over move on the backstretch, Try Try Again suddenly found himself with an open track in front of him when Mass Production broke stride and was taken outside. He then held off two challenges in the stretch from Parkhill Nonstop to win by a length in 1:55.3. Now with a perfect 5 for 5 record and $64,975 CAD in lifetime earnings, the small but mighty bay colt is rewarding trainer Dustin Jones' faith in his abilities. Jones noted that Try Try Again would probably remain in Canada to race, and with continued success might be considered for the Canadian Trotting Classic and the Simcoe later this year. Additional coverage including a video of the race can be found at Standardbred Canada here.

Long Tom Is Long Gone In $25,000 Earl Beal Memorial Elimination

June 24 - Long Tom (Muscle Hill - Ilia) dominated his $25,000 elimination for the $500,000 Earl Beal Memorial Trot, winning decisively by 6 ¼ lengths in 1:52.3f. Leaving from post 6, Long Tom got away three-wide third before making the top into a stiff headwind in a 55.3 half. After a determined outside charge by Rubio came to naught when he broke stride, Long Tom and driver Tim Tetrick found themselves 5 lengths ahead of the field by the top of the stretch. The outcome was never in doubt. Long Tom is now 3 for 3 this year with a lifetime record of 10 - 6 - 1 - 1 and lifetime earnings of $133,450 for owners AMG Stables of Finland. Watch Long Tom winning the race here. The Marcus Melander trainee drew post 1 for the big final this Saturday night, which includes the dominant filly Ariana G at post 8. Complete coverage of the Sun Stakes eliminations can be found here.

Try Try Again Wins $15,950 ONTSS-GR at Mohawk

June 6 - Try Try Again (Kadabra - Sweetspellosuccess) remains undefeated in his short three race career by taking the $15,950 ONTSS-GR at Mohawk tonight in 1:56.2. Driven by Chris Christoforou, Try Try Again left slowly from post 4, tucking sixth along the rail. After sitting sixth well past the half, Try Try Again appeared to have his work cut out for him to catch the leaders. By mid-stretch, Try Try Again collared the pacesetter to win well under wraps by 3 lengths in 1:56.2 on an off track for trainer Dustin Jones. Watch the race here.

Long Tom Crowned 2017 New Jersey Sire Stakes Champion

June 2 - Long Tom (Muscle Hill - Ilia) erased any doubts that he is a legitimate Hambletonian contender with a wire-to-wire victory in the $100,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Final tonight at the Meadowlands. Leaving from post 1 for driver Tim Tetrick, Long Tom protected the rail to emerge in front in a 27.4 first quarter. From there, Long Tom controlled the race completely until crossing the finish as a 1:52.2 winner by one length. Long Tom is now 9 - 5 - 1 - 1 with $120,950 in lifetime earnings for owners AMG Stable of Finland. Watch his commanding race performance here. A USTA article with photo about the NJSS Finals can be found here.

Long Tom Blasts The Opposition In 1:52.1 Season's Record in NJSS

May 19 - Long Tom (Muscle Hill - Ilia) was completely in charge in tonight's first $20,000 leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes at the Meadowlands. Leaving from Post 5 for driver Tim Tetrick, Long Tom quickly took the lead in a 27.1 first quarter before yielding temporarily to co-favorite Deacon Tony. Coming into the final turn, Long Tom went to the outside to take a lead which he never relinquished in a strong 2 length victory in 1:52.1, which is not only a new lifetime mark but also an early Season's Record. Long Tom is now 8 - 4 - 1 - 1 with lifetime earnings of $70,950 for owner AMG Stable Oy of Finland. Watch his commanding win here.

Stand Bayou Victorious in Vermo Klass 1 (Finland)

May 7 - Stand Bayou (Donato Hanover - Roux Hanover) has been a solid performer for prominent Swedish trainer Daniel Reden and owner Stall Zet. After an impressive win in the V64 at Bollinas (Sweden), Reden brought Stand Bayou to Finland to race in the Finland Ajo undercard. Racing in the Vermo Klass 1 (2100 m. voltstart), Stand Bayou was victorious in 1:12.8 kr for driver Orjan Kihlstrom. Stand Bayou is now 27 - 9 - 5 - 4 with lifetime earnings of 491,057 SEK.

Tight Lines Sweeps Entire SOA of NY Bonus Series With
Victory in $100,000 Final

April 25 - After winning all three divisional legs of the SOA of NY Bonus Series, Tight Lines (Yankee Glide - Ilia) braved the wind and the rain to a 3 length victory in the $100,000 Final tonight at Yonkers. After yielding briefly from Post 1 to an outside contender, Tight Lines was quickly back in the lead by the 1/4 pole for trainer/driver/owner Jeff Gregory. Victory was never in doubt, as Tight Lines is now 5-for-5 in 2017, raising his lifetime earnings to $212,556. Gregory said after the race that Tight Lines will be eligible to the Graduate Series and Hambletonian Maturity, and otherwise will be racing this year at Yonkers. Watch the race here. More complete coverage of his victory with photo can be found here.

Tight Lines Continues SOA of NY Bonus Series Dominance at Yonkers

April 18 - Tight Lines (Yankee Glide - Ilia) is now three for three in $25,000 legs (div.) of the SOA of NY Bonus Series at Yonkers. His last two wins on April 11 and 18 were basically wire-to-wire efforts in 1:56h from Posts 4 & 6. These wins give Tight Lines a 2017 record of four wins in four starts for the year, bringing his lifetime earnings to $162,556. He should be a major contender in the $100,000 Final, to be held on April 25.

Tight Lines Romps In First Leg of SOA of NY Bonus Series at Yonkers

April 4 - Tight Lines (Yankee Glide - Ilia) lived up to his pre-race hype with an easy wire-to-wire victory in 1:56.1 in the first and fastest $25,000 (div.) leg of the SOA of NY Bonus Series at Yonkers. Leaving quickly from Post 3 for driver/trainer Jeff Gregory, Tight Lines quickly assumed a lead which he held easily through fractions of 29.0, 59.1, and 1:28 before moving out to a 3 length victory. A Hambletonian elimination starter last year, Tight Lines increased his lifetime earnings to $137,556 with the victory for owners Jeff Gregory, Jesmeral Stable, and William Richardson. Tight Lines has overcome a number of setbacks early in his career, and was the subject of a USTA article that can be read here.