Windsong Stable News 2004
Balmoral Park Photo
Rotation Dominates the $215,000 American National
October 12 - Once again, Rotation (Balanced Image - Expressway Hanover) takes his place at the very top of the North Amercian trotting scene with a big and almost effortless 1:53.1 track record win for Trevor Ritchie in the $215,000 American National at Balmoral Park. Getting away from the gate in his usual leisurely fashion, Rotation was content to sit seventh until joining the outer flow by the 3/4 pole. Tipping four wide at the top of the stretch, Rotation quickly blew by all rivals, finishing a huge mile by an ever widening 4 length margin over Magician and Dream Lavec.
After the race, trainer Harald Lunde announced that Rotation has concluded his 4 year old racing season and will be shipped to Sweden to rest on his laurels. In 13 starts in 2003, Rotation was 6 - 4 - 0 with earnings of $935,503 - bringing his lifetime earnings to $1,101,995. Lunde anticipates Rotation will return to racing in Scandanavia early in 2004. Rotation will certainly be a major figure in the European racing scene next year!
World Champion Expressway Hanover 3, 1:55.2 ($339,606) (Prakas - Exclusive Way - Florican), the dam of Rotation, is owned by partners of Windsong Stable with Don Tortorice, Esq. Expressway Hanover foaled an S J's Caviar filly - her first filly, in a family noted for top race fillies - in 2003.
Rotation Proves Himself A World Class Trotter In The Maple Leaf Trot
September 15 - Rotation (Balanced Image - Expressway Hanover) won the C$851,500 Maple Leaf Trot in dominating fashion, overcoming Post 10 and a punishing outside trip to defeat H P Paque and Fool's Goal in a convincing 1:53.2.
Incredibly, after being parked three wide in the first turn and never seeing wood throughout the race that had soft fractions of 27.4, 57.1, and 1:26.2, Rotation put away Fool's Goal in midstretch before holding off H P Paque's late rush, and was timed in 26.4 in the last quarter. Driver Trevor Ritchie was quoted by the USTA, saying: "He (Rotation) put in an awesome performance. I cringed a little bit when I saw the (soft) fractions. Off those fractions, I really didn't think anyone could out-trot Fool's Goal, but he really kicked in strong down the stretch. It was just a great effort." Rotation has now increased his lifetime earnings to $951,095 for owners Norwegien Viking Stable, Toronto Maple Leafs star and captain Mats Sundin, Erikssund Forsaijning, and Hardy Nilsson, and for trainer Harald Lunde.
World Champion Expressway Hanover 3, 1:55.2 ($339,606) (Prakas - Exclusive Way - Florican), the dam of Rotation, is owned by partners of Windsong Stable with Don Tortorice, Esq. Expressway Hanover foaled an S J's Caviar filly - her first filly, in a family noted for top race fillies - in 2003.
Windsong's Legacy Wins $29,000 Kentucky Sire Stake Consolation
Windsong's Legacy (Conway Hall - Yankee Windsong) proved himself much the best in winning the $29,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes Consolation at the Red Mile on October 2, 2003 in 1:57.2 for trainer/driver Trond Smedshammer. Coming from Post 5 and being parked half the mile, Windsong's Legacy came from 4th to power past the field in a 28.1 last quarter to win by a full length over Justice Hall and Adams Hall. Now 5 - 1 - 0 - 3 and with earnings of $30,838, he is only just beginning his racing career.
Windsong's Legacy is the fourth and final colt of Yankee Windsong, the foundation mare of Windsong Stable. Her memory lives on with this colt. We'll watch him develop more in his three year old season for owner Ted Gewirtz - congratulations to all!
Quick Brush Pretty Quick For Paul Walker
Quick Brush, the Conway Hall final foal for Noreen Hanover (Super Bowl - Noble Image), has come forward to be a quick horse for owner-trainer Paul Walker in his 3 year old campaign. He has won 3 of his 4 lifetime starts (finishing second in the other), with a record of 1:56.1 at Woodbine in conditioned races. We'll look for even bigger and better from him as he gains experience.
Noreen Hanover is the dam of World Champion Nettie M 3, TT 1:57; 1:58.1f ($125,553) and multiple Stakes Winner Narkas 2, 2:01.3; 3, 1:59.3h ($119,349). Nettie M is the dam of Colonial Trot winner P J's Nabby 3, 1:58; 1:57 ($253,665) and is the dam of his full sister Quite A While, Hip 74 at the 2003 Harrisburg Standardbred Sale.
Rotation Dominates in $450,000 Nat Ray
Photo by Monica Thors
August 2 - Rotation (Balanced Image - Expressway Hanover - Prakas) continued his awesome four year old season with a convincing win over the top aged trotters in North America in the $450,000 Nat Ray at the Meadowlands. Earlier this year, Rotation took Scandanavia by storm in winning the King Gustav Trophy and finishing second in the Oslo Grand Prix. In today's $450,000 Nat Ray, Rotation made a tremendous rush from fifth for driver Trevor Ritchie three wide at the 3/4 pole to battle pacesetter Fool's Goal head-to-head down the stretch, prevailing in a new lifetime mark of 1:52.3. Rotation has now won $427,513 in North America this year, $594,005 in his North American career, and over $700,000 Internationally.
World Champion Expressway Hanover 3, 1:55.2 ($339,606) (Prakas - Exclusive Way - Florican), the dam of Rotation, is owned by partners of Windsong Stable with Don Tortorice, Esq. Expressway Hanover foaled an S J's Caviar filly - her first filly, in a family noted for top race fillies - in 2003.
2003 Early Season's Leader and Multiple Stakes Winner Budlightning
September 16 - Budlightning 2, 2:00.1f (Sierra Kosmos - Photogenic C) was the early 2003 Season's Leading 2 yo trotting gelding, taking his record at the Meadows. After a second place finish in the $22,734 Pa. All Stars in 2:01.2f on JUly 23, and he easily won his division of the $15,407 Arden Stakes wire-to-wire in 2:01.1f at the Meadows on August 7. On August 23, he was third in the $34,274 PASS at Pocono, timed in 1:59.2f. On September 16, Budlightning won his division of the $26,801 Standardbred Stakes at the Delaware County Fair in 2:03.4h. for owners Gail Nigro, and Troy and Rebekah McDougal. 8 - 3 - 2 - 1 this year, his seasonal earnings are $33,724.
Photogenic C 3, 2:00.3f; 1:57.1 ($242,829) (Photomaker - Fleuretta - Jurgy Hanover), the very tough Maryland racemare owned by Windsong Stable, is the 2003 dam of PBK Photowinner, a bay colt by Credit Winner. PBK Photowinner is being raised at Parks' Breezy Knoll in Lowville, NY.
Polyester Hanover Wins Flamboro Breeder's Stake
June 22 - Polyester Hanover continues to collect Stakes wins, with a victory in her division of the Flamboro Breeder Stake in 2:01.1h at Flamboro Downs tonight. Starting from Post 2, Polyester Hanover was positioned 3rd by two lengths at the top of the stretch before drawing away for driver Mike Saftic to win by a comfortable two lengths over Taffeta Seelster.
Polyester Hanover Stars In Currier & Ives
May 24 - Polyester Hanover recaptured her 2002 form by winning her elimination of the Currier & Ives 3 year old filly trot at the Meadows in a lifetime mark of 1:58f with Mike Wilder driving, defeating Fast Lane K and Muscle Therapy. In the May 23 Final with Dick Stillings in the bike, Polyester Hanover was just beaten by a head in 1:59.3f by Allspice Hanover after a big inside move down the famous Lightning Lane. Polyester Hanover earned $17,804 for her owners in the two races, and will be going to Canada in two weeks for the Colonial.
