The Tom Simmons Stable will unveil their highly regarded pacer Somestarsomewhere to Chicago circuit harness racing players Saturday night at Balmoral Park. The now 4-year-old was bought by Clinard Properties at January’s Meadowlands Sale for $90,000 and has the potential to get that tidy sum back and a whole lot more.
Somestarsomewhere’s first test in Illinois comes in a medium level conditioned pace where the former world record holder is listed as the 5-1 third choice from the 2-slot with driver Dale Hiteman.
Six days ago Hiteman steered Somstarsomewhere to an impressive 1:54.4 winning qualifier at Balmoral. The son of world champion Somebeachsomewhere was under wraps when he finished more than a half dozen lengths ahead in the 10-horse field.
“I thought he handled is qualifier pretty good,” said Simmons. “Before it he only had been in two-minutes for me a couple of times. He got parked to the half, so to go 54 and change at this time was pretty snappy for him.
“The horse feels like he has some ‘go’ to him,” continued the veteran Springfield, Illinois based horseman. “I trained him prior to his qualifier in 2:00, the last half in 57 on a half mile track and it was a morning with the temperature at zero and a minus zero wind chill factor. That’s pretty ‘sporty’ down here.”
Somestarsomewhere (pictured in USTA Photo) was originally a $110,000 yearling buy for the Ron Burke stable at the 2011 Harrisburg Sale. He went on to become first two-year-old colt pacer to go a sub 1:50 mile when he won his Breeders Crown elimination at Pocono Downs in 1:49.4. The youngster finished third in that $500,000 Final, beaten about one-length.
Two weeks previously in early October that year Somestarsomewhere captured a division of the International Stallion Track at The Red Mile in a track record time of 1:49.2.
“Dave (Clinard) wanted another good horse and hopefully he’ll have it in Somestarsomewhere,” said Simmons. “The horse could be a little short Saturday after the time off but I’m pretty excited about him. He’s a big good-looking horse. He’s a little bigger than Time To Roll.”
At the same 2013 sale Clinard took a $105,000 gamble on the pacer Time To Roll that has paid off handsomely under Simmon’s care. The pacer has already won 21 races for his Mount Sterling owner and most importantly has earned over $222,000.
When can we expect to see Time To Roll in action?
“I’m training him back and he should be ready to go in about 30 days,” replied Simmons.
A one-two punch of Time To Roll and Somestarsomewhere should ensure a fun summer of racing for the Simmons stable.
First Class Feature: Balmoral’s feature race is the eighth where Dandy Farm’s Firstclassallthway aims for his third consecutive victory in the “Winner’s Over” ranks. The 8-year-old gelding is the early 4-1 third choice with the outside 8-post for driver John De Long.
Firstclassallthway last two Saturday triumphs for trainer Jim Ellison have come with 1:50.1 and 1:51.3 miles. Another win Saturday night would be the Indiana bred pacer’s 40th of his career.
Iam Bonasera (p.p. 6, Travis Seekman) and Best Man Hanover (p.p.2, Todd Warren) are the early 5-2 and 3-1 favorites. Fort Silky (p.p. 5, Casey Leonard) returns after two weeks off and is listed at 9-2.
Looking to pull off an upset are It’s Rock N Roll (15-1, Kyle Wilfong), If I Lose (12-1, Bobby Smolin), Lennox Blue Chip (8-1, Ridge Warren) and Feel N Funk E (10-1, Tim Curtin).
Sweet Repeat: It was back-to-back double-digit Mike’s Price Shots coming through when Ready (John De Long) popped at $13.40 in Friday’s 11th race at Maywood Park. On Thursday night Cee Cee’s Delight delivered at $14.60.
By Mike Paradise