A double-gaited brownie

In just her second start on the trot, Cinder Brownie became the second fastest Ohio-bred double-gaited horse ever, scoring in 2:02.1 to take the $3,000 third race at Northfield Tuesday for her owners Leo, Klear and Rodney Giesige.

"She always trained down on the trot, but even though she was fast, she made real bad breaks on the pace," according to trainer Karen Tkaczyk. "She wore a short hobble and sulked a lot. Jeff (Miller) was going to turn her out, but since she was always so good on the trot training down, we figured we would try her."

Now four, Cinder Brownie won a $20,000 Ohio Sire Stakes at two, pacing in 1:54.2 at Scioto Downs. A daughter of Nuclear Siren, from the Albatross mare Hilda Hylite, she has earned $24,368 on the pace. Her combined win time of 3:56.3 leaves her behind only Scootin Bill, a Tooter Scooter gelding who also paced in 1:54.2 at Scioto Downs (in 1998), but took a trotting mark of 1:59.2 over Hoosier Park's seven-eighths mile oval in 2000, at age seven.

If early indications are correct, Cinder Brownie may challenge that mark, and soon. "(Driver) Charlie (Wyers) said she could have trotted in 2:00 last night. We didn't put any borium on her," says Tkaczyk. "She likes tot trot but she is still learning. We really opened her up as a trotter...she only needs bell boots and hind wraps, but I put knee boots on her, too."

As young as she is, Cinder Brownie may well challenge for the title of fastets Ohio-bred double gaited horses before the year is over. (Northfield Park)

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