Field set for Hempt Pace

May 16, 2007

Rusty�s For Real and Takeshigemichi, who established identical track records with 1:50 times in Max C. Hempt Memorial Pace elimination races last week, have drawn outside posts for the $301,032 final on Saturday at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

Trained by Robert Myers and driven by Tim Tetrick, Rusty�s For Real will be leaving from post sevenwhile Takeshigemichi will fire from the six hole.

�He�s definitely for real,� said Tetrick in talking about the horse he�ll be driving in the Hempt finale. �My horse was well in hand in that elimination race. I really never had to get after him. Getting to the half in :54.3 was something I wasn�t looking for, but we took the lead and drew away at the end of the mile. My horse is good enough to compete and it�s going to be a very interesting race.�

Rusty�s For Real also left from post seven post in the elimination race.

Takeshigemichi, whom his connections call Steve, had post three in the elim. Like Tetrick, Daniel Dube hustled him to the front after the opening quarter and never looked back.

Both Rusty�s For Real and Takeshigemichi made their first starts of the 2007 season in those Hempt elimination races. Both were coming into the race off impressive qualifying victories.

Purchased at the Lexington Select Sale under the name of Best Bet Hanover for $80,000 by Berger�s Lightning Stable of Millstone, N.J., Takeshigemichi won four of 12 races in 2006.

�We were of the belief that Takeshigemichi in Japanese meant �Pathway to Prosperity,� said Jerry Glantz, who manages the Lightning Stable. �Later we learned it was connected to Hollywood movie star Steven Segal, who is a strong environmentalist."

Akido Master (Takeshigemichi) is an animal rights activist.

�Our trainer, Tony Mannino) has done a great job with Takeshigemichi,� offered Glantz. � The horse has really matured and gotten stronger. Last season, Takeshigemichi would run over horses if he had to sit in a hole. That�s all changed nowadays and we�re looking for a big effort from him on Saturday afternoon.�

�I have a good feeling about him,� said Dube in referring to Takeshigemichi. �We�ll just have to wait to see how the race unfolds.�

$3O1,032 Max Hempt Memorial Final

1--Mr. Aviator

2--Big Al�s Delight

3--Trueys Legacy

4--The Double Dion

5--Whats Up Now

6--Takeshigemichi

7--Rusty's For Real

8--Tivoli Hanover

9--Isaac Newton

The Hempt will be the ninth race on the 14-race card and the $301,032 will be the richest purse in the history of the racetrack. (Pocono Downs press release)

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