Friskie blows in from north

While many of the pacing colts in the $500,000 New Jersey Classic spent the winter in climes like southern Florida and Pinehurst, N.C., Feelin Friskie, who won the $25,000 prep on May 20 in a new mark of 1:51.1, was in Dartmouth. Not the Ivy League college in New Hampshire, but Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

"He spent the winter here at our farm track in Dartmouth," said owner-trainer Wayne Whebby. "We had a good winter here, hardly any snow, and I'd say we are three weeks to a month ahead of where we usually are. He didn't leave here until April and it's an 18-hour ship. He stopped in Woodstock, New Brunswick and also at Ron Cushing's farm, about seven miles east of Rockingham Park, and from there it was just about 5 ½ hours."

Whebby is the son of the late Eric Whebby, a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and owner of Quick Baron, the first horse to win a race at the Meadowlands in 1976. The family also owns a large construction company, working on bridges, roads and other heavy construction projects, though Wayne Whebby is able to concentrate on the horses.

"My sons (ages 34 and 27) look after the business and I'm able to train the horses," Whebby said. "We have a farm track here in Dartmouth and Robert Laffin helps me, too."

Feelin Friskie (Artiscape – Nadia’s Sister) was a $22,000 yearling purchase from the Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg for Whebby. "I bought him out of the Perretti Farm consignment, he was just a good looking individual with solid conformation … and he fit my price range."

The colt had a successful season in New Jersey as a 2 year old, winning two sire stakes legs and the Battle of Freehold, but had a minor physical problem in eliminations for the Lou Babic Stake, another Jersey-bred race.

"His feet were stinging him in the Lou Babic elimination," Whebby said. "There were six in there and we finished sixth. They're fine now, knock on wood. We have a good cushion on the farm track. He's a very manageable colt, you can leave with him or take him back and he's got high speed, that's his best asset."

Whebby will make the trip to New Jersey for the $500,000 race, which would be the largest purse ever won by a Whebby Stable horse. The horse is being cared for in New Jersey by trainer Scott Bell, who is a native of Prince Edward Island.

"We've been in this race before but never won it," Whebby said. "Oh yes, this would definitely be the biggest race we ever won. We won the Gaines at Vernon Downs in 1986, but that was about $185,000."

Another owner looking for a big payday is Jim Rogers, who has Pure Ego Hanover in the Classic. Pure Ego Hanover has only made six lifetime starts and is yet to hit the board, but he has shown improvement in his two races this year.

"Unfortunately, we didn’t get to race him in easier company," said Rogers, who owns a car wash in his home state of New Hampshire. "I think that for where he is as far as development, he’s making a very good account of himself. He’s been a nice colt and he has the ability. He gave me enough encouragement to put up the entry fee, anyway. Of course, the jury is still out. He’s got a ways to go to prove he’s a decent racehorse. These other horses have been there. We’ll see what happens [Saturday]."

Rogers, who has owned horses for three decades, bought Pure Ego Hanover (Cam’s Card Shark – Publication) for $18,000 at the New Jersey Classic Sale in 2004. In addition to the Classic, he is eligible to the Reynolds, Holmes, Dancer and Matron.

"He’s proud of himself; I think he was well named," Rogers said. "My feeling is that if he stays sound and every week he gets a little better, I’ll be very happy. That’s the way you have to approach this game. Meanwhile, it’s a lot of fun. I feel very fortunate to have a colt with this type of speed and soundness and ability. It’s not like he’s got to go far to be one of the best colts around. As an owner, you’d like to think he’s going to improve a little each week. That’s all I can ask of him."

In addition to Feelin Friskie and Pure Ego Hanover, the Classic field includes Woodrow Wilson winner Western Ace, Metro runner-up Palone Ranger and Governor’s Cup runner-up Artstanding.

Below is the field in alphabetical order for Saturday's $500,000 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic final at the Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey. Listed drivers and trainers are from most recent races.

Horse
2006 Record
Driver
Trainer
Owner(s) or Lessees

Armbro Deuce
9-0-4-2 $28,300 Q1:58.2S
Y. Gingras
B. Burgess
R. Burgess, K. Olsson-Burgess, N. Cooper

Artstanding
2-0-0-1 $4,614 N/A
M. Lachance
T. Fanning
J. Switlyk, B. Gorney

Feelin Friskie
2-1-1-0 $22,112 1:51.1M
J. Campbell
S. Bell
W. Whebby

Manhardt
5-0-1-0 $3,125 N/A
C. Manzi
L. Rathbone
M And L of Delaware

Michelles Gemstone
5-1-1-2 $15,417 1:51.4M
B. Sears
E. Hart
J. Snyder

Palone Ranger
2-0-2-0 $15,712 Q1:52.1M
D. Miller
C. Ryder
Four Friends Racing, Perretti Racing

Pure Ego Hanover
2-0-0-0 $4,278 Q1:58.0M
A. Miller
A. Unger
J. Rogers

Western Ace
1-0-0-0 $2,000 Q1:54.4F
R. Pierce
G. Teague Jr.
Teague Inc., Kovach Stables

(HRC)

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