Lohmeyer looking for first Crown win with Classic Lane

August 20, 2009

There is a classic line about how things are sometimes not what they appear to be. The same could be said of Classic Lane.

Some might have speculated that when Ed Lohmeyer bid $155,000 on a 3-year-old filly at last fall�s Harrisburg mixed sale that owners Robert and Lauren Tucker were looking for a potential broodmare. Classic Lane is such a prospect, a Lindy Lane mare out of a Super Bowl dam. They would have been wrong.

�I was looking for a horse to race,� Lohmeyer said Thursday as he prepared Classic Lane for her appearance Saturday night in the $250,000 Breeders Crown Open Mare Trot at he Meadowlands.

�We looked at a lot of 3 year olds, looking for a solid mare that we could race successfully,� Lohmeyer continued. �What I saw in her was a horse that had been able to get around the half-mile (a 1:55.3 victory in the Buckette at Delaware, Ohio) as well as setting her mark on a five-eighths (a 1:54.4 win in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes) at Pocono. She proved as a 3 year old she could get around the track at Chester and would be versatile enough to race on any sized race track.�

The preparation and decision has paid off handsomely for the Tuckers and Lohmeyer. Classic Lane has already doubled her lifetime earnings in 2009, has been first or second in 10 of her 14 starts, and banked more than $325,000.

"She has been great all year long,� Lohmeyer, 65, said from his barn at Gaitway Farms. �She was tremendous is June (wins in both the Mohawk leg and $314,000 final of the Classic Distaff at Mohawk and the $100,000 Matchmaker at the Meadowlands). But she has been really good all year. The only time she didn�t get a check in a big race was the final of the Armbro Flight when she sat behind Buck I St. Pat, who just wasn�t herself that night. The rest of the time she has been at her best in the big races.�

Lohmeyer said fans should not be concerned about the mare�s seventh-place effort in her Breeders Crown elimination last week.

�She drew the 10 and we just wanted her to qualify for the final,� Lohmeyer said. �She came out of the race well and trained solid earlier in the week.�

Lohmeyer said that while Classic Lane has a bunch of small physical problems, there have been no serious issues in her schedule.

�We don�t race her every week and we stay on top of her aches and pains,� Lohmeyer said. �In fact, she was off nearly two weeks before the Breeders Crown elimination. I train her between starts and she gets plenty of paddock time in between.�

Going off as the 9-2 third choice Saturday night behind division leader Buck I St. Pat and Norwegian invader Maid For Tag, Lohmeyer is confident about his mare's chances.

�She likes to roll,� said Lohmeyer, whose wife is noted equine surgeon Dr. Patty Hogan. �She is a big long-gaited thing who wants to get out there and race. That is her style. As long as she can get good early position, I�m confident. Mike (driver Mike Lachance) gets along with her very well and I�m sure he�ll get after her. Maid For Tag was impressive last week, but I think she has a good chance.�

Her victory in the $100,000 Matchmaker also earned her free breeding to a Perretti Farms stallion. That future date is on hold.

�As long as she stays sound and competitive, I hope she will be able to race for at least two more years,� Lohmeyer said. �She is averaging about $30,000 in earnings every time she races. She has already proved as a 4 year old that she can compete against the older mares. I think she will be even better next year with the right schedule.

�She�s a big solid thing that is going to be a great broodmare,� Lohmeyer concluded. �But not yet.�

Lohmeyer is seeking his first Crown trophy. He�s started eight horses in the series for more than $200,000 in purses. Lohmeyer had a pair of favorites in the Open events in 1998 at the Meadowlands, but saw Pacific Fella finish third behind Red Bow Tie and Dream Away while Western Azure was also third behind Jay�s Table and Jules Jodoin. (Breeders Crown)

« Back