No Good Luck Charm Needed For Wishing Stone

You won't see Dewayne Minor avoiding cracks, closing the stable door a certain way or wearing the same outfit for five straight days this week. The owner/trainer of Wishing Stone has brought enough horses to the Hambletonian to realize that superstitions aren't going to help once the race starts. It's all about preparation, which has been the cornerstone of Minor's success.
"I really don't have any superstitions," Minor said from his base in Chesterfield, N.J. "Some people say you have to wear the same thing every day, do this, do that. It all boils down to being confident in the product you're presenting in that race. You have to make sure you've done everything possible to make sure everything is up to par on that day."

Minor speaks from his experience as he's had two other starters in the Hambletonian: Legendary Lover K in 2000 and Operation Lindy in 2007. Minor drove Legendary Lover K to a sixth-place finish, beaten only 2-3/4 lengths, in a final won by Yankee Paco. Operation Lindy failed to advance from his elimination.

Wishing Stone, who was third in his Hambletonian elimination won by Cassis in 1:52.4, is the latest success story for Minor, who is looking for a driver Saturday after John Campbell drove him in the eliminations. The diminutive Wishing Stone is winless in five starts this year, but was a multiple stakes winner last season.

"He raced great," Campbell said. "I thought after his last race that he was going into this in good shape. He kind of had a tough trip but I expected him to race well and he did."

Campbell is committed to Hambletonian finalist Lucky Chucky, however, so Minor hopes to get George Brennan.

"That's probably the best fit for him," Minor said. "I actually think if we get a halfway decent trip and are able to be close, it's going to be a very good race. There are some very competitive horses in there. It's just going to come down to who's the strongest and quickest at the end."

And preparation, of course.