Will One Through Ten bring out the Hirt broom?

Trainer Richard "Nifty” Norman was familiar with One Through Ten before the 4-year-old male pacer arrived in his barn for the Clyde Hirt series at Meadowlands Racetrack. Norman was the underbidder on the horse when One Through Ten sold as a yearling for $100,000 in 2010.

 

"I kind of knew the horse a little bit; I always liked him,” Norman said. "I'd followed him. I knew he was a good, fast horse. I hadn't been around him, though, and he's nicer even than I thought. It's worked out good.”

 

One Through Ten is unbeaten in three races this year, including two starts in the Clyde Hirt series, which is for 4-year-old male pacers. The $67,400 final is Saturday night as part of a Big M card that includes the $103,500 Presidential for older pacers--headlined by Golden Receiver--and the $51,000 Super Bowl for 4-year-old trotters.

 

Last week, One Through Ten won his second-round Clyde Hirt division by a neck over Mr Dennis in 1:50.3 thanks to a sustained first-over drive with David Miller. In his opening-round division, One Through Ten won by a neck over Ethan Hanover in 1:52.2 over a track labeled "sloppy."

 

"He's a nice horse; really nice,” Norman said. "We've been really happy with him. We changed a little bit of rigging on him, not too much, and he's very sound and has got a good attitude. David drove him before and said he used to be a little unsettled; he could be a little grabby. He said now he's really relaxed and you can drive him anyway you want. He's good on the front, he's good from behind; he seems more versatile.”

 

One Through Ten is a son of sire Four Starzzz Shark out of the stakes-winning mare Gothic Lady, who is a full sister to $3 million earner Artsplace. One Through Ten was purchased originally by Jimmy Takter, under the name Allstar Man, at the Lexington Selected Sale and since Sept. 14 has been owned by W.J. Donovan, Jim Winske, Milton Leeman and Stephen Michaels.

 

For his career, One Through Ten has won five of 28 starts and earned $154,367. He has eight second-place finishes, including in last year's Spring Survivor Series final at the Meadowlands.

 

Since joining his new ownership group, One Through Ten was trained by Ohio's Jim Arledge Jr. before being sent to Norman's stable to race at the Meadowlands. Norman said he was uncertain of the plans for the horse following the Clyde Hirt series.

 

Other second-round Clyde Hirt winners last week were Ron Burke-trained Cee Pee Panic, who beat Screen The Call by a half-length in 1:50.3, and Scott DiDomenico-trained Holdingallthecards, who won by a half-length over Ethan Hanover in 1:50.3. Holdingallthecards also is three for three this season and has won 15 of 24 lifetime races.

 

Post positions for the Clyde Hirt final, as well as the Presidential and Super Bowl, will be drawn Wednesday.

 

"There are some good horses in there and they're probably going to race pretty hard,” Norman said about the Clyde Hirt final. "I just hope we're the last one to the top; something like that would be good. David has been driving him good. He doesn't mind coming first over and he's been real strong finishing. He's got a good shot.” (HRC)