But when the 10 horses go behind the gate for Saturday’s $600,000
event for 3-year-old pacers at the Meadowlands Racetrack, it will not be one of
those instances.
That’s because Kim Foley is the caretaker of Heston Blue Chip,
another of the top contenders for Pace glory.
“She’s going to say it diplomatically, but she really wants to
beat her father,” said a laughing Linda Toscano, the trainer of Heston Blue
Chip. “And I support that decision.”
Kim Foley laughed at Toscano’s proclamation, but agreed.
“Sorry, dad,” she said, smiling.
Not that Pete Foley would expect it to be any other way. After he
watched Bolt The Duer finish fourth to Heston Blue Chip in their Meadowlands
Pace elimination race last Saturday, beaten by one length after being blocked by
traffic in the stretch, he gave his daughter a friendly jibe.
“I told her it was lucky we couldn’t squeeze through there or she
would’ve been second,” Pete Foley said, laughing. “That’s racing.
“It should be fun,” he added about the final. “We’re looking
forward to it.”
Bolt The Duer, owned by All Star Racing, has won eight of 13
career races and earned $387,401. He has won two of five starts this season and
was second in both the Art Rooney Pace and Max Hempt Memorial. The horse is
named after Carter Duer, the proprietor of Peninsula Farms, which produced the
colt.
“We’re just realizing how good my horse is,” Pete Foley said. “I
think he’s as good as any horse in the country. We just need a little racing
luck and I think he’s as good as anything out there.”
Bolt The Duer, who was last year’s Kentucky Sire Stakes champion,
can be a handful away from the races, but is a professional on the track.
“He’s a hell of a hard horse to handle,” Foley said. “I stopped
going to the gym because I walk him every day and he gives me a workout just
walking him. It’s like walking a lion.
“But on the track he’s a perfect horse. He can leave and still
finish full of pace. There’s not too many that can do that. That’s a big
advantage.”
Heston Blue Chip has won 16 of 18 career races, earning $548,043,
and is 5-for-5 this year for owner Ken Jacobs.
Kim Foley, who has worked for Toscano for three years, gave the
colt the nickname “Moses” last year in reference to actor Charlton Heston.
“Every Easter my family would get together and watch ‘The Ten
Commandments’ and I always say ‘Let my people go.’ Moses just stuck,” she said.
“I have a friend with a new dog named Ramses, so it all works together.”
Getting the chance to participate in the Meadowlands Pace is a
thrill. Seeing it become a family affair makes it even more so, even if the
family is divided over which horse to support.
“Not even in a million years did I think we would be in a race
together like this, going for the Meadowlands Pace title,” Kim Foley said.
“It’s just unreal. I’m so excited.”
2012 Meadowlands Pace - Saturday, July 14 - Race
11
Probable Post: 10:15 p.m.PP Horse Driver Trainer Odds
1 A Rocknroll Dance Yannick Gingras Jim Mulinix 4-1
2 Pet Rock Brian Sears Virgil Morgan Jr. 12-1
3 Heston Blue Chip Tim Tetrick Linda Toscano 7-2
4 Sweet Lou Dave Palone Ron Burke 5-2
5 Bolt The Duer Mark MacDonald Peter Foley 6-1
6 Simply Business Ron Pierce Jimmy Takter 15-1
7 Thinking Out Loud Randy Waples Robert McIntosh 5-1
8 State Treasurer David Miller Ian Moore 20-1
9 Time To Roll Andy Miller Jimmy Takter 12-1
10 Allstar Legend Jim Morrill Jr. George Teague Jr. 20-1
