Oscarsson
may have found the perfect storm in Aperfectyankee, currently ranked third on
the Road to the Hambletonian top ten list.
The
son of Yankee Glide became last year’s fastest freshman trotter when he rallied
to a 4-1 upset in the $387,250 Peter Haughton Memorial in 1:54.1.
There
have been only two Peter Haughton Memorial winners to come back to win the
Hambletonian, and they were both voted Horse of the Year, Donato Hanover [2008]
and Muscle Hill [2009].
Hence,
Aperfectyankee has some big shoes to fill.
For
the many who witnessed the feat on Hambletonian Day, Aperfectyankee’s Haughton
victory touched off a rousing winner’s circle celebration by the 52-year-old
from Umea, Sweden and his associates.
“It
was extra nice to win that race being the first year we’ve raced here in the
US,” recalled Oscarsson. “I mean, to train him and drive him to victory
in it on Hambletonian Day was just tremendous. Back home in Sweden we
also drive our horses, and I’m going to continue to drive this colt. Of
course, after that win, since he proved to be such a good horse, I started to
think about the Hambletonian.”
Compared
to the competition, Aperfectyankee had a light two-year-old season with only
seven starts. The $55,000 Lexington-Selected Sale yearling had three
wins, a second and a third, and earnings of $310,035. In addition to the
Haughton, he won a $29,422 division of the Tompkins Geers at Tioga Downs in
1:56.4 and a $112,508 division of Pennsylvania Sires Stakes at Pocono Downs in
1:55.
“When he
went to Canada he didn’t feel too well after he finished second to Wheeling N
Dealin in the Champlain,” explained Oscarsson. “I gave him one more start
[in a William Wellwood Memorial elimination on September 7], then we scoped him
after he finished sixth [as the beaten favorite] and he got sick.”
Over
the winter, Aperfectyankee has made a smooth transition from age two to three,
and has matured into a young stallion.
“He
hasn’t grown so much from last year, but he’s more of a horse,” noted
Oscarsson. “He’s more ‘studdy’ now. His best qualities are his
ability to leave the gait with speed and be close to the front.”
After
two strong qualifiers at the Meadowlands, Aperfectyankee made a triumphant
seasonal debut in a $48,779 division of Pennsylvania Sires Stakes at The Meadows
on May 24 in 1:57.2.
“In
his first start this year, I just wanted him to race the last quarter, to come
home good, but I was a little worried because of a slow half of 1:00.3,” said
Oscarsson. “However, went I tipped him out he finished strong and he was
very good that day. His division wasn’t fast, but that doesn’t
matter. It was a perfect first race of the season for him. He had
trained well before that race, and I’m very happy with him so far.”
“We
have drawn the rail in the second leg of sires stakes on Sunday [June 16], so
everything is going well at this moment. He has the Earl Beal, Jr.
Memorial after that, followed by another sires stakes and then the
Hambletonian.
“I’m
not really concerned about racing heats. I don’t think it’s going to
affect him. When I train him I go two or three trips and it doesn’t
bother him.
“I moved
from Sweden because of the cold winters, and I’m based in Vero Beach, Florida
where I rent a training center. Right now, I have 24 horses at Sterling
Chase Farm in Jobstown, NJ for the summer.
“I’ve
got a couple of nice two-year-olds training well for this year’s Peter Haughton
Memorial, but it’s really too early to tell.
“Yes,
I’m dreaming of the Hambletonian. It’s why I’m here.”
