Panifesto - Open Trot
roan gelding, 4, by Rule The Wind
Owner
R. Peter Heffering
In the 1988 Hambletonian, a son of Speedy Crown named Rule The Wind finished third to the star of the day, Armbro Goal. Those watching wisely archived in their memory the tremendous effort by Rule The Wind, a colt trainer Jerry Silverman had high hopes for despite some glaring confirmation flaws that included a missing shoulder muscle. Rule The Wind’s career was not particularly distinguished - he never actually won a race as a three-year-old and pocketed just close to $200,000 in earnings. However, he was royally bred and so on the strength of his brothers and sisters, was kept at stud in New Jersey by his owners. He attracted some attention from those regional breeders hoping to get a sire stake performer but could not compete in a state loaded with trotting stallion talent and eventually was exported to Holland.
In the $300,000 1995 Breeders Crown Trot, a gelded son of Rule The Wind would seize the spotlight his sire never enjoyed and vindicate the seven-year-old Hambletonian memory of a poor-gaited trotter with extraordinary heart.
David Wade’s homebred SJ’s Photo was to supposed to win the event, held for the first time at the Delaware County Fair. The richest Marylandbred ever had comported himself well on an extended European tour, and upon his return, SJ’s Photo won the Nat Ray on Hambletonian Day in a lifetime best 1:53, and finished second in the Yonkers International. He was understandably the favorite.
No less than 10 trotters entered the event, their lifetime purse earnings totaling more than $3.7 million. Impeccable Image, with an impeccable reputation for winning races, drew the rail and SJ’s Photo the two post, an advantage on the half-mile track that tipped post time odds in their favor.
Trainer | Driver
Bill Robinson | Luc Ouellette
Lurking in the midst of the field was a roan gelding named Panifesto. Originally named Colt’s Gait Vernal, Panifesto fetched a yearling price of $7,000 in 1992. Two years later he was back in the sale ring and brought just $4,700. Four months later he changed hands again, this time landing in the possession of R. Peter Heffering, whose six short years in the business has resulted in both exceptional performers and victories in many of the sport’s richest and most prestigious events. Despite barns chock full of stakes colts and fillies of both gaits, Heffering had never won a Breeders Crown title.
Like an undetected gold nugget in a pan of dross, Panifesto slipped from owner to owner, from trainer to trainer. Once in the Bill Robinson stable, under the auspices of trainer Monte Gelrod, Panifesto blossomed. His third place finish in the Yonkers International Trot behind SJ’s Photo validated his entry in the Breeders Crown, and post four with driver Luc Ouellette gave him an advantage to those familiar with the up and coming young driver. Ouellette’s red and white colors are similar to those of his uncle, Hall of Famer Mike Lachance. His training ground was the same too, with Ouellette dominating the driver standings at Yonkers Raceway as Lachance once did. Accordingly, Ouellette excels at the half-mile track strategy.
When Doug Brown sent Impeccable Image soaring through a :27.3 first quarter, Panifesto was snug on the rail third. SJ’s Photo had eliminated himself from the race by galloping at the quarter pole. The pride of Ohio, Golly Too, driven by Jeff Fout was left stranded on the outside, and when the pair started to fade past the half in :56.1, Ouellette slipped Panifesto free and took a bead on Impeccable Image. The two raced as a pair around the turn, and the short stretch intensified their duel. The opportunistic John Campbell, tried to squeeze Fax Machine through on the rail and the horse skipped offstride in the tight quarters, but the three trotters finished across the wire and needed a photo to declare Panifesto the winner by a head. Fax Machine was put back to fourth and owner Russell Bax saw his younger brother John’s horse, Goodtimes, placed in third instead.
Panifesto’s time of 1:56.1 was a half-mile track world record for trotting geldings, and gave Luc Ouellette his first Crown driver trophy. Heffering would take home the crystal owner’s trophy for the first time. Happiest may have been Howard Schoor, breeder of Panifesto and co-owner of Rule The Wind when he stood at Colt’s Gait Farm. His royal blood came through when needed.
Purse $300,000
Delaware County Fair, Delaware, OH - September 20, 1995
Extras
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