Another brilliant qualifier by Dealer who is set to debut at the Big M on Saturday night
By Barry Lichter • 2 March 2022
Excitement is high in the American Dealer camp in the countdown to his American debut at the Meadowlands on Saturday night.
Lincoln Farms’ former three-year-old star lines up for New Jersey trainer Linda Toscano in the ninth race and from four on the gate, co-owner Gordon Banks says he’s definitely a winning chance.
“It’s a tough field with quite a few free-for-all types but he was super impressive again in his second qualifier last week. (Race night driver) Scott Zeron couldn’t be there last week so Linda asked Corey Callahan to sit in and attack late and he closed full of pace in a 1:50.4 mile (three seconds faster than the previous week).”
From post three (he’s in green and yellow in the video which has no commentary) American Dealer sat fourth in the running and was not eased out until well into the home stretch, taking many lengths off the all-the-way winner Tattoo Artist, driven by champion Kiwi Dexter Dunn.
He finished only a couple of lengths behind the winner and expat Nandolo, clocking 54 for his last half and 26.8 for his last quarter, easily the fastest in the heat.
“Everyone was impressed because he was never asked,” said Banks who races the son of American Ideal with his cousin Marc Hanover.
American Dealer … proved a tough campaigner for Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.American Dealer’s time of 1:50.8 was the same as two race winners on the night, Saturday’s race rival Shvaiko and Trump Nation, and only one horse, American History ran faster, in 1:49.8.
“If the weather is good on Saturday night they might go under 1:50,” Banks said.
“It’s the second best class at the Big M with a purse of $US23,000 for horses who haven’t won more than US$20,500 in their last four starts.”
Among the Dealer’s rivals will be the ex Kiwis On The Cards (17 wins, 1:49.2), formerly trained by Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan, and Italian Delight, who won eight races for Tony Herlihy, another two in Australia, and now has a tally of 19, and a fastest time of 1:50.4.
Banks said American Dealer’s primary target remains the Borgata series which begins at Yonkers on March 21.
“There are 40 horses entered so the estimated purse for the final will be US$600,000.
“Tattoo Artist will be very hard to beat at Yonkers because he loves the front end but with the right trip I think Dealer can threaten.”
Tattoo Artist, by He’s Watching, was named Canada’s three-year-old colt of the year in 2021 and is the fastest horse ever at Yonkers with a 1:49.6 clocking last October. He has run 1:47.2 at the Meadowlands.
Zeron, 32, who will drive American Dealer on Saturday night, was the youngest driver to reach 2000 wins at 23 years of age and now with earnings of more than US$81 million is one of the top drivers at the Big M and Yonkers.
American Dealer faces some strong opposition on Saturday night.
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Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
