Mr Bedrock Taylor-Made to Succeed (06/20/10)

Posted Sunday June 20, 2010

                                                                    By Mike Paradise

  As the crop of ICF freshmen pacing hopefuls have begun taking their baby steps on the racetrack, some are already into their third career starts in $8,000 divisions of Sunday night’s Wicked Brew stake, while others are going to the starting gate for their very first pari-mutuel outing.

  Among the newcomers to racing under the lights Sunday is the Robert Taylor Stable’s Mr Bedrock whose Bartlett, Illinois owner Chris Mackowiak changed his name from Fox Valley Levi, when the colt was bought for $4,000 at the 2009 Walker Standardbred Sale, to the home town of the long-time animated sitcom heroes’ Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble (now that brings back memories).

  Mr Bedrock is a son of Richest Hanover out of the very successful Walker’s broodmare Lake Hills Leota and that makes him a full brother to the former successful Free For All pacer Fox Valley Gambler (1:49.4, $356,940).Mr. Bedrock had two winning qualifiers preparing for his debut, a 2:01.4 clocking on June 2 and a 1:59.2 front-end mile a week later. 

  However the colt did draw into first Wicked Brew split that appears to be the stronger of the two events. Among his competition Sunday is Bruce Pacitti’s Little Pauli, winner of the Jimmy Sunshine two weeks ago in 1:58 flat and a division of last Sunday’s Bingo Johnnie in 1:57.2 and the Roger Welch stable’s Little Gus who proved best in his debut in the other Bingo Johnnie split with a 1:58.1 mile.

  Taylor likes what he’s seen thus far from his youngster and thinks Mr Bedrock could develop into a solid two-year-old.

  “Mr Bedrock is coming along nicely. Thus far the horse has done everything right,” said Taylor. “He trained down very well over the winter and spring for me and I believe he could turn out to be a pretty nice colt. 

  “He has the body and structure to be a good horse and Mr Bedrock is very handy on the racetrack,” continued the Mississippi native. “We’ve taken our time with the colt and haven’t rushed him to the races and that’s why he had two qualifiers. It’s a long summer so we are going to try and bring him along slowly. He won’t be going for the big money until later.

  “We’ve got him staked pretty heavy for his first year and hopefully he’ll turn out to be what we think he can be. 

  “Here in Illinois he’s eligible to the Hanover, the Orange and Blue and the American National at Balmoral and the Abe Lincoln at Maywood. We also made him eligible to the Woodrow Wilson at The Meadowlands in August.”

  Mr Bedrock will open up as the 4-1 third choice in the sixth race behind the two favorites Little Pauli (2-1, Art Gregory, Jr.) and Little Gus (5-2, Dave Magee).

  Another first-time starter in the race with familiar bloodlines is Sawgrass Farm’s Filled With Wonder, a son of Cole Muffler out of the Broadway Express mare Broadway Surprise, making him a brother to Wonderful One (1:51), Kinnick (1:52.3) and Makena Cat), among others.

  Among the first time juvenile starters in the second Wicked Brew split are Big Gus, a full brother to Bushwood Z Tam (1:52.2) and Fox Valley Libero, whose siblings include Fox Valley Decorum (1:51.4), Ima Sporty Lady (1:52.3) and Master Jeeves (1:57.3).

  Some of Mr Bedrock’s other half sisters or brothers consist of Lake Hills Melody (1:55.1) Lake Hills Ray A (1:51.3), Fox Valley Melody (1:53.2), Fox Valley Leota (1:52.2), Fox Valley Leonna (1:52.2), and Miss Violet (1:56.1). 

                                               
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