03/01/09

By Mike Paradise

Sunday, March 1

   Congratulations to Hall of Famer driver Dave Magee who brought home his 11,000 career winner last night at Balmoral Park when he drove the 11-1 longshot Capture The Magic to victory in last night’s 13th race.

  The 55-year-old Green Bay, Wisconsin native became only the sixth driver to reach the 11,000 plateau, joining Herve Filion, Walter Case, Tony Morgan, Dave Palone and Cat Manzi.

  Easily the most impressive qualifier on the Chicago circuit thus far this year came about last Wednesday morning at Balmoral when the Carl Porcelli stable’s Nittany Linebacker blew away a field of seven pacers by whopping 20 and one-half lengths in a quick time of 1:55 flat with driver Mike Oosting along for the ride.

  However, don’t look for the there-year-old son of Real Desire to be dropped into the local entry box anytime soon.

  “Nittany Linebacker is eligible for non-winners of three at The Meadowlands and he’ll be on a truck real soon on his way there,” said Porcelli. “He’s eligible for a whole bunch of three-year-old stakes including the Hoosier Cup, a couple at The Meadowlands and the American National at Balmoral.”

  While 57-year-old veteran Illinois trainer knows Nittany Linebacker has the potential to be a solid colt for his sophomore season, he was a bit surprised on how effortlessly the youngster pulled away from his field in his qualifier and fast the mile went.

  “I knew I had him ready for his qualifier but I didn’t think he would be going that fast,” said Porcelli who had 1,001 dash winners when he retired as a driver in 1998 and this month went over the 500 plateau in winners as a trainer. “Those who watched Nittany Linebacker race saw he pretty much do it on idle. As a two-year old he won a couple of stakes in Kentucky for us at Lexington but then he got a little sore. He was asking for some time off but I tried to get him ready for the American National however he was colt sore and didn’t race well. We stopped with him after that race.”

  Bred by Peretti Farms of Cream Ridge, New Jersey, Nittany Linebacker is owned by Californians Billie Schwartz, James Wilkerson and Ads Up Racing Stable. “He’s a Jimmy Wilkerson horse from California and he should get all the credit for getting him ready for the races. All I did was start him four or five times last year,” said Porcelli who added: “This horse could be the real deal.”

  Another big qualifier last Wednesday was a 1:56.2 mile by Bonn Scott, who was nine-plus lengths the best for Oosting, who also owns and trains the six-year-old gelding. Look for him to be dropped into the entry box at Balmoral very soon.