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KEN JACOBS'S TALENTED SOPH PACER EXPORTER LETS HIS ACTIONS ON THE TRACK SPEAK FOR HIM Courtesy of Jim Moran Vernon Downs

VERNON, NY-The talented sophomore pacer Exporter may not have much of a tongue, but it really doesn't matter as he lets his actions on the racetrack do the talking for him.

Purchased by Baldwinsville harness horse fancier Ken Jacobs at a New Jersey standardbred sale for $28,000 in 1999, Exporter lost part of his tongue in a pasture accident, but the handicap hasn't hampered his racing ability. After posting a pair of third-place finishes for trainer/driver John Stark, Jr. early in his career, the well-bred son of Magical Mike-In Fashion reeled off nine straight victories, including successes in the Reynolds Stake at Pennsylvania's Pocono Downs and in the $75,000 New York Sires Stakes championship final at Yonkers on Sept. 23. He took his 1:53.2 record during a winning performace at The Syracuse Mile on Aug. 12.

Exporter's efforts in 2000 earned him top honors in the New York Sires Stakes program for his age, sex and gait, and District Eight of the U. S. Trotting Assn. (USTA) not only made him its divisional champion, but also Horse-of-the-Year in upstate New York.

"He's a nice little colt," said Jacobs, who owns and operates a successful electrical contracting company (K.J. Electric) in Syracuse. "From the time I first saw him, I liked his conformation and his bloodlines, especially on the dam's side. He's the best colt I've ever owned, although Lizbet Kash (second in the 1996 Breeders Crown 3-year-old filly pace) was also a pretty good racehorse."

Ranked ninth in this year's Experimental Championship Pacer Ratings, published by the USTA, Exporter began his 2001 campaign with a bold-going 1:52 triumph at Vernon Downs on June 2, which stood as the fastest mile at the track's 49th meeting through June 15. He followed that impressive showing with a second-place finish in the Prestigious Miller Lite Cleveland Classic at Ohio's Northfield Park on June 9. Stark will try to improve on the gifted youngster's $213,753 lifetime bankroll in the upcoming North America Cup competition at Canada's Woodbine Raceway.

"He's well staked this year and his showings in upcoming events will tell us where he'll compete for the remainder of the season," Jacobs explained. "Needless to say, we have high hopes for him."

Exporter might be tongue impaired, but he's got a lot of veteran harness racing observers wagging their facilities of utterance over his spectacular showing during the past two seasons.

DOWNS DOINGS-On the basis of 1:51.4 individual performances last year, the Jacobs owned pacers Missile Mike and Snickers Hanover remain the fastest pacers over Vernon's 7/8ths-mile track.

Jim Moran, Publicity

CJ's Secret

3YO COLT TROT

By Jim Moran VERNON-If at first you don't succeed, keep trying and good things will happen. That could be the motto for Vernon Downs trainer/driver Dan Daley.

Last year, Daley was charged with conditioning and caring for standardbred racing's top-rated sophomore trotter Master Lavec, the colt who was going to capture most, if not all, of the sport's major races and win more than a million dollars. It didn't happen.

Following a superb freshman campaign in which he captured the Breeders Crown championship, earned 10 wins, more than $533,000 in prize money and 2-year-old colt trotter-of-the-year honors, Master Lavec broke a bone in his left hind leg while prepping for the 2000 season. Although he made it back to the races, he was never able to display his full potential for owners Ann-Mari Daley (Dan's wife) and her partner, Robert Pergament, a retired hardware magnate.

As disappointed as the Daley's and Pergament were, Dan went about his business and developed another standout freshman trotter in CJ's Secret, who capped off his initial campaign with six wins, five second-place finishes and a third in third in 14 starts. The talented son of Mr. Lavec (same sire as Master Lavec) took a 1:57.3 record and earned $472,030 for Ann-Mari and Pergament. He was ranked fifth in this year's 3-year-old trotter rankings.

"We felt bad for Master Lavec last year, because the leg problem kept him from realizing his promise as a racehorse," said Ann-Marie. "But, he now has a good home at Midland Acres in Ohio and should service approximately 170 mares this year. So, we haven't heard the last from him."

While Dan would like to have won last year's Hambletonian and some of the sport's other prestigious sophomore stakes, he didn't dwell on his misfortune. Instead, Daley kept working at his craft and came up with CJ's Secret, who could yet achieve the fame and fortune that his former stablemate couldn't. "He's a strong, speedy, talented colt and should do quite well this year," said the 42-year-old horseman. "Winning those big races would be nice, but my goal for the stable each season is to have a good year financially and come up with some promising young prospects. If I can accomplish that, the rest will take care of itself."

After prepping for the past couple of weeks at Vernon, CJ's Secret will make his season's debut in a New York Sires Stake at Saratoga on Memorial Day afternoon (May 28).

DOWNS DOINGS-This marks the third year at Vernon for Daley, who spends his winters in Florida. He's also campaigning the promising sophomore colt trotters Diamond Gold, owned by the Charlene Stable, and Mr. Klickity Klack, owned by Ken Jacobs of Baldwinsville, out of his Vernon-based barn this season. The Downs is currently racing Thursday and Friday afternoons (first post 1:10) and Saturday evenings (7:35). The track's 49th season continues through Oct. 20.

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