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BENCAL HIGH ON ELEGANT MAN
Message was posted: 09:51 Jul 30th, 2006

User: SierraRose Rank: Casino Gold: 629CG Contributor rating: 3560 Status: Offline

Gambling News Source: http://www.harnesslink.com BENCAL HIGH ON ELEGANT MAN Elegant Man might not be the richest horse in Saturday's (July 29) $800,000 Breeders Crown Trot at the Meadowlands Racetrack, but trainer Bob Bencal has found his efforts over the years to be priceless. "This is one of my favourite horses," said Bencal, who has trained the 7-Year-Old Elegant Man since he was a 3-Year-Old. "Camtastic is probably my favourite – he was a champion – but I like this horse a lot even though he's not a winner. Since he's been four, we've always gone against the champions: Kadabra, Magician, Mr Muscleman; he's always been in over his head. Chasing those bears is a little tough." Camtastic was the 1987 Pacer of the Year and won Breeders Crown titles at ages two and three. Elegant Man has won 12 of 78 lifetime starts and earned $780,377. He picked up his top victories in 2004, winning a leg of the Classic Series and also a Breeders Crown elimination race. He ended up sixth in that year's final. He was third in 2005 behind Mr Muscleman and Sand Vic. So far this season, Elegant Man is winless in eight starts, but was second to Sand Vic in the Titan Cup on July 8. He had a streak of four consecutive second-place finishes ended when he was sixth in the Breeders Crown prep July 22. "He's racing really good, but I think Sand Vic is the best horse," Bencal said. "But, we'll give it a shot. He's sharp right now. We gave him a longer rest this winter and didn't send him up for the Su Mac Lad. He's always been a little sore, and he's much sounder this year. That goes a long way." This year, Elegant Man returned to the races in early May. The previous two seasons he was back at the end of March for the Su Mac Lad at the Meadowlands. Elegant Man, driven by Cat Manzi, rarely ventures from stakes competition, but has been extremely competitive in the opens over the past four years, picking up three wins and four second-place finishes in seven starts. "We don't race him that hard; he's usually a closer, so he's not too hard on himself," Bencal said. "He seems very good this year. He just seems a little stronger. Hopefully, it will keep going." Courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, A Division of the United States Trotting Association