Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Total Truth was certainly a bargin if one considers that he was just an $18,000 yearling purchase at Harrisburg. He flashed signs of brillance as a two-year-old, earning $102,825 during a season that saw him four of seven starts with a pair of seconds to boot and a mark of 1:51.4 taken at The Meadowlands on July 21, 2005.

It was in 2006, however, that Total Truth's star was destined to shine. The rugged bay horse has had only five pari-mutuel starts as of this writing (June 27, 2006) but he's made each one of them count and has already amassed over $1 million in earnings this year.

Under the careful eye of trainer George Teague, Jr., Total Truth had a quartet of qualifiers beginning in late April that saw him systematically lower his time in each outing (from 1:56.2 on April 26, to 1:54.4 on May 3, to 1:53.4 on May 11, and finally to 1:51.2 on May 25). And the real tests hadn't even begun yet!!!

His sophomore pari-mutuel debut came on June 3 at Woodbine, in a $91,000 division of the Burlington Stakes. Total Truth stormed to a 1:53.1 clocking with Ron Pierce at the lines. He followed that up with a second-place finish in his $45,000 North America Cup elimination on June 10, pacing in 1:50 behind the winning Feelin Friskie with Pierce again in the sulky.

Total Truth used come from behind strategy to win the $1.35 million North America Cup on June 17 at Woodbine Raceway in Canada in 1:49.1, besting Feelin Friskie by a solid length in the process.

With Pierce slated to drive in Canada on June 24, trainer Teague choose young driver Yannick Gingras to pilot his star pacer. The result was that Total Truth took his $25,000 Hoosier Cup elim easily in 1:50.1, half a length ahead of the hard-trying Dave Panlone.   The gutsy pacer then returned a few races later to win the $450,000 Hoosier Cup in 1:51. This time he grabbed the lead early and never looked back, winning by three-quarters of a length over Western Guy.

“It was a pretty easy drive,” Gingras said. “The race worked out the way I planned, actually. I knew Dave Panlone would take the front, and he let me go pretty easy. I moved early just like in the elimination and said, ‘why not try it again?’ ”

The victory by Total Truth was his fourth in five outings for 2006, and increased his career bankroll to more than $1 million.   He is considered the early favorite for the $1 million Meadolwands Pace, set for July 17 at The Big M

Total Truth's Lifetime Statistics (through June 27, 2006)
Year Starts Wins   2nds 3rds   Earnings     Record       Track    Date Record Taken
2006      5       4        1      0     $969,250      3,1:49.1S      Wdb      06/17/2006
2005    7       4        2      0      $102,825      2,1:51.4M        M        07/21/2005
Total 12        8       3       0       $1,072,075

2006 Archives
June: Burning Point
May: Hop Sing
April: Scarlet Knight
March: Hellava Hush
February: Foxy Manuever
January: Chocolatier