Etorphine

Big Tom earned more money than any Illinois-bred harness horse in 2000, set a world record, won a major Meadowlands stake, became the richest and remained the fastest standardbred in state history.

But will that be enough for him to defend his title as Illinois Harness Horse of the Year? Let's hope so.

Big Tom is more deserving of Horse-of-the-Year honors this year than last because he did it on a bigger stage.

I sense sentiment is swinging away from the 5-year-old Joe Anderson-trained star. He ended his year on a down note, while 3- year-old trotting star Plesac finished on an up beat. Some voters might even toss juvenile pacing sensations Cyber Wave and Rattle And Rock, both of whom split the Million Dollar Bonus, into the mix.

But Big Tom's numbers don't lie. He earned $577,225, pushing his career bankroll to an Illinois-record $1.48 million. He had eight victories, five seconds and five thirds in 25 starts. His 1:57 1/5 winning time in the Classic Series final set a world standard for a 1 1/16-mile race on a mile track. He lowered the Illinois-bred speed mark to 1:48 2/5.

Voters should not forget that in the $600,000 Haughton, the richest race in the rugged aged-pacing division, Big Tom was third by a neck behind Western Ideal and Dragon Again.

Here's my rundown of Illinois-bred champions for 2000:

2-year-olds: Male pacer, Rattle And Rock (won bonus, Orange & Blue, set half-mile world record); filly pacer, Cyber Wave (bonus baby, national season's leader on a half); male trotter, Mystical Victor (fastest state-bred trotter in history on mile and half-mile ovals, co-world-record holder); filly trotter, Vivacious Victory (won late-season majors to beat out fair diva Bigoldrudyreddress).

3-year-olds: Male pacer, Andy's Golden Boy (banked $277,250 while winning Cardinal, Maywood Pace, Langley; HR Sosa tough, too); female pacer, Incredible Tillie (world record 1:49 2/5 earns nod over worthy rivals Giggles The Clown, Apple Of My Eye); male trotter, Plesac (Matron victory caps solid national campaign, earned $490,291, was 10 lengths better than other state-breds); filly trotter, Silent Wings (7-for-11, including Super Night victory).

Aged: Male pacer, Big Tom (with hat tips to Taser Gun, the late V Twelve); female pacer, Rain Dance Kim (often a bridesmaid, but won Ann Vonian); male trotter, Wild Turkey (earned $397,310 on tough Ontario circuit, Classic final runner-up; creditable year, too, for Million Dollar Bye); female trotter, Never Ms Still (best of a bad lot, beat Million Dollar Bye in Balmoral open).

Pacer of the Year: Big Tom. Trotter of the Year: Plesac. Illinois Harness Horse of the Year: Big Tom.

COLOR HIM FIT: Co-owner Tim Wilson Jr. is confident Color Me Best will bounce back with a big 2001 campaign. One of North America's elite pacers, the world-record holder often found tough sledding against Western Ideal and Dragon Again this summer, and gave his fans a fright when he was pulled up shortly after the start of a race at Balmoral Park on Nov. 18.

That incident was caused by a condition that occasionally causes the horse's heart to get out of rhythm, Wilson said, but Color Me Best has recovered from it before to race well.

"We want to give him one or two (local) starts before the Meadowlands opens (on Dec. 29)," Wilson said.

Color Me Best's first test will come Saturday in the $22,500 free- for-all at Balmoral.

CLAIMING FOUL: Owner Don Seymour has filed a $200,000 lawsuit in Cook County circuit court, alleging fraud against the owner and negligence against the trainer of a horse he claimed. Seymour claimed JW's Lite N Power on April 1. The horse had finished first and second in his last two starts, but was later disqualifed after positive drug tests in both races for etorphine, a Class 1 substance commonly called "elephant juice." The Illinois Racing Board suspended trainer Harold Brightwell for 480 days.

The suit contends Seymour would not have made the claim if he had known about the positive tests. Seymour filed the suit after he was unable to void the claim. U.S. Trotting Association guidelines and the Illinois racing code allow the option of voiding a claim in a race in which a horse tests positive.

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