Winning is not easy, but multi-millionaire MM’s Dream (Swan for everyone) and streaking On To Norway (Muscle huge) have made a habit of finding their way into the harness racing winners circle. And the two trotters will continue that trend Friday when they compete in the Indiana Sire Stakes Super Finals at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
MM’s Dream, who has three Indiana Sire Stakes titles during her career, is the 3-2 morning line favorite in the $50,000 Super Final for older female trotters. The 6-year-old mare, who has 36 lifetime victories and $2.17 million in earnings, will retire at the end of the season.
Later on the card, On To Norway will bring a 16-race win streak to the $250,000 Super Final for 3-year-old male trotters, where he will be the morning line choice from 9 to 5.
“In the horse world, if you are lucky enough to win a few races a year with a particular horse, that in itself is special,” says Frank Baldachino, one of the owners of both trotters. “But when you get horses like MM’s Dream and On To Norway, you take it week by week. It just fascinates you how great they really are.
“You know how it goes in the horse industry: when you expect to win something, you usually don’t. It doesn’t really happen. But On To Norway goes a bit against the trend; MM’s Dream goes against the trend. They are quite special animals.”
MM’s Dream won Indiana Sire Stakes crowns at ages 2, 3 and 5. She also raced on the Grand Circuit, winning the 2023 Hambletonian Maturity, three consecutive editions of the Dr. John R. Steele Memorial (2023-25) and this season’s Dayton Oaks and Miss Versatility Series finals. Her victory at this year’s Steele Memorial came in a career-best 1:49.4, which tied the stakes record.
MM’s Dream, a daughter of Swan For All-Trading Places, has been on the board in 55 of 66 lifetime races. She was trained by Henry Graber Jr. throughout her career. and Ron Burke. Yannick Gingras will be in the sulky for Friday’s super final.
“It’s hard to find horses that really try to dig right through the wire like she does,” says Baldachino, who shares ownership of MM’s Dream with Hillside Stables. “If you’ve seen some of her races on the big stage, when she’s beaten the best of the best, at the top of the stretch she just keeps coming and coming. She’s someone who has a nose for the wire, and until she gets to the wire, she never gives up.”
Following her superfinal, the plan is to send MM’s Dream to the Breeders Crown and FanDuel Mares Trot Championship before concluding her career with a race and retirement ceremony on November 22 at Hoosier Park.
“It’s a little bittersweet, as they would say,” Baldachino said. “She has given us so much joy and excitement since her two-year-old season. It’s sad to see it end, but in the same way of life it will be fun to see her start her broodmare career and hopefully throw some little MM’s Dreams in the future.”
On To Norway, a son of Muscle Massive-One Class Act, finished second in his first race this season but has not tasted defeat since, and his 16 victories are tied for the most of any horse in North America. This season he won twice in 1:51.2, which equals the Hoosier Park track record for a second-year trotting gelding first set in 2020 by Amigo Volo. Regular driver John DeLong will be in the sulky for trainer Burke on Friday.
“It’s been quite a ride,” said Baldachino, who shares ownership of On To Norway with Burke Racing Stable, Black And White Stable and Michael Rosenthal. “He just wins, no matter what happens; from the front, first-over, from the back. Sixteen in a row, it’s unbelievable. You wait every week for the other shoe to drop, but you really hope that doesn’t happen. You never want to see him lose.”
“I hope the other shoes never fall, but I’m also a realist. When it comes to harness racing, anything can happen. But I’m really excited for him to be going into the finals on Friday. I’m really looking forward to it. He’s done everything so easily. The horn isn’t blowing, the whistles aren’t on, he’s been pretty much on top of himself every start. John DeLong has done a great job with him, really helping him learn the game as a three-year-old. Kudos to it.” to John and Adam Rucker and Ronnie Burke. They did a great job managing him.”
Baldachino also gave credit to the caretakers of all the horses.
“We as owners, I see them on race day and watch them from the stands, but those are the people behind the scenes that really make it happen,” he said. “They are the real stars.”
On To Norway is not eligible for the Breeders Crown. It’s possible his connections could complement him at the event, but it’s more likely he’ll stay at Hoosier and compete in the fall stakes there, including the Grade 2 Carl Erskine Memorial.
“We’ll evaluate it after he races on Friday and over the weekend, but I think the wisest path would be to let him stay home and try to win a few more at his home track and compete against the big boys in the Carl Erskine,” Baldachino said. “I am sure that as a four-year-old he will be used for the Hambo Maturity and Graduate.
“He’s the real deal. I wouldn’t be afraid to put him against any three-year-old in the country from now on and I think he’s going to be an incredible horse as he gets older. He looks after himself, he’s such a professional. It’s been quite a ride with him so far and hopefully it will continue until the end of the year.”
Racing begins at Harrah’s Hoosier Park at 5:30 p.m. For more information about the Indiana Sire Stakes Super Finals, click here. Visit the track for free racing programs at Hoosier Park website.
For full race entries, click here: American Trotting Entries.
Through Ken Weingartnerfor the USTA
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