Matt Rheinheimer experienced his most lucrative year in terms of prize money in 2023. Among the horses set to make their seasonal debuts this weekend in Opens at Harrah’s Hoosier Park are two of his top performers: the older male pacer Yourwishisgranted and the older female trotter Triathlon As.
Both Yourwishisgranted and Triathlon As played significant roles in Rheinheimer's successful season, contributing substantially to his total earnings of $633,740. This duo, alongside the Indiana Sire Stakes three-year-old female trotting champion Naturdays, formed a trio of high-earning horses for Rheinheimer. This achievement marked a notable improvement from his previous best earnings of $366,904 in 2015, a year highlighted by the success of three-year-old filly trotter Churita, who competed fiercely against future U.S. Hall of Famer Hannelore Hanover on the Indiana circuit.
Reflecting on his achievements, the 49-year-old Rheinheimer, residing in LaGrange, Indiana, expressed his satisfaction with the past year's performance. Winning a Sire Stakes event was a particularly cherished moment for him, especially with the presence of owners' families, adding a special touch to the occasion. Such moments, he noted, are rare and serve as the highlights of a career in horse racing.
Not far behind was Yourwishisgranted's impressive campaign. As a four-year-old, this pacer triumphed five times in either the Open 2 or Open 3 categories at Hoosier Park. Additionally, he secured a second-place finish in the Lynn Wilfong Memorial Invitational, trailing only behind Hellabalou, and clinched third position in the Indiana Sire Stakes championship for older male pacers, with Little Rocket Man and Ponda Warrior taking the lead.
Throughout the season, Yourwishisgranted demonstrated remarkable consistency, hitting the board in 16 out of 28 races, securing victory in seven of them and accumulating earnings of $129,050.
Reflecting on the achievements of Yourwishisgranted, Rheinheimer expressed his satisfaction, stating, "He had a great year. I was very happy with what he did. Anytime you can be competitive with Open horses in Indiana, you’ve got to be pretty proud of it. He had a lot of starts and there was nothing easy. He’s an ordinary horse and he just loves to race. Absolutely loves it."
Yourwishisgranted was initially trained at ages two and three by Jay Cross before Rheinheimer took over in late October 2022. This son of JK Endofanera and Onawish Hanover boasts an impressive record of 12 victories out of 63 lifetime races, with total earnings amounting to $288,335.
"Jay always told me he thought he could be something special," Rheinheimer recalled. "He’s just that type of horse. Any horse that loves their work, you know you’re going to have a decent horse. He’s just an easy-going horse. He’s nice in the barn, he’s nice on the track. He’s one of those dream horses that you want to be around. But his biggest asset is he loves his job."
Yourwishisgranted is under the ownership of Ruby Huggins, who took over following the passing of her husband, Bill, in January 2023 at the age of 87.
"Losing Bill, for [Yourwishisgranted] to come out and race as good as he did, it was kind of a special thing," Rheinheimer remarked. "Ruby was ecstatic, too, with the way he raced."
Yourwishisgranted will commence this season in Friday’s $22,000 Open at Hoosier Park, starting from post four with driver Ricky Macomber Jr. in a field of six. He holds odds of 8-1 on the morning line and heads into the race following a second-place finish in a 1:55 qualifier on March 20.
"He’s been very good," Rheinheimer commented. "He’s done everything I’ve wanted him to do. It’s too bad we have to throw him in the Open for his first start, but that’s all right. We’ll get what we can get."
Triathlon As will make her seasonal debut in Saturday’s $16,000 Open 3, where she will start from post four alongside driver Brandon Bates in a field of eight. She holds odds of 5-1 on the morning line. Last year, this daughter of Trixton and Theres A Way secured victory in six races, accumulating earnings of $106,460, with four of her wins achieved in either Open 2 or Open 3 events.
Rheinheimer, who trains the seven-year-old trotter for owners Faron Miller and Every Day Stable, described her as "a nice and consistent mare who had a very successful year." Triathlon As enters her first race of 2023 off a 1:56.4 qualifier win the previous week.
Regarding other prospects in his stable, Rheinheimer mentioned that Naturdays would likely qualify around the end of April or the beginning of May. The promising three-year-old filly closed out her 2023 campaign impressively, winning six of her final seven races, including the Sire Stakes championship.
Naturdays, daughter of Helpisontheway and Windsongmusclelady, has accumulated an impressive record, boasting 15 victories out of 26 starts and total earnings of $339,665. The majority of her earnings, $275,820, were earned last season. She is owned by Alton Miller, Debra Miller, and Brackton Miller.
Racing action kicks off at 6:15 p.m. (EDT) on Friday and continues at 7 p.m. (EDT) on Saturday at Hoosier Park. For free daily Hoosier Park programs, visitors can access the track’s website.