by Victoria Howard

Annie Stoebe was born and raised in Montana, a place known as “Big Sky Country.” It’s the same state where harness racing’s Hall of Famer Ron Pierce decided to retire and hang up his colors after a phenomenal career. I also lived in Montana for one year and I have to say that it is one of the most beautiful, tranquil places on earth. I can see why Pierce relocated there.

But, back to this edition’s subject.

After graduating from high school, Stoebe attended college in Weather, TX, on a rodeo scholarship, then moved back to Montana for a few years before relocating to the Garden State, NJ, in 2015. It was there that she was introduced to standardbreds.

A few months after moving Stoebe got a job working for trainer Brett Bittle. Little did she know that less than a decade later she would be the trainer and co-owner of one of the best trotting fillies in the sport this year.

“After a year in New Jersey I claimed my first racehorse, Uriel, and began driving in the amateur races,” Stoebe said.

The road to getting that first horse was not as smooth as Stoebe would have liked it to be.

“When I went to claim Uriel at Pocono Downs both the race office and the commissioner made it impossible,” she said. “They wouldn’t give me an owner’s license without me owning a horse. Thus, I was unable to put in a claim. At the time, I had a trainer, driver and a groom’s license.

“In 2020, I met Lynn Curry who wanted to purchase a trotting filly at the [Harrisburg] sale. Lynn had previously groomed for several years at The Meadows while he was a teenager and wanted to get back into it.”

The experience for Stoebe and Curry at the Standardbred Horse Sale was a good one.

“Lynn and I were able to walk away from that sale with two very nice Bar Hopping fillies named [Mimi Ocean Hanover] and Champagne Hanover,” Stoebe said. “Call it beginner’s luck but ‘Mimi O’ won her very first lifetime start at The Meadows in a sires stake. That win was not only extra special to have won that caliber of race with my first baby, but it was especially nice for Lynn to go back to his stomping grounds that gave him the love he had for the sport he loved so much.’

At the 2021 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, Stoebe said she and Curry were “lucky and blessed” to walk away with a horse named Instagram Model who gave them “many firsts.”

Instagram Model won the Jim Doherty Memorial which included the “golden ticket” to the Breeders Crown, where she finished a respectable fifth.

“The following year we went to the Harrisburg sale and fell head-over-heels in love with a tall, chestnut filly named Elista Hanover,” Stoebe said. “There are some horsemen who stay away from chestnut horses and especially a chestnut filly, but ‘Elista’ has proven that is only an old wives’ tale or a spurious claim.

“I loved Elista the moment I saw her, despite the fact she was chestnut. She was gorgeous and because of her color we thought (and hoped) that she wouldn’t go too high. Up until this time Lynn never had a partner in a horse except for his wife, but he said that I could go in for a percentage.

“Well, when the hammer went down, we were shocked and thrilled that our bid was the winning one. Although it cost us $240,000, we were thrilled that she was coming home with us!”

Stoebe said they were about eight weeks into jogging Elista when a hiccup occurred.

“She injured her knee,” Stoebe said. “We were skeptical that she would make it as a 2-year-old. Once she recovered and began training, I knew that there was talent there — despite her size and length of stride — making it difficult for her to accelerate.

“But our girl did break her maiden at Harrah’s [Philadelphia] at 2 before we put her away as a 2-year-old.”

According to Stoebe, in January when they started up again with Elista, she was a different horse all around.

“Thankfully we kept her eligible to all the major stake races,” she said. “I wanted to use the Weiss to see exactly what caliber Elista was and what kind of year lie ahead for us. She improved so much each start and then her winning streak began.”

Elista had won nine straight heading into the Hambletonian Oaks eliminations.

“Winning the Hambletonian Oaks elim was such a surreal moment,” Stoebe said, adding with a laugh, “Elista continues to rise to the occasion and looks so stunning doing it; she is such as cool horse to be around despite that she is chestnut.”

Stoebe said Elista is also very smart.

“She manages to teach everyone who is around her where the treat bucket is,” she said.

According to Stoebe, Elista, who finished fourth in the Delmonica Hanover on Aug. 17, will race locally until the Breeders Crown at The Meadowlands.

“Her driver is the great David Miller; the two have developed a special bond,” she said. “Besides Elista, I currently have six in training. I stable at Winners Training Center in Chesterfield, NJ.

“Needless to say, I am definitely living the dream and owe it all to that chestnut filly, Elista. I’m so glad I am not one for superstitions.”