by Chris Lomon

Isaiah Shrake has always tackled everything in life with unwavering professionalism.

His love for harness racing and its equine stars was forged at an early age.

Born in Canton, OH, home of the National Football League’s Hall of Fame, Shrake first started going to the races at 11, days when he would accompany his aunt, Sheree Cox, a trainer who also counts 24 career drives — she won three times — on her resume.

It was a bay mare, Coupon Lady, bred, owned and trained by Cox, who was the first to capture Shrake’s attention and heart.

“That’s how it got started, going to see the races after school on Fridays with my aunt,” Shrake said. “I loved it right away and she was an amazing horse. I enjoyed watching her compete.”

Over 135 career races, the daughter of Expensive Scooter (OH)—Fresno Fury won 25 races, posted 73 top three finishes, and recorded $103,345 in purse earnings.

For a young Shrake, Coupon Lady epitomized everything he idolized about the racing world.

“She was incredible, one of those horses who goes out and gives her heart every race,” Shrake said.

Every visit to the racetrack and more time spent around the horses was an inspiration for Shrake, whose fascination with the sport continued to grow.

In his early teens, the McKinley High School graduate expanded his connection to horses.

“I also worked for my uncle Jeff Cox at Northfield,” Shrake said. “I cleaned stalls, learned how to harness, and how to jog.”

Soon enough, Shrake began to contemplate taking his horse racing career in a different direction.

About six years ago, he made the decision to obtain his trainer’s license.

“I was 19 and that’s when I really knew what I wanted to do with my horse racing career,” Shrake said. “I was jogging and training, but my uncle was listed as the trainer because at that time, I wasn’t old enough to get my license.

“My uncle suggested that I take out my license. I had so many people support and encourage me to do that, so I am very grateful for what they have done for me.”

On May 29, 2020, Shrake sent out his first starter, Rockin Farrari, a pacing daughter of Rockin Amadeus (OH)—Look Close, who he also owned.

Driven by Kurt Sugg in the $5,600 dash, Rockin Farrari, the 4-5 choice, sat fourth through a half in :57.3 and third after three-quarters in 1:26.1. A head in front at the stretch call, the bay mare staved off her closest rival for a one-length score in 1:56.

But the pacing miss, a modest $5,700 purchase at the 2018 Buckeye Yearling Sale, was just getting started for Shrake.

The victory at Northfield was the start of a natural hat trick, an unexpected one, for Rockin Farrari’s connections.

“I picked her out at the sale with my uncle and I just fell in love with her,” Shrake said. “To go three-for-three in my first three starts was amazing. When she won the third one at Scioto in a Buckeye Stallion Series race, it was unbelievable. We weren’t expecting it, so it was a nice surprise.”

Shrake still doles out high marks for the horse who paced 60 racing miles. She won 11 of those starts, posted 26 top three finishes and recorded just shy of $90,000 in purse earnings.

“She was a great filly to train down – she did everything right for me,” he said. “She trained well and the drivers all loved to drive her because she did everything perfectly.”

Success did not end there for Shrake.

In 2024, he enjoyed a career-best campaign, highlighted by 17 wins and $238,258 in purse earnings.

One of his stable stars came in the form of Song Somewhere, a then 2-year-old filly, bred and owned by Philip Baldauf, of North Royalton, OH.

In 15 starts, the daughter of Bring on the Beach (OH)—Surf Song won seven times and reached the podium on 12 occasions.

Then there was Chrome Trim, a trotting daughter of Long Tom (OH)—My Little Melanie, who Shrake co-owns.

“In her first lifetime start, she was third out of the 8-hole, then she was second in the sires stakes and in the next sires stakes, she won,” he said. “Both her and Song Somewhere had excellent 2-year-old seasons.”

Shrake’s main objective with his horses — currently he has 15 in his stable — is to see them line up behind the starter car with purse money on the line.

“My goal is to get the horses to the races,” he said. “I’m always hoping for fair circuit horses, but if they are good, then I am ecstatic. If they get to sires stakes or stallion series levels, you love that, but as long as they make the races, I will be happy.”

There are other reasons for him to be joyful.

“One of my goals last year was to attract more owners and I was able to achieve that,” Shrake said. “I also gained a new horse last week and another new owner a few weeks ago. It’s nice to have a stable where there are more than just the horses I own. I’m grateful for that. I have always wanted to have pay horses in my barn, so things are good that way.”

Shrake continues to immerse himself in his horse racing education, constantly looking at ways to elevate his game, and improving the pacers and trotters under his watch.

That commitment to his craft was established well before he joined the training ranks, times when he excelled on the gridiron and diamond as a multi-sport high school athlete.

“I have always been one to show up on time for anything I do,” Shrake said. “In high school, that was being there on time and being ready to go in practice and in games for football and baseball. I have always been taught to do everything the right way, no shortcuts. If you don’t do things the right way, you don’t usually get the success you are chasing.”

And while he has had to call his fair share of audibles during his racing life, Shrake, a longtime fan of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, has designed a winning game plan.

He’s also found faith in himself along the way.

“That I can do this,” Shrake said of what he took away from his 2024 season. “For a while, I was struggling a little bit to find that consistency. But now, I feel more comfortable than I ever have.”