The Aiken Trials turns 70 in 2012

The first jewel of the Aiken Triple Crown is just six weeks away, and the this year's edition will be special, in that it's the 70th running of the Aiken Trials. The Aiken Training Track was established in 1941, and 39 national champions have trained over the 1-mile surface that has produced countless stakes winners.

Several horses have enjoyed success after competing in the 2011 edition of the trials.

Bill and Scarlett Simpson's Dunbarton Stable LLC's Friscan, has won three of his first four career starts, the gray colt drew away to win by daylight to capture the Coward Trophy in impressive style. The Maryland-bred won his sophomore debut capturing an allowance race on Jan. 20 at Laurel Park. Friscan is conditioned by Graham Motion, and was broken and trained by Tim and Cary Frommer. Friscan increased his lifetime earnings to $54,997, and has 3 wins from 4 starts, having placed third once.

Crossed Sabres Farm's Scootles enjoyed a strong 4-year-old campaign, breaking her maiden on Dec. 30 at Gulfstream Park. The Florida-bred filly, who won the Von Stade Trophy, followed that victory with a strong effort in her 5-year-old debut, placing second in a 1-mile race on the turf at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25. The filly bred by Adena Springs, was broken and trained by Wes Carter, won 1 race in ten starts in 2011, finished second 3 times, and placed third 4 times. Scootles, now in the barn of Marcus Vitali, has one win from 12 career starts, placed second four times and third four times, and has now bankrolled $79.849. Scootles is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Super Fuse, and to graded stakes placed Barreling Home and Richierichierich.

Bruce and Rita Snipes' Nekia Farm's Northern Pike won the MacKenzie T. Miller Memorial Trophy, and the Steve Epley, Jr. charge broke his maiden in 2011 on June 1 at Delaware Park in a 5 1/2-furlong race, and had placed second in the start prior to that in another 5 1/2-furlong race on May 14 at Delaware Park. The now 6-year-old gelded son of Pikepass was bred by Ronald Schmidt and Alice Schmidt.

Dolly Bostwick's Rustenburg couldn't lose after finishing second in the Von Stade Trophy in the 2011 edition of the Aiken Trials. As a 4-year-old, the gelded son of Johannesburg won 4 consecutive starts at Hollywood Casino at the Charles Town Races, while in the barn of trainer Tim Grams. The bay gelding has 4 wins from 4 starts, and has bankrolled $38,400.

Gustav Schickedanz's homebred Decadent, an Ontario-bred by the 2003 Canadian Triple Crown winner Wando, was stakes placed and won two races in 2011. The bay gelding who finished second in the MacKenzie T. Miller Memorial Trophy, placed second in the Bob Summers Memorial Cup on Aug. 1 at Fort Erie. The Mike Keogh charge won 2 races and placed second once in 5 starts, earning $64,176 in 2011. Decadent's dam is Dake, who won the 1999 Panthera Stakes and the 1999 Althea Stakes. Decadent has lifetime earnings of $76,449.

Dogwood Stable's Captain My Captain, who placed third in the MacKenzie Miller Memorial Trophy, won two races in 2011, including breaking his maiden at Keeneland on April 13. The son of Officer is trained by Chris Grove, and is a half-brother to multiple graded stakes winner Purely Cozzene, stakes winner Erica's Smile and stakes placed Forestry Prince. Captain My Captain was purchased at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2010 February Select Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale. Captain My Captain was trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens and Brad Stauffer.

Dogwood Stable's Ingenue broke her maiden in her debut at Keeneland on April 9th, a 4 1/2-furlong race, after placing second in the Gaver Trophy. Ingenue is by multiple graded stakes winner Mr. Greeley, and is out of Grade 1 winner Meadow Breeze, and is conditioned by trainer Neil Howard. The 3-year-old filly placed third in her sophomore debut, a 5 1/2-furlong race at the Fair Grounds on Jan. 22. Ingenue was trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens and Brad Stauffer.

Travis Durr and Dale Martin's Kardashian, winner of the 2011 Gaver Trophy, has yet to break her maiden, but placed second twice and third once, en route to bankrolling $34,605 during her juvenile campaign. The daughter of Vibank is a half-sister to stakes winner Quick Code, and is trained by Barbara Minshall.

JEOG Racing LLC's Scatman only ran out of the money once during his juvenile campaign, finishing the year with a win and a second en route to earning $36,266, breaking his maiden at Keeneland on Oct. 13. The runner-up in the Coward Trophy won his sophomore campaign debut at Oaklawn Park on Jan. 29. The son of multiple Grade 1 winner Scat Daddy is trained by Michael Lauer, and was broken and trained by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens and Brad Stauffer. Scatman increased his lifetime earnings to $60,566, with his allowance victory in 2012.