In the world of commerce it’s all about the time of delivery. As Amazon has proven to the world, it’s not just about consumers’ initial purchase but more often the timeliness of arrival that drive a business. Trainer Kelvin Harrison, a New Zealand native, has spent the last few years watching the current system play out. With a noted shortness of racehorses in North America and plenty of avenues to find racing opportunity, trainers and owners have canvassed Australia and New Zealand repeatedly looking for prospects that can fit the North American landscape. It is hardly a surprise that one of those imports, Shartin N, was awarded 2019 Harness Horse of the Year last week in Orlando. Imports are now a regular part of the fabric that makes up racing on these shores. Harrison for his part has 21 horses that recently made the trip from Down Under to his barn at the newly christened Hot Lead Stable (nee White Birch Farms), with all of them marked for sale if not in the near term then shortly thereafter. “They’re here to be sold,” said Harrison, who with the help of his family in New Zealand has reduced the time and the middlemen. “There’s a horse shortage over here. We’re bringing over horses that are of good quality and can fit all of the classes.” This past Saturday Harrison had a few of the new arrivals on the track at The Meadowlands to showcase to prospective buyers but also to get ready for racing action. The 6-year-old son of Art Major named The Devils Own N was the most impressive of the lot and his effort against a field that included last year’s Open Pace stakes winners Rodeo Rock and None Bettor A suggested a big upside. “I’m not so sure we’re going to sell him just yet,” said Harrison with a note of caution. “He’s eligible for non-winners of $5,000.” [Editor’s Note: The Devils Own N is entered in a Non-winners of $7,500 event (race 5) on Saturday at The Meadowlands.] That class appears well below the true talent of The Devils Own N, who Harrison said was the best 2-year-old in the Southern Hemisphere a few years back but then got hurt in an accident and missed some time. “He raced in the Inter Dominion in his last three starts. He drew post 12 and that’s the four-hole in the second tier in all three of those races. He had no shot when the draw came out.” Harrison noted that The Devils Own N was the most expensive of the 21 horses he’s brought to the States, but noted that the spectrum was rather wide in talent and experience among the group. “Claytons Bettor N (Betterthancheddar) will fit the non-winners-of-two class,” said Harrison. “He’s a 5-year-old with just six starts.” Claytons Bettor N flashed a 26 3/5 final quarter in his qualifier on Saturday, indicating the potential to climb the class ladder with plenty of money on the table, either for Harrison or his next owner. Persimmon A was another arrival for the Harrison-sponsored Anz Stables that debuted last Saturday, but the trainer believes his effort was far below the caliber of horse he will turn out to be. “Andy (McCarthy) had to shut him off early. I think he was a bit too fresh,” Harrison said in describing the aggressiveness of the son of Courage Under Fire. “We’ll get him back in to qualify again and I expect him to be much better.” Harrison explained the selection process as a bit of a team effort. “I have John Curtin who I think is one of the best bloodstock agents scouting. He’ll send me tapes that I can look over and we decide what to purchase,” Harrison said. Harrison hopes the number of imports that pass through his stable will grow in the coming months. The concept is unique in that Harrison is not just doing the legwork but also fronting all of the costs of purchase and shipping these horses. Thankfully in today’s world horses arrive from Australia and New Zealand pretty much in race shape and don’t take very long to turn around and be put on the track. Thus potential buyers who spend time and money and then often have to wait four to six months for horses to ship can now see a quick return on their initial investment through the Harrison horses. “I think it makes a difference when you can see the horse in person,” said Harrison about the obvious advantages his operation will have over others. “We’re going to get these horses qualified in the next few weeks,” said Harrison of his current strategy. Perhaps a little down the road will be the next group. Harrison said that shipping costs can be extreme and there is no “group” discount available to him despite the large number he has imported. Harrison noted that the pedigrees of the horses he is bringing in are all American in nature and thus buyers shouldn’t be concerned with exactly the caliber of horse they are receiving since most of these pedigrees are already racing in North America. “We’ll have the Somebeachsomewhere’s and Bettor’s Delight’s,” said Harrison. While studying film and preparing his new horses for racing and purchase, Harrison has been keeping rather busy. He still maintains a regular stable with 33-head currently and appears optimistic that there could be one or two good ones we will be seeing in the months ahead. “I’ve got a 3-year-old that I think has plenty of potential,” said Harrison of Goldin Kid, a son of Art Major that had just two qualifiers in 2019. “We qualified him at Harrah’s Philadelphia a couple of times and he won in 1:55 3/5 easily. He got a little sore in his left hind and we decided to stop with him and bring him back this year.” Goldin Kid is the second foal and first colt from the $250K winning mare Crazy Luv Bug.  His full sister Crazy Cute was a stakes performer in 2019. Harrison, who turns 70 in March, is upbeat about his racing prospects and that of his most recent venture with good reason. In the ever-changing world of commerce, it’s worth buying from someone you know can deliver.