"He finished the year much better than he started, pacing his last three quarters in 1:21 in his last start. He's shown he can go with these colts."
Speedy Rocknroll Hanover colt Foreclosure N kicks off the top five Trot 2011 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book with odds of 15-1. Trot Insider caught up with trainer Mark Steacy for an update on the colt's off-season and what 2011 holds in store.
Where did he winter?
"He wintered at Tara Hills (in Port Perry, Ont.), they had him turned out and in the Equi-Cizer daily."
When did you start back with him?
"We brought him in early January."
Where are you at with him right now?
"I'd say he's four to five weeks away, he's been in 2:15 at the farm. We had a minor setback that pushed us back a few weeks but we're over that now."
Have you noticed any changes from last year to this year?
"His attitude has pretty much stayed the same; he's a good feeling colt. He's filled out a touch. One thing that's different is that he's wearing a little longer hopple now, 60" which is surprising because he's not all that big. He finished the year much better than he started, pacing his last three quarters in 1:21 in his last start in the Governor's Cup. He's shown he can go with these colts."
When will he qualify?
"Early to mid-May at Mohawk."
What will his early schedule look like leading up to the Pepsi NA Cup?
"After the qualifier we'll hopefully get him in an overnight race at Mohawk and then go on to the Somebeachsomewhere."
What does his tentative schedule look like after the NA Cup?
"He's staked up pretty well, as long as he's looking the part and the tools are there. He's paid up into the NJSS, Meadowlands Pace, Confederation Cup, Little Brown Jug, Breeders Crown - all the big ones."
Throughout the course of the week, the SC website will countdown to the Spring Book favourite, complete with updates from the trainers on the pacers that Trot staff assessed as the leading contenders for the richest prize in Canadian harness racing. Watch for the full list of Spring Book odds in the April issue of Trot Magazine.