Marielle Enberg and Ive Got It All will look to defend their title in the second edition of the Under Saddle Exhibition Trot event on Monday night at Mohawk Racetrack.
The pair captured Mohawk’s first Under Saddle Exhibition Trot on Canada Day. The 25-year-old native of Sweden says the five-year-old son of Muscles Yankee is used to being under saddle.
“He’s a pretty good horse and he loves his work,” said Enberg, who conditions the brown trotter. “He only trains under saddle at home, never in a jog cart.”
Ive Got It All will leave post six in the Under Saddle Exhibition Trot. The seven-time winner has banked $101,540 in career earnings for owners Luc Ouellette Incorporated along with P Kleinhans Racing Inc.
“I’m pretty confident coming into this next race,” Enberg said. “I know what my horse can do and is capable of.”
The conditioner admits that she didn’t expect to make it to the winner’s circle in Mohawk's inaugural Under Saddle Exhibition Trot.
“To be honest, I didn’t think he would do as well as he did in the last race,” said Enberg. “I didn’t feel he was as sharp as he could have been. Coming into this race, he’s been training much better, so I think he’ll be that much better.”
Enberg notes that she has only ridden standardbreds.
“I’ve been riding horses since childhood,” she said. “My dad is a trainer back home with a stable anywhere between 10 to 15 horses and that was always a part of our daily routine.”
Enberg first came to Canada in 2010 after spending time working for trainers south of the border.
“I worked in the U.S. for about three years with Jonas Czerynson then I helped Bjorn ‘Bernie’ Noren and he sent me to Canada in 2010 with a few of his horses to race in the [Ontario] Sires Stakes.
“After that, I went home to Sweden because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. Then Luc [Ouellette] called me to help him with his horses, so I came back and the rest is history.”
Enberg eagerly awaits Monday’s non-wagering, one-mile dash, which is scheduled to go to post following the fifth race.
“I know a few of the other riders and it’s always fun to compete against them,” she said. “It’s a fun race to be a part of. It’s something that I’m really looking forward to.”
The field will line up as follows:
PP-Horse-Listed Rider
1. Baba Ghanouj – Andrea Lindsay
2. New Dice Please – Marie Brooking
3. Come and Play – Marit Valstad
4. Hour Lavec – Samantha Hirst
5. First Flower – Anita Valstad
6. Ive Got It All – Marielle Enberg
7. As Yall Like It – Emily Hughes
8. Youlneverwalkalone – Jenni Judin
First race post time is 7:10 p.m.
(With files from WEG)