Somebeachsomewhere and Art Official, who staged a memorable battle in the Meadowlands Pace in July, could meet again Saturday in the Bluegrass Stakes at Lexington's Red Mile.
Each horse's trainer was pointed toward the Bluegrass, which would be split into divisions if more than 12 horses enter.
In the Meadowlands Pace, Art Official handed Somebeachsomewhere the only loss of his career by setting the world record for three-year-olds with a 1:47 mile.
Since then, Somebeachsomewhere has won five consecutive races in Canada, including the two-dash Confederation Cup in a half-mile World Record 1:49.2.
"All I hope for is good weather," said Brent MacGrath, who trains and co-owns Somebeachsomewhere as part of the Schooner Stables of Nova Scotia. "We arrived in Lexington last night. He's feeling good and appears healthy."
Driven by Paul MacDonell, Somebeachsomewhere last raced on September 6 in a Simcoe Stakes division at Mohawk Racetrack. He won, but was found to be sick after coming home in an uncharacteristic :29.4 for the final quarter-mile.
"He got an infection, that was all. He never felt bad," MacGrath said. "We trained him Friday and scoped him and he was perfect, so we're good to go. We're here and he's ready."
Somebeachsomewhere, who also has the Tattersalls on his schedule for October 4 at The Red Mile, has won nine of 10 races this year and earned $1.5 million.
For his career, the son of Mach Three has won 15 of 16 starts and banked $2.3 million. Four times he has raced from layoffs of three weeks, and as his record indicates, it has never been a problem.
"It shouldn't mean a thing to him. He's acting extremely sharp," MacGrath said. "Some of the best races he went were off a month off. I shouldn't say that completely because the day he won at Flamboro (in the Confederation Cup) he was darn impressive and that was his fourth start in three weeks.
"I do expect him to be a little stronger (October 4) than the first Saturday, but I don't think that he'll be a lot different," he added. "He might be a little stronger on the end of it, but I don't think a lot."
Following the assignments at The Red Mile, Somebeachsomewhere has the Messenger Stakes, the Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final, the Breeders Crown and Matron remaining on his schedule.
(Harness Racing Communications)