The countdown to the 2018 Pepsi North America Cup is on, with Trot Magazine profiling the horses predicted to be the top contenders for Canadian harness racing's richest prize.

At 9-2, Lost In Time comes in at #2 in Trot Magazine's 2018 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book.

Owned by Diamond Creek Racing, J And T Silva Stables, William Rufenacht, Team S Racing Stable as well as professional wrestling legend 'The Nature Boy' Ric Flair, Lost In Time won honours stateside as the top two-year-old colt pacer with 5-2-0 summary from nine seasonal starts and $687,432 in purses. Lost In Time captured the Metro and the Governors Cup among his five victories en route to divisional honours in the U.S. Trot Insider caught up with trainer Jimmy Takter for an update on the son of A Rocknroll Dance.

Where did he winter?

"We sent him to Diamond Creek Farm."

When did you start back with him?

"We also brought him back in mid-January."

Have you noticed any changes from last year to this year?

"He filled out and grew a little bit, too. He looks really nice."

Where are you at with him right now? (as of April 6)

"We've been in 2:02 with him, he and Nutcracker Sweet have been training together."

You're pointing Nutcracker Sweet to a PASS event at Pocono for a start before the North America Cup. Will Lost In Time follow that path?

"Yeah, they're both PA-sired and we're probably going to go the same road with both of them."

Will he race in the Somebeachsomewhere before the North America Cup elims?

"I don't know yet."

What does his tentative schedule look like after the North America Cup?

"He's staked to everything."

What's his biggest asset/strength?

"He's such a laid-back horse training. He's not one of those horses you're super-impressed over training but he does his job....as soon as you put him behind the gate, he's a different horse.

"I don't mind them laid-back like that. I'd rather have them that way than the other way....it's not that he's laid-back when it comes to chasing women, he's laid-back on the track."

At what point last year did you think this horse was North America Cup material?

"Jim Mulinix, who trained him last year, said he started realizing that when he put the horse in more serious action, he became more serious."

It must make you feel good about the job you and your staff is doing when you're handed one of the top two-year-olds, if not the top two-year-old in country?

"Absolutely...I've known Jim for years. He asked me right after the elimination for the Metro."

What are your thoughts on Lost In Time adding a high-profile owner in 'The Nature Boy' Ric Flair?

"If the horse turns out to be a good horse it could be good promotion. I'm not into [pro wrestling] but I think it's a big sport in North America and it has the same type of passionate fans as harness racing, so I think it could be good. Anytime we get some celebrity in the sport...I don't think it's going to hurt us, anyway.

"He seems like a nice guy, I met him down in Florida. With him and [co-owner] Scott Robinson, it gets to be a lot of fun...I don't know who's the wildest!"

Previous Profiles:

► Trot N.A. Cup Spring Book: #3
► Trot N.A. Cup Spring Book: #4
► Trot N.A. Cup Spring Book: #5
► Trot N.A. Cup Spring Book: #6
► Trot N.A. Cup Spring Book: #7
► Trot N.A. Cup Spring Book: #8
► Trot N.A. Cup Spring Book: #9
► Trot N.A. Cup Spring Book: #10