Southern Rocketop was not eligible to many of the major trotting stakes, such as the Hambletonian, Kentucky Futurity and Breeders Crown

, so trainer Robert Taylor has spent the last few weeks trying to soak up as much of the experience as possible.

Southern Rocketop was second in the World Trotting Derby and third in the American-National Stakes. He has won eight of 13 races this year and 17 of 27 in his career while accumulating $454,976.

“It’s pretty nice to have a horse like this in the barn,” said Taylor, who took over the training of Southern Rocketop this season. “I’m just trying to enjoy the ride while we can. He wasn’t eligible to a lot of big races. That’s one reason he doesn’t have a lot more money on his card. We’re just trying to make the most of our opportunities and have fun.”

Taylor, who turns 27 on Sunday, was born in Mississippi and lives in southwestern Tennessee, about 65 miles from Memphis. His father, Donnie Ray, was involved in harness racing in the 1980s, but got out of the sport to concentrate full time on being a blacksmith (primarily for three-day event horses). Taylor and his brother, Donnie C., teamed to train and drive horses, although his brother has since joined their father in business.

This year, Taylor’s trainees have won 31 times and earned a career-high $484,263. His top purse win to date was in last year’s $133,000 Lady Lincoln Land with filly trotter Miss Vickie, a $7,000 yearling purchase who has banked $202,074 lifetime.

Southern Rocketop’s Canadian Trotting Classic elim victory was his first win since the State Fair Championship at Springfield, Illinois, on August 20 and his second in six races since mid-July while battling illness. He finished one length behind Muscle Hill in the World Trotting Derby, timed in 1:52.4 with a :26.1 second last quarter-mile.

“He went a good race in the World Trotting Derby. He finished good and strong and he was strong on the end of the mile in this race, too, so I think we’re pretty back on our game now,” Taylor said. “Dave (Magee) said he was in hand, that he had him on cruise control when he hit the wire. Hopefully, we’ll be OK for this weekend.”

Even at a hundred percent, it might not be enough to stop Muscle Hill, who has won 16 consecutive races.

“The way it looks, it doesn’t look like anyone can,” Taylor said. “But it’s horse racing and you never know what can happen.

“You’ve got to give it Greg (Peck, Muscle Hill’s trainer),” he added. “He’s done a great job keeping him fresh and sharp. He’s done a very good job keeping him on his game between races.”

(Harness Racing Communications)