Paul Davies can clearly see the forest, despite the trees. Although the horseman has made it well known that Outlawgrabbingears may not be the easiest Standardbred to look at, he knows that the bay is more than just quality stock. The trainer has now divulged that his speedy pacer will be on the move sooner than later.

Davies recently commented on Outlawgrabbingears’ conformation, and, as many may remember, he didn’t have the best of things to say.

The trainer, who is also one of Outlawgrabbingears’ co-owners, referred to the bay as “a skinny, ugly horse.” In a nutshell, he also went on to explain that the gelding’s conformation could be better. “He’s toed out; his hips stick out. It’s hard to keep weight on him. People can’t believe the way he looks and what he’s done. To look at him you wouldn’t think he was much.”

Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

It appears as though Outlawgrabbingears simply shrugged off Davies’ smack talk, as the son of Smart Shark went out and dominated the $45,400 Maverick final last weekend at Century Mile. Davies was in tow when Outlawgrabbingears left from Post 7, cut all the fractions (:27.3, :56, 1:24) and sprinted home in :27.2 for the gate-to-wire score. The win time was 1:51.2 and the margin of victory was four and three-quarter lengths. The clocking was just a fifth of a second off of the track record, which was set by Jewels Dragon in an elimination for the Western Canada Pacing Derby.

Outlawgrabbingears, pictured victorious at Century Mile during the final of the Maverick Stakes.

Aside from what Davies thinks about Outlawgrabbingears’ looks, he has a lot of confidence in his charge – enough to take the next step and compete against some of the nation’s top Standardbreds.

First things first, though.

Outlawgrabbingears is currently readying for Alberta’s November 2 Super Finals, which will see four $75,000 races for two- and three-year-olds be contested at Century Mile. Beyond that, a move east will eventually be on the docket, according to Davies.

At some point after Alberta’s Super Finals, Outlawgrabbingears will be headed to Ontario’s Woodbine Mohawk Park and will be put in the care of Davies’ father-in-law, John Cecchin.

Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame communicator Curtis Stock broke the news this week in his column for the Horse Racing Alberta website.

“[Outlawgrabbingears will] get a couple of months off and then (Cecchin will) train him towards some aged-horse stakes,” Davies said. “I’d love to keep him here (in Alberta), but there are no stakes races for aged horses out west.

“After the mile he paced on Sunday, it’s hard to say how good he can be. I’m guessing he can go in under 1:50.”

(With files from Curtis Stock/thehorses.com)