Trot Insider continues to profile the horses predicted to be the top contenders for Canadian harness racing's richest prize, the 2020 Pepsi North America Cup.

This year's edition of the North America Cup was originally slated to be contested on Saturday, June 20 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. On Wednesday, Woodbine Entertainment CEO Jim Lawson announced the race would be postponed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to the viral outbreak, TROT Magazine compiled its annual ranking of the horses expected to be in contention for the 2020 Pepsi North America Cup.

Continuing the countdown, Cattlewash comes at #4 in TROT Magazine's 2020 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book at odds of 12-1.

A son of the great Somebeachsomewhere - Road Bet, Cattlewash was a winner of four races out of 13 starts in his two-year-old season while earning $333,201. His triumphs included the $80,950 Bluegrass Stakes at The Red Mile where he took a career best of 1:50.3, two divisions of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and a division of the Pennsylvania All Stars. Cattlewash was second to Breeders Crown Champion Papi Rob Hanover in the Matron at Dover Downs and was third in both his Breeders Crown elimination and final. During his freshman year, Cattlewash was campaigned by trainer Ron Burke for breeder and owner Bill Donovan.

Trot Insider was able to catch up with trainer Ron Burke for an update on Cattlewash.

How has life changed for you with everything surrounding COVID-19?

“It’s very weird for me, obviously I’ve never had this much of a break from racing, it’s different but there is good and bad to it all. I get to spend more time outside walking the dogs and stuff like that, it’s a different lifestyle. My family and my barn have all stayed healthy so we have that to be thankful for.”

Where did Cattlewash winter after his season was done?

“He ended up having to stay in New Jersey. So he wintered in Jersey and just got turned out at Fair Winds Farm.”

When did you bring him back in?

“He didn’t come in until almost February. He had extra time off because he went so late into his two-year-old season.”

What are the differences in him from two to three?

“He was a big colt last year and had matured at the end of the year so much that basically it's just been a progression of where he finished the year. At the end of the year he was getting better. He's a bigger horse and he’s learning to handle his size.”

What did you have mapped out for him leading up to the N.A. Cup?

“I never do that. I knew we would do the Sire Stakes before. I'll let him tell me where he wants to be.”

How is he staked after?

“He is staked for everything, I think he can go with all of them so he is going to be given every opportunity to race in every race.”

What makes him such a good horse?

“His size and his gait, he is a Somebeachsomewhere and a big, good looking one like 'Somebeach' was. He is out of a top mare and he has just done everything naturally since we started with him.”

At what point in his two-year-old season did you think he was going to be a top three-year-old?

“He was always in our first group [training down] and usually if you’re in our first group you’re going to be at least competitive on the Grand Circuit.”

Previous Spring Book Profiles:

► 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