Trot Insider has learned that the much-anticipated seasonal debut of pacing powerhouse Put On A Show has been put on hold

until 2012.

According to the mare's co-owner Richard Young, Put On A Show is still showing soreness in the knee that required surgery earlier this year. While the surgery was a success, Young reports that more time will be needed.

"We tried to cut down the rehab time so that she could be ready in September," Young told Trot Insider. "Last week she trained fine but pulled up showing some soreness. The vet says she needs a little more time and if we want to bring her back this year, that's time we don't have."

As his prized pacer sits on the sidelines, Young is keeping his eye on the older pacing mare division while trying to find another horse to add to his stable. "For the first time in years I have nothing racing!"

After watching this Saturday's Ellamony Classic at Flamboro Downs Young, not one to pull his punches, asserted that "Dreamfair Eternal is still the best mare at this point but she's beating up on a bunch of four-year-olds. I think the division is a weaker bunch than usual."

In January, Young, his wife Joanne and daughter Brittany partnered with Woodbine Entertainment Group to establish the "A Spring Of Hope Invitational" for aged pacing mares. Young's hopes for a win in this race will, for now, be put on the shelf. When Put On A Show returns, Young is hopeful that giving her time to heal and grow will benefit an aged campaign.

"I find that most horses are best at five and six, if they don't have injuries," noted Young. "If 'Show' can come back at five the way we'd expect her to come back, I think she will be better at five than four."

Trained by Chris Ryder, Put On A Show won 19 of 25 races in her two- and three-year-old seasons, taking a mark of 1:49.4 at the Red Mile while banking in excess of $1.9 million for owners Craig Henderson and Richard & Joanne Young. Her bankroll is the highest in harness racing history for a pacing filly over two seasons.

(Photo, L-R: Put On A Show, Tim Tetrick, Richard Young, Craig Henderson, Chris Ryder. Credit: New Image Media)