"Maybe the drive wasn't as good as what we wanted it to be but she just didn't have it. It's like if you've got a sore foot, it's like running around with a stone in your shoe."

Can 2010's Horse of the Year and defending champion Dreamfair Eternal bounce back and defend her title on Saturday night? On today's episode of Trot Radio, we get the latest on the double millionaire from her owner John Lamers. Lamers told Norm Borg that the recent downturn in form is no fault of her own.

"It all started back in the Milton, she got interfered with pretty well, [Scott] Zeron veered over to the right and hit her back wheel. She went offstride and consequently she hit her right foot, hitting the left foot and causing a bruise. We didn't realize this until later, once the bruise got set in it turned into a pus pocket and she was very sore on it.

"It finally got through to that over a period of five or six weeks, and it popped and she's coming back into pretty good form."

As it turns out that pus pocket came at a terrible time, as it went undetected heading into the 2011 Breeders Crown. Many felt that Dreamfair Eternal would successfully defend her title there but it wasn't to be as the mare finished ninth and didn't advance to the final.

"Randy knew there was something wrong and he said 'you guys are missing something' and we're thinking 'well, Randy, you might not have given her a good drive'. Randy and I, we're good friends and we had a discussion about this. Basically in the elimination all we had to do was beat out a couple of horses, we thought it was in the bag. Maybe the drive wasn't as good as what we wanted it to be but she just didn't have it. It's like if you've got a sore foot, it's like running around with a stone in your shoe."

According to Lamers, she's recovered from that issue and will head into Saturday's Forest City Pace ready to give it her all. Lamers, who lives just east of London in Ingersoll, Ont., is appreciative of local support he gets at Western Fair.

"It's always nice to meet and greet all the people around. They always wish you well and it's a great feeling."

Chris Christoforou will guide the seven-year-old mare on Saturday night from post position 5, with morning line odds of 6-1 just inside of 7-5 favourite Anndrovette.

To listen to the full interview with Borg and Lamers, click the play button below.

Episode 239 – John Lamers

Audio Format: MP3 audio

Host: Norm Borg

The Forest City Pace, which will head postward as Race 12 on Western Fair's Saturday card (7:05 p.m. first-race post time), has been reduced to eight starters, as Seriously has been scratched by her connections due to sickness. The two mares with the outside posts, Chancey Lady and Ticket To Rock, will leave from the two trailing positions.

The revised field will go to post as follows:

(Head No. - Horse - Post Position - Driver - Trainer - Morning Line Odds)
1 - Warrawee Koine - PP1 - Ja. Brewer - C. Johnson - 9-2
2 - Voelz Hanover - PP2 - M. Baillargeon - B. Baillargeon - 8-1
3 - Ginger And Fred - PP3 - T. Henry - R. Burke - 4-1
4 - Blissful Smile - PP4 - S. Zeron - T. O'Sullivan - 7-1
5 - Dreamfair Eternal - PP5 - C. Christoforou - P. Fletcher - 6-1
6 - Anndrovette - PP6 - T. Tetrick - M. Kesmodel - 7-5
7 - Chancey Lady - PP8 - R. Shepherd - M. Kesmodel - 6-1
8 - Ticket To Rock - PP9 - J. Jamieson - T. O'Sullivan - 5-1

To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at Western Fair, click the following link: Saturday - Western Fair

Please note that the opinions expressed in the featured interview are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect Rideau Carleton Raceway and/or Standardbred Canada.