“Sebastian K has been a really good horse, but every horse gets beat.”

With a dominating performance in Friday night’s elimination, Sebastian K heads into the Maple Leaf Trot final with a victory in 1:52.2 and the opportunity to pick his post position. Leaving from the rail in next weekend’s $603,000 event, he will be in the hunt for back to back victories on Canadian soil.

Three-time Maple Leaf Trot winner Rod Hughes would agree that the horse “looks freakishly fast right now,” but isn’t sold on the horse’s invincibility.

“I don’t think he’s been in deep enough yet; I think the Maple Leaf Trot offers a different surface than he’s used to, which can have a real impact on a horse that races without shoes. Back to back weeks isn’t his style, but he will be in it.”

Holding the belief that the final offers the calibre of horse able to take on Sebastian K, Hughes is leaning towards Market Share (PP2, Tetrick) and Mister Herbie (PP6, Condren) to take it all.

“North America breeds and produces horses, good horses that are capable of ultimate success. San Pail is one of many.”

The horse to beat has shown wicked speed since arriving in North America, trotting the fastest mile in history over Mohegan Sun Pocono in 1:49. Mister Herbie will be seeking a second Maple Leaf victory after posting a stakes record of 1:50.4 in 2012.

“It’s tough to go much faster [than 1:50.4] but if it’s a warm enough night and the temperature is right, we could see these horses break it.”

San Pail, three time winner of the coveted Maple Leaf Trot, has seen his fair share of European competition. The Breeders Crown Final at Woodbine in 2011 hosted a stunning showcase of athleticism as he raced wire to wire, holding off Rapide Lebel and Commander Crowe. Though the gelding was staked to this year’s Trot, Hughes chose to bypass it.

“I don’t want to push him too hard, but he will be back this fall. He’s been going in 2:10 and we’ll start getting serious in a month and a half. I am hoping he can capitalize on Canadian soil. It would have been nice to go for four [Maple Leaf Trot titles], but the horse comes first.”

Though we won’t see them go head to head in Saturday’s final, Hughes believes that 'Pail' would be in contention with a horse like Sebastian K.

“I would never bet against ‘Pail’ and with both horses at the top of their game, I have no doubt that San Pail could go with him.”

Mohawk plays host to a night of exciting races full of fierce competition, going to post at 7:25 p.m. The full field for the evening’s Maple Leaf Trot can be found below.

$603,000 Maple Leaf Trot

1. Sebastian K
2. Market Share
3. Intimidate
4. Archangel
5. Wishing Stone
6. Mister Herbie
7. Creatine
8. Undercover Strike
9. Flanagan Memory
10. Modern Family
AE1. Wheeling N Dealin

(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Hannah Beckett)