McWicked is back in the Stable That God Loves, and according to his Aurora, Ont. owner Ed James, is as good, or better, than he was during his three-year-old year when he campaigned with the continent’s best sophomores and earned a whopping $1.48 million.

At three, McWicked was a multiple stakes winner, recording many important victories, including the Hempt and the Adios. He also won an elimination heat of the North America Cup, and capped the season cruising to an impressive 1:48.4 tally over JK Endofanera in the $301,560 Progress Stakes. His 12-5-4 record from 23 starts earned him three-year-old pacer of the year honours in Canada and the U.S.

With a hefty lifetime bank account of $1,766,476 already in the ledger, McWicked could reach the $2-million plateau by year’s end for Ed James, who purchased his first harness horse some 59 years ago.

“He’s one of the finest and richest horses that I’ve owned,” said James, of the big bay horse that he purchased as a two-year-old at Harrisburg for $210,000. Although he earned $104,000 in 2015, it was not a good year for the now five-year-old son of McArdle. He failed to reach the winners' circle in ten attempts.

“When you’re hot you’re hot, when you’re not, you’re not,” said James. "McWicked was not hot so he was turned out in October. We collected semen from him and test bred two of my broodmares this spring.”

McWicked spent the winter in James (Jimmy) McDonald’s Pompano barn, where he qualified in 1:51.4 on April 16. “He has no problems and has come back very strong and I am looking for good things from him this year,” said James. “He is heavily staked in the U.S., and in Canada in the Canadian Pacing Derby.”

This year McWicked will race out of trainer Steve Elliott’s barn at the White Birch Farm in Allentown, New Jersey.

“I am expanding my breeding operation in New York because I feel there are more opportunities and a much better future for horse racing in New York and in the U.S. than in Ontario.”

The Stable That God Loves is a major harness racing promotion and fundraising program that involves horsemen donating one per cent of the 2016 purse earnings of a designated horse, or horses, to assist the crucial service provided by the homeless Standardbred Racetrack Chaplaincy of Canada, that is dedicated to providing for the emotional, physical, spiritual and human needs of the horse racing work force in southwestern Ontario.

Stalls are always available in the Stable That God Loves. Every trotter, pacer, or Thoroughbred is welcome and guaranteed a stall.

Please send requests for stall space to Ken Middleton: [email protected], or Norm Clements: [email protected].

For regular up-to-date postings on the Stable That God Loves©, follow on Facebook and on Twitter @StableGodLoves.

(Standardbred Racetrack Chaplaincy of Canada)