“It’s going to be nice to be there and if she wins it will be a dream come true. I’ve been looking to take Mr. O’Brien home my whole life
."
Trainer Travis Umphrey's career year in 2011 turned plenty of heads, with a personal best in earnings and possibly the nod for a coveted O’Brien Award courtesy of a fleet-footed filly.
After eclipsing $1.2 million in purse earnings last year, it’s only fitting that Umphrey will be in attendance at the O’Brien Awards, which celebrates Canadian harness racing’s best, on January 28.
Along with See You At Peelers, Monkey On My Wheel is nominated for three-year-old pacing filly of the year honours in Canada. The daughter of Mach Three captured the Breeders Crown and over $800,000 in earnings this past season,
Monkey On My Wheel is co-owned by Umphrey along with breeder Mac Nichol. The consistent 10-time winner led her rivals in the Ontario Sires Stakes program in 2011.
Umphrey, a veteran trainer in Alberta before moving East to Ontario in early 2009, admits the decision was one of the most difficult he’s ever had to make, but one he certainly doesn’t regret.
“It was tough to leave your friends and your family,” Umphrey admited. “It was coming to a point whether you go do something else or move here where horse racing is a lot stronger.”
Umphrey, 42, currently has 28 horses in training at First Line Training Centre near Mohawk Racetrack. One of those is Monkey On My Wheel, who resumed training in late December for her four-year-old campaign.
"She's back in training, she looks great and filled out some more, noted Umphrey. "We're looking to have her ready end of February - depending on the weather and so on. We're really happy with the way she's come back so far."
(with files from WEG)