You would think that a filly defeated only once in 20 lifetime starts would cause a driver forced to line up to her outside some serious concern.
On today's Trot Radio, one of the top trainer-drivers in Canada, Alberta's Gerry Hudon discusses his chances against BC invader Mystic Maiden - driven by Gerry's brother, Dave Hudon - in Friday's elimination for the Western Filly Pace at Northlands Park. Gerry drives Queen Of Swing for Keith Clark from post eight with Dave and Mystic Maiden to his inside in post seven.
"I think [Queen Of Swing] will be fine. She's a mare that has to be in the hunt," stated Hudon. "I think that other mare coming from the Coast, she's never really raced against these kind of fillies before. It's going to be interesting to see what happens at the end of the day.
"[Mystic Maiden] is a good filly and she's got a ton of talent, but the Coast three-year-old fillies aren't the same as what we have in Alberta. The quality of three-year-old fillies this year in Alberta is about as tough as anything. That one of Kelly Hoerdt's, River Lass, she don't stop and she don't give up. She went :52 or :53 at Lacombe, she went some big trips. And that other mare has never had one look in her bridle the whole way, that could make a difference. So you'll know if she's a racehorse."
The opening weekend for the Fall 2010 harness racing meet at Northlands is jam-packed with stakes action. Hudon also goes over his chances aboard Harold Haining's Revolver and Hot Attack in the Western Pace elims on Saturday, as well as his chances with two of his own horses - pacing filly Big Bang Theory and colt Bachelor Pad.
"I really like him a lot," said Hudon on Bachelor Pad. "He just seems like a colt that don't ever give up, he's always trying, and he's a very relaxed horse. I expect big things out of that colt this Fall."
Episode 162 – trainer-driver Gerry Hudon
Audio Format: MP3 audio
Host: Norm Borg
Entries for this weekend's action at Northlands are available below.
- Friday, November 19: Entries -- TrackIT program
- Saturday, November 20: Entries -- TrackIT program
- Sunday, November 21: Entries -- TrackIT program
(Photo credit: Coady Photo)