Three-Peat To Give Mayotte His First?

“I think he is a strong closer and if he is within striking distance turning for home, he is capable of getting the job done.”

While veteran horseman Roger Mayotte has won the final of the General Brock Trotting Series twice as a driver, he has yet to win it with one of his own trainees.

Mayotte, who won the 2003 edition of the General Brock with the Roy Jeffries trainee Stonebridge Velvet and the 2007 event with the Brad Maxwell-trained Ericskarri, is hopeful that a new addition to his stable can give him that coveted first.

Herbie L’s first task is to contest the $20,000 opening round of the General Brock on Monday at Woodbine.

The son of Pegasus Spur-Phar Khan, who has a record of 20-8-7 in 64 lifetime starts, is going into the first leg fresh off a one and a half length score, a performance where the four-year-old gelding equalled his lifetime mark to 1:55.3.

“Off his last race, where he competed against four-year-olds, I think he fits well going into the General Brock,” said Mayotte of the bay, who has banked $80,226 in lifetime earnings. “He will be racing against horses his own age. Before last week’s win, he was facing older horses in the conditioned ranks and was competitive.”

Herbie L found his way into Mayotte’s stable after Illinois-based trainer Steve Bauder, who was in Ontario with four horses, decided to return to the Land of Lincoln.

Mayotte, who drove the trotter two times before, gladly accepted when Bauder offered to leave the horse with him for the series.

The horseman has become quite familiar with the trotter.

“He is a good-feeling horse on the track” said the Mississauga resident. “You have to always watch him closely because he will try to kick the jog cart.”

With two wins and two second-place finishes in eight seasonal starts for owner Melissa Levan of Woodstock, Ohio, Herbie L will take to the Toronto oval in an attempt to record his third victory as an aged trotter.

“He is a very big horse and has a little trouble in the turns but can fly in the straightaways,” said Mayotte.

In the first of three divisions, Herbie L, who is the 7-2 second choice on the morning line, will leave from post seven in the first race, which has a post time of 7:10 p.m.

The $30,000 second leg, for four-year-old trotters in 2012, who are non-winners of three races or $75,000 lifetime as of midnight, December 31, 2011, is slated for Thursday, March 22, with the $50,000 final scheduled for Monday, April 2.

To view the entries for Monday night's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Entries - Woodbine Racetrack.

(with files from WEG)