Woodbine Entertainment Group announcer Ken Middleton, Jr. has spoken with the trainers of Muscle Hill, Federal Flex, Encore Encore and Explosive Matter for an update on the high-calibre three-year-old trotting
colts.
Middleton's updates appear below -- his questions are in bold, followed by the particular trainer's answer.
Where did he spend the winter, and when did he come back?
He jogged for three weeks after the Breeders Crown and then he had a month at Southwind Farm in Pennington, New Jersey. They purchased a significant interest in him and he’ll stand there when he finishes racing. He’s been back in my barn at White Birch Farm since the end of January.
Have you noticed any changes in the colt from last year to this year?
He got a little taller and filled out some, but he always kept good flesh. He was always a horse with great manners right from the time I baby raced him. He looked good when I got him back in January. He looked good at the end of the year when we put him away, too. He's always been a very healthy horse with a glossy coat. He seemed as fresh after the Breeders Crown last year as he was after Peter Haughton and his races in Lexington. His effort in the Breeders Crown was an amazing mile. Brian [driver Brian Sears] said in the Breeders Crown he handled like a sports car. I really think Brian presented the horse very well.
Was there something you felt Muscle Hill needed to improve at?
I really can't say that there was something because what helped him a lot was his maneuverability. He really showed a high turn of speed in Lexington, and I think that's when a lot of people started to give him the accolades. Some high-end trotting trainers said he was the best two-year-old trotter they had ever seen. It's hard to compare year to year but it was quite an honour to hear them say that.
Have you made any changes to his equipment?
He was rigged the same from the final of the New Jersey Sires Stakes through the rest of the year. Nothing has changed so far. He wore steel shoes and a set of earplugs that were never pulled because there wasn’t a string to pull them.
Where is he at as far as training/jogging is concerned?
He’s not on a regimented training schedule. His schedule is mostly dependent on the weather and track conditions at this point. He jogs 30 minutes a day and when I train him I go a couple of trips; one in 2:45 and then a trip in 2:25. I let him go where he’s comfortable. He’s a very fit, athletic type, and I really didn’t want to let him down all together at the end of last year. He still gets turned out at White Birch Farm, too.
When will you aim to qualify him?
Traditionally the NJSS event for three-year-old trotting colts goes on Memorial Day (May 25, 2009) in the U.S. I’ll qualify him a couple of times around then.
What will his first month of racing consist of?
He’ll have the second round of the NJSS and then the Historic followed the Stanley Dancer Memorial. It looks as though he’ll probably have four or five starts before he heads into the Hambletonian.
Where did he spend the winter, and when did he come back?
He spent the winter with me at Mac Nichol’s farm, Ideal Training Centre, in Acton, ON. He started jogging in the last week of January.
Have you noticed any changes in the colt from last year to this year?
He’s put on some weight and filled out a bit, too. He’s always been super intelligent, but he actually got a bit silly over the winter just because he’ so sharp and feeling so good. That’s nothing I’m too concerned about, however.
Was there something you felt Federal Flex needed to improve at?
Honestly, I don’t really think he has a weakness. He can leave the gate and pretty much do anything you ask him to do. The only thing I’d like him to do is stay healthier than he did last year. We almost shut him down for the year after last year’s Wellwood [William Wellwood Memorial Trot]. I took him to the University of Guelph after he raced so poor in the Wellwood. He seemed to come around after that and we were able to resume training with him in time to race in the Valley Victory. Had he stayed sick much longer we would have simply pulled the plug on him for the year.
Have you made any changes to his equipment?
I haven’t changed anything on him at this point, but we haven’t asked to do much as of yet. He’s a clean-going horse; he could race with anything. We may experiment with aluminum shoes at some point, but we haven’t changed anything as of yet.
Where is he at as far as training/jogging is concerned?
Right now he’s just jogging, generally we’ll five miles a day with him. I really want to put a solid foundation into him. Over the next month he’ll go lots of slow miles and some slow trips.
When will you aim to qualify him?
I’d say three to four weeks before the eliminations for the Goodtimes Stakes, which would put us around mid-May. I’ll probably qualify him twice.
What will his first month of racing consist of?
He’ll have the Goodtimes Stakes, then the Stanley Dancer Memorial and hopefully from there we’ll head to the Hambletonian. That’s what anyone points towards when they get a colt of his calibre; everything pales in comparison to the Hambletonian.
Where did he spend the winter, and when did he come back?
We kept him right here at my farm in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We’re about 30 miles from The Meadows. He got lots of paddock time and he spent some time in the Equicizer for a few months because I didn’t want to let shut down completely. And then he returned to jogging in mid-January.
Have you noticed any changes in the colt from last year to this year?
He looks like he’s been in Florida all winter to be quite honest. He’s slick looking and he feels good. I see him everyday, so to me he looks the same size as he was last year. I guess he put on some weight and hopefully he’ll be ready for this year. One advantage he has is his manners. He’s such a good-mannered horse, and he always was good about everything.
Was there something you felt Encore Encore needed to improve at?
The biggest thing he lacked last year was gate speed. We never got involved in the races early on because he didn’t have the gate speed last year. One thing that really helped was the fact that Tim Tetrick drove him for us last year. We were really fortunate for that to happen. I’m not sure if that will be the case this year because he’s in such high demand. My main objective is to get someone to drive him on a steady basis.
Have you made any changes to his equipment?
The only change I’ve made so far is I took the elbow boots off him. I haven’t asked him for much speed yet, so that could change. They’re something that you’re better off not wearing if you don’t have to wear them. Other than that, pretty much the same equipment. He’ll have a long season if he stays healthy.
Where is he at as far as training/jogging is concerned?
I go five miles a day with him, and we only go two trips when we’re training. I haven’t beat 2:25 with him so far. When the weather cooperates we’ll pick up the speed a bit. When you have your own track, you try to go when the track is good as far as the training is concerned. I go a couple trips a week with him. He stayed fit because I kept him up somewhat, and when it’s time to go any kind of speed I’ll ship him to The Meadows and train him up a bit.
When will you aim to qualify him?
I’m going to qualify him in mid-April. I’ll qualify him a couple of time at The Meadows.
What will his first month of racing consist of?
If the Dexter Cup goes at Freehold, that will be his first race. Then he has a PASS at The Meadows. This year the Currier & Ives will go for a lot more money, so we’re shooting for that, too. I’m going to try to stay as close to home as much as we can. I don’t think he’ll go to Canada for the Goodtimes Stakes, but things could change. He’ll be pointed to the Stanley Dancer Memorial and the Hambletonian.
Where did he spend the winter, and when did he come back?
He spent about six weeks in New Jersey at a turnout farm. He spent some time on the walker while he was there, as well. After that he had three weeks in North Carolina at Chris Coyle’s farm and then he came to my base at Spring Garden Ranch in De Leon, Florida. He’s been back to work since around the end of February.
Have you noticed any changes in the colt from last year to this year?
He just filled out a little; he was always a good type of horse. He’s not a tall horse and not a small horse, just a strong, perfect type of horse. He’s always been a smart animal; pretty easy on himself and very intelligent.
Was there something you felt Explosive Matter needed to improve at?
The only thing I wanted him to do at the end of the season was get a break. Even though he didn’t race until late in the season, he’s a horse that had been working all year. He went from qualifying right into six consecutive weeks of racing.
Have you made any changes to his equipment?
I’ve gone from a blind bridle to a kant-see-back bridle. He got a touch aggressive toward the end of the season, so I opened him up. He has full swedges all around right now. Last year I had half rounds on him up front and full swedges behind.
Where is he at as far as training/jogging is concerned?
He’s jogging up to five miles, and he gets walked 10 or 15 minutes a day. I’ll take him out every second day and train him a slow trip in 2:35. I just like to keep him relaxed and happy. One of his best qualities is the fact that he’s happier coming in after he does his work. He’s not a horse you have to convince to do his work.
When will you aim to qualify him?
I’m going to come back to New Jersey in mid to late April. I’m at Magical Acres in Bordentown, New Jersey. I’ll qualify him in early May. He’ll have at least two qualifiers at The Meadowlands.
What will his first month of racing consist of?
He’s eligible to the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes, so his first start will likely be in a PASS race at Chester or Pocono at the end of May or June. I’ve got him paid up to the Goodtimes Stakes, but I’m not sure if we’ll take him up to Canada or not. We’ll make that call later on. He’s got the Stanley Dancer Memorial before the Hambletonian. I’d like to go into the Hambletonian elims with four or five starts. He’s a very athletic horse, and I think he’ll be good right off the bat.