Pacing colt Woodstock showed enough talent in his six-start rookie campaign to warrant a top 10 spot in Trot Magazine's Pepsi North America Cup Spring
Book.
Throughout the course of the week, the SC website will countdown to the Spring Book favourite, complete with updates from the trainers on the pacers that Trot staff assessed as the leading contenders for the richest prize in Canadian harness racing. Watch for the full list of Spring Book odds in the April issue of Trot Magazine.
With odds of 22-1, Metro Pace elimination winner Woodstock comes in at #8 and Trot Insider discussed the colt's progress with trainer Noel Daley - the first of his two colts in the NA Cup Spring Book Top 10.
Where did he winter?
"He wintered down in Kentucky. He's part owned by Brittany (Farms), so after his last race down at Lexington we just left him down there."
When did you start back with him?
"He was sent back to us before Christmas, and actually got back to us in New Jersey before All Speed Hanover did."
Have you noticed any changes from last year to this year?
"The Metro took something out of him. He wasn't good during his last race in Kentucky. He was eligible to more races after that, but we just decided to quit with him.
"He grew a lot over the winter. He's a leggy colt and not that robust. He was a late foal and was kind of immature -- we've always known that he would be a better horse later. I've never had a horse that enjoys himself more. He has a great attitude."
When will he qualify?
"We will probably qualify him at the Meadowlands either the end of April or the first of May."
What will his early schedule look like leading up to the Pepsi NA Cup?
"He's eligible to the New Jersey Sire Stakes, so we have options. We are able to choose between NJSS races before we decide on either the Jersey Classic or Burlington. From there it's on to the North America Cup."