Although Canadian and U.S. divisional champion Foiled Again's 2012 debut was foiled by sloppy track conditions last week, trainer Ron Burke says his prized pacer is still on schedule
for his spring campaign.
Foiled Again is now set to qualify Thursday, March 8 at Meadowlands Racetrack en route to his first stakes stop, the Levy Series at Yonkers Raceway. He won all four preliminary legs of the Levy last year and was third by just half a length in the final.
"It's funny, the Canadian tracks have seemed to become his favourite tracks," Burke told The Meadowlands' Ken Warkentin at last Thursday's qualifying session. "He goes unbelievable miles at Mohawk and Woodbine, which I really wouldn't think they'd fit him the best, but for some reason -- the style of racing or whatever -- fits him up there and then Yonkers, his stats there are mind-boggling, so those are probably his favourite tracks."
The eight-year-old gelding, who earned over $1.4 million last season and became the oldest pacer in history to have a million-dollar campaign, is the first pacer older than the age of four to receive U.S. Pacer of the Year honours. Amidst all of Foiled Again's stakes wins last year, including the Graduate, Molson Pace, Battle of the Brandywine, Bobby Quillen Memorial, Indiana Pacing Derby and American National, it was actually a losing Open Pace performance that was the most memorable for Burke.
"It was actually at The Meadows on Adios day; he got beat," noted Burke during the interview. "He got parked every step of the way and got beat by a nose in :49 [1:49.4] and we just kept waiting for him to stop and he just kept going and going. To me that was his signature performance for the year. It was just unbelievable."
Burke also indicated that his other heavyweight pacer, Won The West, is doing perfectly well and both he and Foiled Again will be eyeing Gallo Blue Chip's earnings record this year.
To view Thursday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Thursday Entries (Qualifiers) - Meadowlands Racetrack.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)