I've had many that show up and surprise me training down just so-so, and they do surprise you in a good way and bad way -- I've had both happen -- but when they've got that extra gear they show you that early and he did the same thing, right from the time we were going full miles."
The countdown to the 2016 Pepsi North America Cup continues, with Trot Magazine profiling the horses predicted to be the top contenders for Canadian harness racing's richest prize.
At 8-1, Betting Line checks in at #3 in Trot's 2016 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book.
The son of Bettors Delight was an O'Brien Award divisional finalist, boasting a sensational seasonal summary of 6-2-2 in 12 starts. A $60,000 yearling purchase, Betting Line picked up $540,422 in purses at two, counting wins in the Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final, Champlain, two OSS Golds and his Metro elim for trainer Casie Coleman, who co-owns with West Wins Stable, Christine Calhoun and Mac Nichol. Coleman provided Trot Insider with an update mid-week.
Where did he winter?
"He wintered at Hunterton Farm in Kentucky, that's where he was turned out after the Breeders Crown."
When did you bring him back in to start training?
"I brought him back just before Christmas and he's been training down here at the South Florida Trotting Center."
Where are you at with him right now? (as of April 6)
"I was in 2:02 with him on Saturday; he went a couple of slow trips this morning and he'll go in 2:00 on Saturday."
Have you noticed any changes from last year to this year?
"He's grown quite a bit this year...he was a small colt, definitely one of the smaller two-year-olds I had last year and this year he's grown quite a bit, he's longer, he's filled out...he's actually a really good-sized colt this year, so I'm really happy with that."
Did you feel the horse needed to add much size from two to three?
"I was hoping he did; I've had other horses that were small but did well at three and four but I was obviously hoping he did because he was a smaller colt."
When will he qualify?
"He's shipping home on April 17, usually it's about two weeks for me to get them over the ship, depending on how the horses handle it...as long as he handles it fine, I'll say right around early May.... He will qualify twice."
What's his early schedule looking like leading up to the Pepsi North America Cup?
"I definitely plan on going to the Somebeachsomewhere. He does have a [Ontario Sires Stakes] Gold before that, but it's at London. I see no reason why he won't get over the half-mile track, I'm just not sure I want to start [his season] on a half...I'm a little bit up in the air over where his first start will be."
What is he staked to past the North America Cup?
"He's pretty much full staked. I plan to hit most of the Golds...as long as there's not a Gold the same week, he's in a stakes race somewhere. He's got a busy schedule ahead of him."
At what point last year did this horse show you North America Cup-level talent?
"Really, right him from the time he started. I don't know what it is but whenever we've had the real good ones like Sportswriter, Betterthancheddar, Art Colony...horses like that, right from the beginning these horses show you they've got that extra gear."
What makes this horse such a great competitor?
"How smart he is and how easy he is to handle...His turn of speed is unreal. And his lungs, I still can't believe that Breeders Crown mile, finishing fourth, it was insane. Any normal horse would have been up the track and finished last, no doubt. He just doesn't give up."