"We really like racing up here, it's nice to have a crowd and have people watching the races. It makes it better, makes it feel more like a sport. I love racing at Mohawk, it's big-mile racing and the fans can get right down to it. Even at Woodbine, hearing the people cheer the horses home in the clubhouse at the Breeders Crown, it's great."
After trouncing his foes in world record time last October at Woodbine, Sweet Lou established himself as one of harness racing's must-see stars for this season. Ranked at #1 in the Trot 2012 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book with odds of 3-1, Trot Insider talked to the colt's trainer, Ron Burke for a status report
Where did he winter?
"Down with the stable in Florida."
When did you start back with him?
"January 15"
Where are you at with him right now?
"Trained in 1:52 today (Friday) at the Meadows, we're just looking to get some speed into him now."
Have you noticed any changes from last year to this year?
"He's always been a mature horse, both physically and mentally. He's well put together."
When will he qualify?
"This Friday at the Meadows. We'll likely take a week off and then qualify him again."
What will his early schedule look like leading up to the Pepsi NA Cup?
"PA Sire Stakes will be his first race. After that it depends, we might do PASS or the Somebeachsomewhere. We'll let him make up his mind."
What does his tentative schedule look like after the NA Cup?
"He's staked to everything. The Adios is home for us, and the owners of this colt have never won it. It's our biggest party of the year and it would mean a lot to the owners."
Any other North America Cup eligible colts that are possible contenders?
"Rockweiller went a mile in 1:54 today (Friday) at the Meadowlands. He's as fast as the other horse, he just needs to be more mature and sharper mentally."
Trot's 2012 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book Top Ten is as follows. Watch for the full list with odds in the April Trot and on the SC website on Monday.