The much anticipated debut of harness racing's top rated sophomore pacer took place on Friday morning at Southern Oaks Training Center in Florida in front of a throng of onlookers.
In rein to regular driver Phil Hudon for trainer James "Friday" Dean, Big Jim was on top for every call, posting fractions of :29.3, :58.1 and 1:24.4 before hitting the wire in 1:52.3 ahead of two horses from the barn of Erv Miller - the same trainer as Big Jim's divisional rival Shadyshark Hanover.
"Erv [driving GD Airliner] came at us around the final turn but he was fine," said Hudon. "He's a gorilla, just an amazing animal."
Carr told Trot Insider that the plan was to qualify Big Jim in the 1:54 range but the colt was well within himself and under wraps at the wire. The fastest mile ever recorded at Southern Oaks is 1:52.
"I'm standing beside him now and he's not even blowing," stated Carr after the mile.
Rated #1 in both the USTA Experimental Speed Ratings and in the Trot North America Cup Spring Book, Big Jim will now ship home to Canada with plans to qualify at Mohawk Racetrack before making his sophomore pari-mutuel debut.
Can't wait to see him race,
Can't wait to see him race, good luck Friday