The countdown to the 2014 North America Cup is on, with Trot Magazine profiling the horses predicted to be the top contenders for Canadian harness racing's richest prize.
Limelight Beach is one of five colts in the top 10 with a freshman record of 1:50 or faster. The son of Somebeachsomewhere took his record of 1:49.4, winning a division of the Bluegrass at The Red Mile.
At 22-1, Limelight Beach comes in at #10 in Trot Magazine's 2014 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book. The Ohio-based colt won six of ten starts at two for trainer by Brian Brown, who provided Trot Insider with an update on the sophomore.
Where did he winter?
"When we picked him up he was turned out at Spring Run Farm in Ohio from [the last race in] Lexington until the start of December. He went to Spring Garden Ranch for the Winter."
How long was he turned out?
"He was right at two months, a little less."
Where are you at with him right now?
"He's been a mile in 1:57 down there at the Ranch. He was on the truck leaving Florida on Monday, so he'll probably get a couple of days off, train light on Saturday."
Have you noticed any changes from last year to this year?
"I'm not sure if there's a big difference. He's a big, tall, lanky horse, he might weigh a little more now. but he doesn't look a lot different than he did last year.
"His attitude is great right now. Last year, we always had to watch this horse ...you couldn't train him by himself, you couldn't get him off by himself. In a race, he'd slow down and wait on them. He's not like that this year. He seems to be all 'go'."
When will he qualify?
"In a couple of weeks, he'll be ready to qualify if not a few days before that.
"I'm not sure if I'm going to the new track at Miami Valley or to The Meadows to qualify him."
What will his early schedule look like leading up to the Pepsi NA Cup?
"We'll probably qualify twice, then maybe get one start at The Meadows, then to a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes event at Pocono mid-May, and then the next start might be the North America Cup eliminations so he might only get two starts before he comes up there."
What does his tentative schedule look like after the NA Cup?
"He's got most everything; I don't have him in the Triple Crown, I have him in the Jug but he's not in the Cane or the Messenger, he's in about everything else -- Adios, Hempt, Meadowlands Pace, Jug, one week of Lexington, Breeders Crown, American National, Monument Circle -- he's got a full card."
How does this colt compare to the son of Somebeachsomewhere you campaigned at three last year, Beach Memories?
"Beach Memories, it took him a couple of starts before you started saying 'gee, this is a really nice horse.' "
"This horse is probably farther ahead at this time; he was a better two-year-old than Beach Memories. But this horse has gotten to be a really good trainer. Early as a two-year-old he was a terrible trainer, that's why he's a gelding. He's really come around this year."