The countdown to the 2015 North America Cup is on, with Trot Magazine profiling the horses predicted to be the top contenders for Canadian harness racing's richest prize.
Lyons Again was a winner of just one start as a two-year-old, but the son of Dragon Again impressed enough to warrant consideration as one of the more promising three-year-olds staked to the North America Cup.
At 23-1, Lyons Again comes in at #10 in Trot Magazine's 2015 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book. The colt, owned by Geoffrey Lyons Mound of Brantford, Ont., was primarily campaigned by Ron Burke as a freshman but was developed by Ontario's Ciaran Morrison. Trot Insider caught up with Morrison, who is preparing the sophomore for his second season.
Where did he winter?
"He wintered right here at the farm. We moved to this farm (just outside Brantford, Ont.) middle of last year. We just turned him out every day and he seemed to enjoy a little bit of downtime here. He put on a little weight and he's looking good at the minute."
How long was he turned out?
"He was off about eight weeks."
Where are you at with him right now?
"He's been about 2:18; he's got plenty of deep pacing miles in him."
Have you noticed any changes from last year to this year?
"He's a gelding now... Ron seems to think he'd be a better colt if he was [gelded] so the owners decided to geld him. I don't see any difference. To be quite honest, I think last year he got a bit hot at the wrong times of the mile. He was good early but he tended to get a little hot and he didn't finish his miles on a couple of occasions as well as he should have. That's not taking away from him, I think he's a top-end colt, for sure."
"The colt has developed a lot. He's a real strong-bodied colt, his attitude hasn't changed much -- he was always happy to do his work. Last year I couldn't, this year I can train him in behind horses just with a happy bridle on ... no overcheck or anything like that.
"I trained him the other day, it was the first time I asked him for a little speed and he responded very well."
When will he qualify and what's his early schedule looking like leading up to the Pepsi NA Cup?
"If he goes to the Somebeachsomewhere it could be a week or two before that."
What is he staked to past the NA Cup?
"It's pretty much across the board. He's a top-end colt, there were a few mishaps with him last year but I think he can improve...I know he can improve this year."
I wish this race had a Future
I wish this race had a Future Wager Pool. My pick for this race would be Go Daddy Go.
I made an earlier comment on my top five picks for the Kentucky Derby. My 2015 Kentucky Derby winner prediction will be Dortmund. This colt will join the list with Affirmed, this colt really has the heart to be a triple crown winner. For me it was his win in the Robert B. Lewis from start to finish just as it was in 2012 with IllHaveAnother. With IllHaveAnother I thought I may have an opportunity to see a triple crown winner. I believe this colt out of Big Brown presents the same opportunity as IllHaveAnother. In 2012 the horse racing industry could of used a triple crown winner, especially for a Canadian owner. I believe the racing industry is still ready for it this year.