The reigning divisional champion in the open pacing ranks served notice this morning that he's ready to reclaim his throne
. Bigtime Ball, the 2009 O'Brien Award winner for Older Pacing Horse qualified in track record time at Florida's Southern Oaks Training Center.
With regular pilot Paul MacDonell making the flight down to sit behind two Gord Irwin pupils, the altered son of Presidential Ball - Keystone Trinidad won his first outing of the year handily, timed in 1:52 - equaling his own track record, set in 2009.
"Paul said he's as good as he's ever been," Irwin told Trot Insider. "He's at 150 per cent."
Last year, Irwin qualified Bigtime Ball twice before shipping him back to Ontario. This year, that won't be the case.
"We're shipping home Saturday and if everything goes well he'll be dropped in the box for the Open pace on Saturday, April 17."