So far this season, trainer and co-owner Mark Austin has much to be happy about. His stable star, Fool Me Once, remains a perfect three-for-three as he heads into the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes this Saturday at Mohawk.
The son of Art Major has banked $32,500 so far this season and will begin from post one.
“I’m very happy with him so far this season, but his undefeated streak could come to an end on Saturday,” Austin said with a chuckle. “I’m very pleased with the way he’s been finishing his miles and he’s more of a complete horse this year.”
The seven-time winner enjoyed a successful campaign last year which earned him $126,652 along with a 1:51.4 seasonal best at The Red Mile.
“He had a very good year last year, but he was still green,” Austin said. “When he’d go out to warm up, he would be looking at everything and not paying attention to his business. That has all changed this year. He’s mentally stronger.”
A $70,000 yearling purchase, Austin always had high hopes for his youngster while training down as a rookie, but recalls one instance which really caught his eye.
“He did everything right training down and I always thought he was capable of being a really good horse. One day when I took him into Grand River [Raceway] to go a mile in the bike for the first time, I asked him to ‘go’ and he ripped off a :27 quarter and then I really knew that we had something.”
When Fool Me Once takes part in his $75,000 divisions of the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes he will face his toughest test of the season to date.
“That’s a good group of horses in there and that’s why I said his win streak could get snapped,” Austin said. “He’s staked heavily this year, but whether he can go face-to-face with the top colts each week is something were not sure of. If that’s the case, we’ll take on the New York Sire Stakes horses and hopefully be fresher at the end of the year than the top colts.”
Fool Me Once has a career bankroll of $159,152 for co-owner Dan Smith.
Formerly called the Burlington Stakes, the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes is named after the great pacer who captured back-to-back horse of the year honours. The Somebeachsomewhere is the springboard to the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup, which takes place on June 15 at Mohawk.
To view entries for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Mohawk Racetrack.
(WEG)