Coleman Discusses Cup-Bound Sportswriter

Like Somebeachsomewhere before him, some argue that Sportswriter's greatest accomplishment to date has not come in victory, but in defeat

. There has been much talk about the O'Brien Award winner since he started his quest toward the Pepsi North America Cup earlier this spring, and with the eliminations for the $1.5 million event this Saturday, trainer Casie Coleman has discussed her charge with Trot Insider.

After a taxing, gutsy trip during the opening three quarters of the Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Colt Pace at Woodbine Racetrack last fall, Sportswriter went another round with All Speed Hanover in the lane. The colt dug in like a true champion, didn't give an inch, and was just beaten a head by his foe in a showdown that few will forget any time soon.

It is for that reason why there have been many avid followers scratching their collective heads trying to figure out where that Sportswriter has been so far in 2010.

The Artsplace colt put in a trio of qualifying miles before his two pari-mutuel races this season. The first of the colt's pari-mutuel dashes resulted in a quarter-length loss in 1:50.2 during a conditioned event. The second performance came this past Saturday during the Burlington Stakes where the 2009 Metro Pace winner encountered traffic trouble around the final turn and could only muster a fourth-place finish in 1:51.2.

"First start this season he got beat," Coleman told Trot Insider prior to the draw for the 'Cup' elims. "We wanted to race him from off the pace but still win, but he was three-high around the final turn, closed well and just got beat.

"We were obviously looking to win again on Saturday (in the Burlington), but he had unreal traffic trouble. Mark (driver Mark MacDonald) said that he was at least 10 lengths back along the (final) turn and was three-high through the turn. He should've been better, but he needed that mile."

Acknowledging that Sportswriter has not been himself this year, Coleman shed some light on what has been hindering the World Record holder.

"We've had to deal with two quarter cracks since his second qualifier -- one on each of his front feet," Coleman explained. "He had one after his second qualifier and another after his third qualifier.

"I haven't been able to train him as much this year because it has been one thing or another with him. He's a tough, tough horse. You can see that the quarter cracks have been stinging him this year, but he's such a tough horse that he just wants to go on through it all. You can see it with the way that he's been racing his last quarters (final quarter miles in his races)."

Coleman told Trot Insider that she trained Sportswriter this morning at the training centre in 1:59 with a final quarter in :27 and a back half in :55. She noted that Sportswriter went the trip with Flip Flop shoes on, which were momentarily a new edition to his equipment. He shouldn't get used to them because he won't be sporting them Saturday in the Cup elims.

"He wore steel shoes in all of his races last year," Coleman told Trot Insider. "This year we switched him to aluminum (shoes) because they are lighter and some horses will go faster with them on. We are going back to the steel shoes for this Saturday. I don't know if it was the shoeing changes which have led to the foot issues that he has encountered this year, but we are switching back to the steel."

It's not just the shoes which Coleman and company are changing.

On many occasions this year, Sportswriter has been consciously raced from off the pace. The colt put forth his best showing last year while plying his trade either on or very close to the front end. Now, Coleman says, expect more of the same.

"We had been racing him from off the pace this year," she said. "Last year he raced up near the front, and that is what we are looking to do with him from now on."

Sportswriter has been drawn into the first of three highly-anticipated eliminations for the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup this Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack.

To view the complete draw for the Cup elims, click here.