Scarff's Dream Becomes Reality

An owner from Nova Scotia whose primary business is automotive sales, with a colt entered in the North America Cup eliminations, sired by Mach Three from a Beach Towel line dam. Sound familiar?

No, this isn't the story of 2008 Cup winner Somebeachsomewhere. It's 2010 entrant Mach Dreamer, who carries the hopes of the Maritimes in this year's edition of Canada's richest harness race and the richest prize in harness racing for pacers of any age.

Steve Scarff's journey to the Cup started 10 years ago with the purchase of Boy Meets Girl, a yearling filly by Jennas Beach Boy. Scarff and his partners ponied up $60,000 for the filly whose racing career did not pan out.

"She ended up foundering at three, but the trainer said she had a big heart so I took a chance on her as a broodmare," Scarff told Trot Insider. A deal was made for Scarff to own the mare outright, and Boy Meets Girl met up with Ontario-based stallion Mach Three in the breeding shed.

"I own about a dozen mares but quite a few of them are from the Abercrombie line," noted the Halifax resident. "She [Boy Meets Girl] was the one that crossed best with Mach Three."

The result of that mating is Freckly Sara, a $245,000 winner who is now six and still racing. Seeing how well the cross worked, Scarff went back to Mach Three in 2006 resulting in Freckly Sara's full-brother, Mach Dreamer, who was entrusted to the same trainer that developed his sister - renowned conditioner Murray Brethour.

"I think quite highly of Murray, he's an old-fashioned horseman who shoots straight with you and gets a good base under the horses before racing them," said Scarff. "We have a good partnership. I've known him for about six years, and I have about seven or eight horses with him now."

Though Scarff and Brethour have achieved success in the past with horses like Open class and stakes winner Kindly Poet, this is Scarff's first appearance as an owner in the North America Cup eliminations, with Scarff giving ample credit to both trainer Brethour and the words from one of Mach Dreamer's early drivers.

"After his first race at Mohawk last year [in which Mach Dreamer finished a hard-closing second], Luc Ouellette got off the bike and said 'you've got a real good one here'," noted Scarff with a smile. "I think the colt really impressed Luc and we raced him conservatively at two to make sure he came back strong at three."

With two successful qualifying efforts upon returning for his sophomore campaign and two wins in three starts at Woodbine, Scarff pointed his colt to the $500,000 Upper Canada Cup. After challenging the pacesetter first up in his elimination, Mach Dreamer faded and finished fifth. After the race, the colt scoped sick.

"He wasn't 100 per cent the week after either," finishing second in the $50,000 Consolation event.

Knowing his colt would improve and could compete, Scarff entered last Saturday's Burlington Stakes. Despite sitting 11th and last at the half, Mach Dreamer uncorked a :53.2 back half to finish third and earn his spot in the entry box for Saturday's North America Cup eliminations. Mach Dreamer drew the rail in the second elim (Race 7) against the likes of Upper Canada Cup winner Haul Away (PP8), and stateside invaders All Speed Hanover (PP5) and Fred And Ginger (PP9).

"I'd hate to be in that first elim," stated Scarff. "And while I'd rather be on the middle around the four or five hole, I'd rather have the rail than the outside."

Just 24 hours before Mach Dreamer faces his toughest test on the racetrack, his sister Freckly Sara will face her last test. After Friday's race at Mohawk, the mare who is in foal to Western Ideal will be retired to the broodmare ranks. It should also be noted that on Saturday morning, the two-year-old full brother to Scarff's Mach Three siblings, Drain Daddy, will make his qualifying debut at either Kawartha Downs or Mohawk. Scarff his hoping that, in more ways that one, history can repeat itself.

"I've paid him up to the Metro."

To view the fields for the 2010 Pepsi North America Cup eliminations, click here.