Foiled Again has drawn Post 2 and has been named the 2-1 morning-line favourite for the $120,500 Battle of Lake Erie, which will take place Saturday, July 20 at Northfield Park.
Saturday will mark Foiled Again's fifth appearance in the Battle of Lake Erie. The dash has been carded as Race 11, and if Foiled Again wins it, he will become the first horse in the history of the event to win it three times.
The eight-year-old son of 2000 Battle of Lake Erie champion Dragon Again won the event in 2009 and 2011, joining Jaguar Spur (1988-89), Peruvian Hanover (2002-03) and Maltese Artist (2005 and 2007) as the only four horses to win the 'Battle' twice.
Age does not seem to be slowing Foiled Again, who is now nine years old. He has paced his last five races in under 1:50. Foiled Again is trained by Ron Burke and has recorded 70 career victories and earned $5,176,444. Those career earnings rank him as the richest pacer in history.
The 2013 Battle of Lake Erie field appears below. Final driver selections will be made by 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 18.
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer - Morning-Line Odds
1 - Aracache Hanover - TBA - Gregg McNair - 7-2
2 - Foiled Again - Tony Hall - Ron Burke - 2-1
3 - Rockin Finish - Dan Noble - Virgil Morgan Jr. - 12-1
4 - Thinking Out Loud - Dan Noble - Robert McIntosh - 6-1
5 - A Rocknroll Dance - Dan Noble - Jim Mulinix - 4-1
6 - Clear Vision - Chris Page - Ron Burke - 15-1
7 - State Treasurer - Aaron Merriman - Ian Moore - 8-1
8 - Versado - Andrew McCarthy - Nick Surick - 10-1
Since its inception in 1986, the Battle of Lake Erie has drawn the best veteran pacers the sport has to offer. Past Battle champions include racing greats Falcon Seelster, Quite A Sensation, Jaguar Spur, Dorunrun Bluegrass, Cambest, Riyadh, Gallo Blue Chip and Maltese Artist.
An impressive undercard featuring two $30,000 divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes for three-year-old colt trotters and a $35,000 OSS division for three year-old old colt pacers will support this year’s Battle of Lake Erie program.
Superfecta wagering has been added to Saturday’s eleventh race as well as a $10,000 guaranteed Pick-4 pool. Saturday’s Pick-4 will conclude with the Battle of Lake Erie. First-race post time is 6:30 p.m.
(Northfield Park)