Last year's Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace winner and half-mile track world record holder This Is The Plan will face a stiff challenge in his title defense this coming Saturday at Saratoga Casino Hotel as he faces seven other top pacers including a couple of Canadian-connected contenders.
This Is The Plan will look to defend his title in the 13th edition of the $250,000 Gerrity when he leaves from post two in the evening's sixth race with regular reinsman Yannick Gingras in the bike. Trained by Ron Burke, the seven-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding, who has amassed more than $2.7 million in purses lifetime, holds the world record on a half-mile track of 1:47.3 that he set in the Battle of Lake Erie last year at Northfield Park. His stablemate Workin Ona Mystery will have the inside post with Tim Tetrick listed to drive.
Linedrive Hanover, Canada's fastest pacer on a half-mile track, has drawn post position seven and will have Brian Sears in the sulky for Ontario-based trainer Anthony Beaton and owners West Wins Stable of Wellington, Florida, McKinlay & Fielding of Toronto, Ont., and Mac Nichol of Burlington, Ont. The four-year-old Betting Line gelding has won 11 of his 16 starts this year, including a 1:49 Canadian record performance in the Charles Juravinski Memorial Cup at Flamboro Downs. Most recently, he finished third in the sizzling 1:46.1 final of the Graduate Series on July 9 at The Meadowlands.
Former O'Brien Award winner and millionaire pacer Tattoo Artist, with Wally Hennessey picking up the mount, will start just outside of This Is The Plan from post three. Trained by Chris Ryder, the five-year-old Ontario-sired son of Hes Watching enters the Gerrity off a third-place finish in last Saturday's 1:45.4 world record mile in the William R. Haughton Memorial at The Meadowlands, where he paced his own last quarter in :25.4.
Also coming out of that historic race is Nandolo N (post four) and Dragon Said (post eight). The Ontario-owned son of Sunshine Beach, Priceless Beach, has drawn post five and Mach Three gelding Leonidas A will take another shot at the Gerrity this year from post six.
Notably absent from the field is another Canadian star, Jimmy Freight, who has been sidelined from a couple of his scheduled events due to an injury.
Here is a look at the complete Gerrity field in post position order:
$250,000 Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer
1. Workin Ona Mystery - Tim Tetrick - Ron Burke
2. This Is The Plan - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
3. Tattoo Artist - Wally Hennessey - Chris Ryder
4. Nandolo N - Jason Bartlett - Shane Tritton
5. Priceless Beach - Matt Kakaley - Jared Bako
6. Leonidas A - Austin Siegelman - Steven Finkelstein
7. Linedrive Hanover - Brian Sears - Anthony Beaton
8. Dragon Said - Joe Bongiorno - Jennifer Bongiorno
AE1. American Dealer N - Joe Bongiorno - Linda Toscano
AE2. Charlie May - Tim Tetrick - Jody Riedel
Post time for the first race is 6:45 p.m.