While trainer Luc Blais has a pair of chances for a million-dollar win on Saturday night, the horse that got him his first million-dollar win has been shut down for the year.
Blais told Trot Insider that Forbidden Trade, the 2019 Hambletonian winner that was named Canada's Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year, suffered an injury that will keep him sidelined for the remainder of 2020.
The four-year-old son of Kadabra - Pure Ivory was last entered to race in the John Cashman Jr. Memorial Trot on Hambletonian Day (August 8) at The Meadowlands but was scratched from that race.
"I think he needs to rest for three months and start from there," said Blais. "He has a little problem on a back leg and needs to rest. It's a shame but it's part of the game you can't control."
The good news for his followers and connections is that the injury isn't thought to be career-ending and Forbidden Trade is pointed for a return to harness racing as a five-year-old.
"For sure we'd like to race him again, but we'll see."
Owned by Determination of Monteal, Que., Forbidden Trade sports a 16-4-2 summary from 30 career starts with earnings approaching $1.5 million.