While Robin Schadt is hopeful that Odds On Equuleus will be a serious contender for the Little Brown Jug in two weeks time, she's handing over the training duties to someone else in order to get him there.
After a solid freshman campaign, the son of Art Major was expected to be a major player at three. Odds On Equuleus, however, is still winless in eight starts this year. Thus Schadt and co-owner Dana Parham of Odds On Racing made the decision to send their sophomore to another Illinois native: trainer Tony Alagna.
"In the best interest of the horse we decided it was time we had him looked at by a new set of eyes," Schadt told harnessracing.com. "There's been nothing physical, but he's been battling some sickness and scoped sick after his last race [a ninth place finish in the Battle of the Brandywine]. We're still pointing for him to race in the Little Brown Jug in a few weeks."
Odds On Equuleus appeared to have regained his form with solid back-to-back second-place finishes at The Meadowlands with miles in the 1:48 range but then finished off the board in both the elimination and final of the Empire Breeders Class at Tioga Downs. Despite not having a win on the season, 'Equuleus' has banked more than $205,000.
With the addition of Odds On Equuleus, Alagna could be sending up to four pacers into the 2013 Little Brown Jug with Captaintreacherous, Emeritus Maximus and Wake Up Peter also eligible to the second leg of pacing's Triple Crown. Earlier this year, Marvin Katz of the Captaintreacherous Racing stable stated that Captaintreacherous would not set foot on a half-mile track as a three-year-old.