MacGrath says Somebeachsomewhere is 'ready' for U.S. debut

The undefeated 3-year-old colt pacer Somebeachsomewhere is just one day away from making his United States debut Saturday in the eliminations for the Meadowlands Pace, and co-owner and trainer Brent MacGrath says his charge is “ready” and that he is “very happy with how he’s coming into the race. He’s better than he’s been, that’s for sure. His foot is better, he’s feeling good, and he’s sharp.”

A winner in all six of his freshman starts last year in Canada, Somebeachsomewhere earned honors as co-Horse of the Year in his home country as well as Dan Patch Award divisional honors in the U.S. despite never setting foot in the country. The son of Mach Three has won all three of his starts in 2008, his last coming June 14 in the $1.5 million North America Cup at Mohawk. His career earnings now stand at $1.58 million for the Schooner Stables of Nova Scotia.

“I trained him last Sunday at Mohawk in (1):55, coming a quarter in 25 seconds with him,” MacGrath told harnessracing.com Friday morning from Mark Ford’s training center in Middletown, N.Y., where he brought Somebeachsomewhere on Wednesday from his home base at Mohawk Racetrack. “I have to be at the Meadowlands by 11 o’clock tonight (for detention). We’ll get in there around 9 o’clock. I’ll jog him a mile on Saturday morning at the Meadowlands just to keep him on his routine.”

MacGrath said the Meadowlands Pace elim and hopefully then the $1.1 million final Saturday, July 19, will be Somebeachsomewhere’s only two starts in the U.S. before returning to Canada. He said he is bypassing the Oliver Wendell Holmes at the Big M on Hambletonian day, Saturday, Aug. 2, in order to race the colt in a pair of Ontario Sire Stakes Gold contests at Mohawk.

MacGrath has stated several times this year that although he paid the nomination fee he has no plans on entering Somebeachsomewhere in the Little Brown Jug on Sept. 18 at the Delaware, Ohio fairgrounds.

“The next time we’re in the U.S. will be in Kentucky (at The Red Mile in late September),” said MacGrath. “(The Jug) is not in the equation. It hasn’t been in the plan all along, and I’m trying to stay on my plan. And it’s been working. So no, I am not considering it.”

« Back