by Ayers Ratliff, Northfield Park Publicity Department

Northfield, OH — Foiled Again drew post two in Saturday’s (July 20) $120,500 Battle of Lake Erie and has been named the 2-1 morning line favorite by Northfield Park Executive VP/Director of Racing Dave Bianconi.

Foiled Again will appear in the Battle an unprecedented fifth time and Saturday’s 11th race will reveal if he is successful in becoming the first horse in Northfield Park history to win this event three times.

The 8-year-old son of Dragon Again (2000 Battle champion) won in 2009 and 2011, joining Jaguar Spur (winner in 1988-89), Peruvian Hanover (winner in 2002-03) and Maltese Artist (winner in 2005 and 2007) as the only four horses to win the Battle of Lake Erie 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 garnered 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:

Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer-M/L
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

Final driver selections will be made by 9 a.m. on Thursday (July 18).

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 3-year-old colt trotters and a $35,000 OSS division for 3-year-old old colt pacers will support this year’s Battle of Lake Erie program.

Superfecta wagering has been added to Saturday’s 11th 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.