from Western Fair Media Relations

London, ON — They say familiarity breeds contempt, but for five starters and the same number of trainers in Friday night’s (May 20) Molson Pace eliminations at Western Fair Raceway, it might very well mean an advantage.

Several of the starters have already made appearances in Western Fair’s signature event which started in 1972 and have demonstrated they are comfortable with the half-mile track.

This will mark Foiled Again’s third start in the Molson Pace. The 7-year-old gelding by Dragon Again, who has $2.3 million earned lifetime, finished a close second in last year’s $293,280 final and in his elimination. The previous year he won his elimination but finished fifth in the final after being locked in most of the way.

Also making his third appearance in the Molson Pace is Lucky Man, who was second in his elimination last year and then sixth in the final after making an early miscue. The previous year he won his elimination by two lengths, despite a brief bobble, and then was a very close second to Stormaway in the final.

Michigan trainer Joe Seekman has three starters in the Molson Pace eliminations in Perrito Caliente, Four Starz Trace and Annieswesterncard. Only the latter has experience in the event, having finished third in his elimination last year and fourth, by a length, in the final.

Legal Litigator competed in last year’s Molson Pace and finished second by a head to Stonebridge Terror in his elimination but was last in the final. Anderlecht also took part in last year’s event but finished fifth in his elimination and therefore did not advance to the final.

On the training side, five of the conditioners sending horses out in Friday night’s eliminations have captured at least one previous Molson Pace title.

Hall of Famer Bob McIntosh, who will start Rock Me Please and Jackets Required on Friday, leads the way with three previous Molson Pace titles. He won in 1989 with Bond Street, in 2001 with Intrepid Seelster and 2005 with Ponder.

Ron Burke, who will harness Foiled Again and Atochia on Friday, won last year’s edition with Won The West, with stablemate Foiled Again just a head back in second.

Gregg McNair, who also has two starters in the elims on Friday, Stonebridge Tonic and Aracache Hanover, won the 2008 test with Eagle Luck.

Casie Coleman, who also has two in Friday’s elims, Legal Litigator and Lucky Man, captured the 2006 Molson Pace with Our Lucky Killean.

Ben Wallace, who will start one of the favorites, Art Professor, in the first elimination, won the 1996 edition with Hogan’s Heroes.

Friday’s two eliminations will line up as follows. The top four finishers from each will advance to the C$300,000 final.

Race 6
1. Perrito Caliente–Rick Zeron
2. Four Starz Trace–Luc Ouellette
3. Atochia–Yannick Gingras
4. Stonebridge Tonic–Sylvain Filion
5. Art Professor–Jody Jamieson
6. Legal Litigator–Mark MacDonald
7. Rock Me Please–Mike Saftic
8. Part Shark–Scott Coulter

Race 11
1. Anderlecht–Scott Coulter
2. Foiled Again–Yannick Gingras
3. Annieswesterncard–Luc Ouellette
4. Jackets Required–Mike Saftic
5. Valentino–Jody Jamieson
6. Lucky Man–Mark MacDonald
7. Ideal Race–Rick Zeron
8. Aracache Hanover–Sylvain Filion