Foiled Again named October’s Horse of the Month
November 5, 2013,from the USTA Communications Department
Columbus, OH — Foiled Again, who last month became the oldest horse to ever win a Breeders Crown, has been named the October Horse of the Month by the United States Trotting Association.
The 9-year-old gelding accomplished the feat on Oct. 19 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, where he beat Pet Rock by a nose in the $500,000 Breeders Crown Open Pace.
USTA/Mark Hall photo
Foiled Again prevailed at the wire to become the oldest horse ever to win a Breeders Crown in the Open Pace at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
The win pushed Foiled Again’s career earnings to $5.65 million and made him the richest North American harness racing horse in history. The victory also moved his seasonal earnings to $1.02 million and made him the oldest horse to ever have a million-dollar campaign. He broke his own record, which he established last year when he banked $1.20 million.
Foiled Again is owned by the Burke Racing Stable, Mark Weaver, Mike Bruscemi and JJK Stables, which is Kevin Koury along with his father Joe and brother Joe Jr.
“He’s not the best or the fastest or most talented, but he knows how to fight,” said Kevin Koury in an interview with Ken Weingartner of Harness Racing Communications. “He just keeps out-gaming and out-toughing them. He just keeps going.”
In his first start of the month, Foiled Again only had to battle three others in the 11th annual $50,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace on Oct. 5 at Batavia Downs. The pacer cruised to a 1-1/4 length victory over Heston Blue Chip in 1:52.
Foiled Again added a little more to his bankroll in the $25,000 Breeders Crown pace elimination at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs on Oct. 12, winning handily in 1:48.2.
That set the stage for his record setting Breeders Crown triumph. He was driven by Yannick Gingras to the win by a nose in 1:49.2 over the sloppy track. Pet Rock was second and Modern Legend was third.
“He definitely fought him off,” said Gingras after the Crown triumph. “He fought them all off. They were coming from everywhere. I was doing my best to get him to go. He got it done tonight and I really, really love this horse. He was used really hard tonight. That’s the way the race played out. I know if there’s any horse in history, or on the racetrack tonight, that you can use, he’s definitely the man.”