by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — It’s time for the Battle of Lake Erie, which means it is time for Foiled Again to make his annual trip to Ohio’s Northfield Park.

The 11-year-old pacer is among the eight horses in Friday’s $175,000 Battle of Lake Erie, marking his seventh appearance in the race. Foiled Again won the Battle in 2011 and 2009, finished second in 2012 and was third in both 2014 and 2010.

He drew post five with driver Matt Kakaley and is 4-1 on the morning line. Molson Pace champion State Treasurer, with David Miller listed to drive for trainer Ian Moore, is the 5-2 favorite from post seven while Luck Be Withyou, with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. driving for Chris Oakes, got post No. 3 and is 7-2.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Foiled Again has his eye on a third Battle of Lake Erie crown as he makes his seventh start in the Northfield Park Grand Circuit event.

Foiled Again, the richest horse in harness racing history, with $6.92 million in career purse earnings, enters this year’s Battle — which features the largest purse in the 30-year history of the event — off a seven-week layoff because of minor throat surgery for an entrapped epiglottis. But trainer Ron Burke believes the gelding is ready for action.

“(The surgery) went very well,” Burke said. “Everything has been positive since then; we’ve had no issues. It’s all good.”

Foiled Again is winless in four starts this year, with one second-place finish and a third, both in the Levy Pacing Series in March at Yonkers Raceway. For his career, the son of Dragon Again-In A Safe Place has won 83 of 228 races and finished among the top three a total of 173 times. He is owned by Burke Racing, the partnership of Mark Weaver and Mike Bruscemi, and JJK Stables.

“He seems like himself,” Burke said. “Everybody was on the retirement bandwagon again, but we’re not retiring him because he had a bad month. He seems happy and everything seems good. He’s ready.”

Foiled Again prepped for the Battle of Lake Erie with two qualifiers at the Meadowlands Racetrack. He won both in 1:51, coming the final quarter-mile in :26 in the first and in :27.2 in the most recent on June 6. In the second, he paced his final three-quarters in 1:22.2 and his last quarter was only one-fifth of a second off the fastest of the day.

“Those qualifiers, you’ll see that all those horses last week will come back sharper than you think,” Burke said. “That was not a perfect track and there was a good headwind. Anyone that got home good that day, I think you mark an extra plus next to them.”

Burke-trained Clear Vision, who won last year’s Battle of Lake Erie, got post No. 1 in this year’s race and is 8-1. Winless in 10 starts in 2015, he will be driven by Chris Page.

State Treasurer surpassed $1 million in lifetime purses with his win in the Molson Pace on May 29 at The Raceway at Western Fair District. A three-time Molson Pace champ, State Treasurer has captured 23 of 75 career starts. His is owned by Sally and Paul MacDonald.

Luck Be Withyou, who has won 13 of 35 career races and $738,176 for owner John Craig, heads to the Battle of Lake Erie off a fourth-place finish in a division of the Graduate Series for 4-year-old pacers at the Meadowlands on June 6. The setback snapped a three-race win streak.

Following is the field in post order for the Battle of Lake Erie with drivers, trainers and morning line:

1. Clear Vision, Chris Page, Ron Burke, 8-1
2. Cammikey, Brian Zendt, Bill Zendt, 12-1
3. Luck Be Withyou, Ronnie Wrenn Jr., Chris Oakes, 7-2
4. Duc Dorleans, Daniel Dube, Marie Dupont, 15-1
5. Foiled Again, Matt Kakaley, Ron Burke, 4-1
6. Big Boy Dreams, Aaron Merriman, Rene Allard, 9-2
7. State Treasurer, David Miller, Ian Moore, 5-2
8. Night Pro, Peter Wrenn, Dale Decker, 20-1

Since its inception in 1986, the Battle of Lake Erie has drawn the very best veteran pacers in North America. Past Battle champions include racing greats Falcon Seelster, Quite A Sensation, Jaguar Spur, Dorunrun Bluegrass, Cambest, Riyadh, Gallo Blue Chip and Maltese Artist.

Friday will reveal if Foiled Again is successful in becoming the first horse in Northfield Park history to win the event three times. He won in 2009 and 2011, joining Jaguar Spur (winner in 1988 and 1989), Peruvian Hanover (2002 and 2003) and Maltese Artist (2005 and 2007) as the only four horses to win the Battle of Lake Erie twice.

This year’s Battle of Lake Erie program carries total purses of $456,500. The 15-race program boasts an impressive undercard featuring five $40,000 divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes for 3-year-old filly pacers and trotters.

Superfecta wagering has been added to Friday’s 11th race, the Battle feature. A $10,000 guaranteed Pick-4 has also been added and covers races eight through 11. First race post time is 6 p.m.

In addition to superior racing action, Battle night will also offer guests a sumptuous buffet in Lady Luck’s clubhouse dining room. The buffet is just $19.95. Reservations are preferred and can be made by calling 330.467.4101.

Guests who want to be close to all of the racing action can stop by the grandstand apron to visit Seti’s Polish Boys food truck. Live music by The Attraxxion will be part of the apron scene from 6-10 p.m. and spin the prize wheel with WMJI’s Chip Kullik from 7-9 p.m.

— Ayes Ratliff also contributed to this report