by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

Freehold, NJ — Il Villaggio might have a tough road in Sunday’s $237,213 Matron Stakes for 3-year-old colt trotters, but the fact he is on the road at all is an accomplishment. The colt, who won the 2009 O’Brien Award as the best 2-year-old male trotter in Canada, suffered what was originally thought to be a season-ending soft tissue injury during the spring.

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Il Villaggio has drawn post four in Sunday’s Matron Stakes final.

But Il Villaggio made it back to the races in late September and returned to the winner’s circle on Nov. 2 in an overnight at Woodbine. He also was second to Breeders Crown champ Break The Bank K in a division of the Bluegrass Stakes on Oct. 23 at The Red Mile. Il Villaggio led most of the way before losing by a half length in 1:51.3.

Last weekend, the horse was fourth in the Matron elimination. He raced on the outside the entire mile and was beaten by 5-3/4 lengths by Wishing Stone, who was timed in 1:53.3.

Il Villaggio will start the Matron final from post four with driver Jody Jamieson. Wishing Stone, who won the Kentucky Futurity on Oct. 16 at The Red Mile and was second in the Breeders Crown, got post three while Break The Bank K drew post eight.

“Wishing Stone drew inside us and Take My Picture (post two) is a nice horse; he’s handy, too,” Il Villaggio’s trainer Blair Burgess said. “He’s got two handy horses inside of him, so that makes it difficult. Whether he leaves or doesn’t leave, he’s not going to be parked the entire mile. That’s not going to happen.

“Hopefully, we have a better shot, but no matter what, (Wishing Stone) is going to be hard to beat. He looked so good last week and he’s just so handy and he’s good right now. It’s going to take a lot to beat him. I have to be realistic.”

Last year, Il Villaggio won six of eight races and earned $464,521 for owners Brittany Farms, Blue Chip Bloodstock and Il Villaggio Partners. His triumphs included the $478,950 William Wellwood Memorial at Mohawk and the $200,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes championship at the Meadowlands.

Il Villaggio was the No. 1-ranked trotter in the 2010 Experimental Ratings, which ran in the March issue of Hoof Beats magazine and rated the top 3-year-olds based on their projected best win times for this season. But in late April he injured his left leg while turned out in a paddock.

“(The injury) is gone,” Burgess said. “We worked on it and he had time, too. The only factor (in returning this season) was time — whether we had enough time to get back this year. He’s good gaited and very quick; pacing horse speed. He’s got a good attitude.

“He was a little aggressive in Lexington, but I think that was probably the way I had him rigged, and a knee boot dropped down on him, too. We opened him up (his bridle) the last two starts and raced him off the pace. We raced him off the pace because I think it’s just better in the long run. If we did what we did in Lexington every week, there won’t be anything left of him.”

Burgess said Il Villaggio’s future was up in the air. He could race as a 4-year-old or stand stud.

“There are some new slot jurisdictions out there, like Indiana, and there’s New York maybe needing a trotter, or even Ontario,” Burgess said. “I think there are some jurisdictions that would be interested in standing him, too, because of (sire) Yankee Glide. He looks the part and he was a 2-year-old champion. But it’s up to the owners, it’s not my decision.”

Here is the field in post position order with listed drivers and trainers: 1. Blacktuxwhitesocks, John Campbell, Jessica Okusko; 2. Take My Picture, Andy Miller, Nikolas Drennan; 3. Wishing Stone, George Brennan, Dewayne Minor; 4. Il Villaggio, Jody Jamieson, Blair Burgess; 5. Hard Livin, Yannick Gingras, Jimmy Takter; 6. Freedom Ridge, TBA, Harold Brocklehurst; 7. Flex The Muscle, David Miller, Ray Schnittker; 8. Break The Bank K, Brian Sears, Trond Smedshammer.