MacDonald admires Sportswriter
July 12, 2010,by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications
![](http//ustrottingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/36925-Kenw2010.jpg)
Ken Weingartner
Freehold, NJ — Driver Mark MacDonald’s admiration of Sportswriter continues to grow.
The colt overcame foot trouble to win the $1.45 million North America Cup on June 26 at Mohawk Racetrack. Last weekend, he overcame heat woes to advance to Saturday’s $1 million Meadowlands Pace.
“He’s a warrior,” MacDonald said. “It seems like we’ve always got something to overcome with this horse. He’s just such a game horse. One of these days, everything is going to come together for this horse. It’s been one thing after another, but he seems to show up for the big dances. That’s the main thing.”
![](http://ustrottingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/37916-SportswriterKW.jpg)
USTA/Ken Weingartner photo
Sportswriter is seeking to become the ninth horse to win both the North America Cup and the Meadowlands Pace.
Sportswriter won seven of eight races last year, including the $1 million Metro Pace in a world record performance, and earned $815,680 on his way to being voted harness racing’s top 2-year-old male pacer in both the U.S. and Canada. He has one victory in five starts this year, but it was a big one — the North America Cup.
Trained by Casie Coleman, who is seeking to become the first female trainer to win the Meadowlands Pace, Sportswriter is looking to duplicate Well Said’s North America Cup-Meadowlands Pace double in 2009. Others to win both races are Rocknroll Hanover (2005), Gallo Blue Chip (2000), The Panderosa (1999), David’s Pass (1995), Cam’s Card Shark (1994), Presidential Ball (1993), and Precious Bunny (1991).
Presidential Ball and Rocknroll Hanover are the only horses to win the Metro Pace at age 2 and also win both million-dollar races as 3-year-olds.
Sportswriter grabbed the final spot in the Meadowlands Pace by being the fastest fourth-place finisher from the three elims last weekend. He was timed in 1:48.1 and finished two lengths behind winner OK Commander, who was clocked in 1:47.4.
He reached the final despite being adversely affected by the heat and suffering muscle cramps two days prior to the eliminations. Saturday’s race at the Meadowlands marked Sportswriter’s first start away from home in Ontario.
![](http://ustrottingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/37916-MacDonaldMark-MAH_3322.jpg)
USTA/Mark Hall photo
Mark MacDonald will be making his second appearance in the Meadowlands Pace.
“We were hoping he’d just be good enough to overcome it, and he was,” MacDonald said. “He was digging at the wire, which is just insane given the week he had.
“Considering what could have been…we could have been in the consolations. I’m really happy to be in the final. He’s here now and he’ll be acclimated. He’ll be a hundred percent by Saturday.”
Sportswriter is owned by Steve Calhoun, West Wins Stable and Southwind Farm. Coleman claimed her third Trainer of the Year honor in Canada in 2009, to go with her previous O’Brien Awards in 2005 and 2006. She is making her third appearance in the Meadowlands Pace final, having finished fourth with American Ideal in 2005 and ninth with Art Colony last season.
MacDonald is making his second appearance in the Pace final; he drove Shark Gesture to a fifth-place finish in 2005. He heads into this year’s race full of confidence.
“Those other horses are good, but (Sportswriter) is a special horse; he really is,” MacDonald said. “If he can get lucky and draw good and get in a position where he’s fresh, look out.”
- Rock N Roll Heaven leads the way in the Meadowlands Pace Elims (Saturday, July 10, 2010)
Flash Result: Rock N Roll Heaven, Rockin Image and OK Commander win the Meadowlands Pace Eliminations.
- The heat is on for Dave Palone (Monday, July 12, 2010)
July has been a hot month for driver Dave Palone, and it has nothing to do with the sweltering temperatures in recent weeks.
- Meinzinger hopes for last laugh in Meadowlands Pace (Monday, July 12, 2010)
Mathias Meinzinger knows about struggles in both the business world and harness racing game.
- Takter hopes to show off Rockin Image in Meadowlands Pace (Tuesday, July 13, 2010)
Jimmy Takter believes Rockin Image is the best 3-year-old pacer in the country. He hopes on Saturday night that the nation sees what he sees.
- Rock N Roll Heaven is favored in Meadowlands Pace (Wednesday, July 14, 2010)
Rock N Roll Heaven and driver John Campbell will start Saturday’s $1 million Meadowlands Pace at Meadowlands Racetrack from post No. 3 and were installed the 5-2 morning line favorites.
- Bellino enjoying the ride with Rock N Roll Heaven (Wednesday, July 14, 2010)
It was almost as if fate dictated Frank Bellino should own Rock N Roll Heaven, who enters Saturday’s $1 million Meadowlands Pace as the morning line favorite.
- Teague looks for I’m Gorgeous to turn heads (Thursday, July 15, 2010)
George Teague, Jr. hopes I’m Gorgeous looks good in Saturday’s $1 million Meadowlands Pace.