by Joe Hartmann, for the Breeders Crown

Campbellville, ON — Veteran trainer William Zendt wasn’t able to be in the winner’s circle at The Meadowlands when his mare Always Cam defeated former Horse of the Year Bunny Lake to win the $300,000 Breeders Crown Mare Pace at The Meadowlands in late July of 2004.

Zendt, who manages a stable of nearly 30 horses, had suffered a broken collarbone and was overseeing his other horses as he watched the mare win from his home base of The Meadows.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Bill and Leslie Zendt, with their Breeders Crown hopeful, Hidden Viggorish.

This year, an unusual turn of events has allowed Zendt, the winner of more than 3,000 races as a driver and more than $6 million as a trainer to be able to totally enjoy the experience of preparing his mare Hidden Viggorish to do battle Saturday night in the $250,000 Breeders Crown Mare Trot at Mohawk.

For the first time in recent memory, The Meadows, his home facility, has been closed for renovation in preparation as a racino in slots-enriched Pennsylvania.

“We haven’t had much of a break for years,” Zendt said after Hidden Viggorish finished jogging on Tuesday morning. “This has actually been a very nice experience. We brought four up to race here and sent 10 over to Chester for the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes and then there was another 10 we sent to be turned out and freshened up so they will be ready when The Meadows hopefully opens back up in October. It all depends on when they have the new paddock up and running.”

Zendt was not pleased about drawing the nine hole with Hidden Viggorish but feels that with the right trip, his mare has as good a chance as any in the field.

“She really has not seen much of this type of competition this year,” Zendt said. “We have not pushed her and our approach with her has been pretty laid back. This will be by far the sternest test she has had all season. But she closed very strong in her elimination and will probably have to do it from off the pace again Saturday night.”