“I’d say he’s filled out and he’s a little more rank. He’s a stud colt and he’s a little louder and a little more obnoxious.”

Last year’s Metro Pace winner Mystician enters the Trot 2011 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book at #8 with odds of 22-1. Trot Insider caught up with trainer and co-owner Jeff Gillis for an update on the Camluck colt’s time away from the track and early season plans.

Where did he winter?

“He spent the winter at Darlene Hayes’ turnout farm.”

When did you start back with him?

“The last week of January.”

Where are you at with him right now?

“He’s been in 2:15.”

Have you noticed any changes from last year to this year?

“I’d say he’s filled out and he’s a little more rank. He’s a stud colt and he’s a little louder and a little more obnoxious.”

When will he qualify?

“His first start is scheduled to be the Upper Canada Cup on the 16th of May, so we’ll qualify him twice, probably somewhere around the 1st and 8th of May.”

What will his early schedule look like leading up to the Pepsi NA Cup?

“He’ll likely have a few starts heading into the North America Cup and it kind of depends on how he comes back too. Our main focus is Ontario – the Ontario Sires Stakes, the Upper Canada Cup and those races – and if he’s good enough to compete with the likes of Big Jim in the Grand Circuit stakes then we’ll try that too, but we’re aiming low and hoping for high.”

What does his tentative schedule look like after the NA Cup?

“We’re just going to take it one start at a time.”

Throughout the course of the week, the SC website will countdown to the Spring Book favourite, complete with updates from the trainers on the pacers that Trot staff assessed as the leading contenders for the richest prize in Canadian harness racing. Watch for the full list of Spring Book odds in the April issue of Trot Magazine.

(courtesy Standardbred Canada)