Harness racing: Top 3yo Speed Again to miss $1.5 million NA Cup

Speed Again, a top freshman last season, will miss this year’s $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup, which is slated for Saturday, June 16 at Mohawk Racetrack.

The son of Dragon Again-Sand Speed banked $497,421 last year as a rookie, with a runner-up performance in the Governors Cup at Harrah’s Chester and a third-place finish in the Metro Pace at the Campbellville track for trainer Jeff Gillis.

The six-time winner also lowered the Mohawk track record for a 2-year-old gelding when he crossed the wire first in 1:50.3.

“We’re currently dealing with a pair of curb issues,” Gillis said. “It just happened recently. He was on schedule when it happened and had schooled a couple of times at Mohawk.”

Gillis also noted that no timetable has been assigned for Speed Again’s return.

“Whenever you’re competing at this level it’s hard to predict when you hope to be back,” he said. “Curb issues are usually not career-threatening, but you just cannot race when your horse isn’t 100 percent.”

Gillis, who was Canada’s Trainer of the Year in 2011, remains positive in the weeks ahead.

“I’m not going to say we faced bad luck, because we have been pretty fortunate over the past few years,” Gillis noted. “His issues certainly were unexpected because he was a very sound horse last season and had no issues training down this season.”

A $82,000 yearling purchase, Speed Again boasts a record of 6-3-1 from 12 starts in 2011. He is co-owned by Gillis, along with Mac Nichol, Gerald Stay and Ken Henwood.

(edited press release - WEG)