The Liebaus and Volkman claimed Trailthefox for $50,000 in July, then scored stakes victories with him in the Bull Page at Woodbine and the Arlington-Washington Futurity (gr. II) at Arlington. Patrick Biancone, who has trained Trailthefox since the claim, will remain as conditioner. Biancone trained horses for Liang in Hong Kong during the 1990s before having his license suspended last fall for a medication violation. The 48-year-old native of France who trained All Along to a 1983 Horse of the Year campaign was licensed in California earlier this year and has a string of 20 horses, all but Trailthefox for Frank Stronach. Biancone said as of Nov. 1 that he will operate a public stable after being contacted by a number of Hong Kong-based owners wishing to race in California. "I'm not rushing to build the stable," Biancone. "It will grow gradually."
Trailthefox, breaking from the 13 post and listed at 50-1 on the morning line, will race for the partnership of Liang, Debbie Volkman, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Cheung, and Keith Stein.