Drivers profile by Kimberly Rinker, Maywood Park/Chicago

Antonio Valente, 65, carries the colors of our neighbors to the north, with the red Canadian Maple Leaf, housed on white silks. A Laval, Quebec native and resident, Valente began training and driving harness horses in 1994 and has since become an accomplished horseman, competing mainly on the Troi Rivers and Rideau Carleton ovals. One of his top horses was the trotter Habil PJ, a 17-race winner of $198,074, with a mark of 6, 1:56.4s.

As a driver Valente has 21 career wins and $89,906 in earnings, while as a trainer he’s amassed 123 victories and $888,240 lifetime. In 2007 he scored a 4-3-2 record from 16 starts behind the gate for $20,079 in earnings with a .396 UDR. As a trainer his best season came in 2000, when he harnessed 13 winners to $158,868. He’s also scored two additional $100,000+ seasons, in 2001 and 2004. This season he’s campaigning the pacer Satanslittlenumber p,2,1:59.4s ($32,650) with great success.