Won The West, fresh off his win in the Breeders Crown, will look to make it two in a row over some of the top older male pacers around when he squares off against nine rivals in the $50,000 elimination for the Canadian Pacing Derby

. The first eight finishers will advance to the $700,000 final on September 5 at Mohawk Racetrack.

Shark Gesture and Bettor Sweet received byes into the final based on seasonal earnings. Shark Gesture, who won the William R. Haughton Memorial on July 11 at the Meadowlands, has banked $575,970 this year while Bettor Sweet, who won the Pacing Classic at Mohawk on June 13, has $560,128 in Canadian earnings.

The field in post position order for the Canadian Pacing Derby elim is Southwestern Dream, Mr Saratoga, Shadow Play, Bigtime Ball, Camshaft Hanover, Won The West, Art Official, Silent Swing, Eagle Luck, and Mister Big.

Won The West, driven by Jim Morrill, Jr. and trained by Ron Burke, won the Breeders Crown Pace by 1-1/4 lengths over favourite Shadow Play in 1:47. Art Official was third. The time was the fastest Breeders Crown mile in history and only one-fifth of a second off the world record. Won The West, a five-year-old, has earned $1.79 million in his career.

“Halfway down the lane you could tell other horses were starting to tire and [Won The West] was starting to quicken,” Burke said. “It’s a big rush. That’s as much fun as I’ve ever had watching a race.”

The victory by Won The West made him the fourth different winner in the division’s last four major stakes, joining Shadow Play in the U.S. Pacing Championship, Mister Big in the Ben Franklin, and Shark Gesture in the Haughton. Art Official won the Breeders Crown prep.

Mister Big is the Canadian Pacing Derby’s defending champion.

(Harness Racing Communications)