All three favourites brought their 'A' game to Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday night in capturing their respective $40,000 Metro Pace eliminations for two-year-old colt and gelding pacers.

Nebupanezzar was sent off as the heavy 1-2 favourite in the opening elimination and did not disappoint his backers with a solid 1:51.4 victory for driver Steve Condren. The son of No Pan Intended - Western Wonder did not clear until well past the :27 second quarter, but was never seriously threatened the rest of the way and held on for his fifth consecutive victory.

Artists Rally followed all the way in the pocket and held second with Scottie C rallying late for the show spot. Straight Shooting, with John Campbell driving, was in the midst of an eye-catching rally in the stretch before making a costly break and taking himself out of contention.

Nebupanezzar – Metro Pace elim

"He (Nebupanezzar) is quite a talented colt. I just wish he was a bit quieter tonight," said winning driver Steve Condren. "He was a little bit of a handful tonight, but I'm sure between Bob and his crew, they'll have him better for next week.

"He hasn't disappointed me at all yet, this colt. I tapped him once tonight and I think that might be the first time I did and he had lots to go. There's only one start where somebody got up to him and he put them away that time."

It was a new lifetime mark for the colt who is trained by Bob McIntosh for the Peter Pan Stables of Pepper Pike, Ohio. The winner's share of the purse increased his seasonal bankroll to just over $180,000.

The highly-regarded Annieswesterncard also delivered in the second split for driver Yannick Gingras in a sharp 1:50.4, a Canadian record for two-year-old gelding pacers on a 7/8ths mile track. The clocking lowered the previous standard of 1:51.4 held jointly by Grin Tin Tin and Silent Swing.

The son of Western Hanover - Annie Your A Card set the first quarter pace before yielding to Denim Hanover right at the half in :54.3. Gingras did not sit long, tipping his charge to the outside midway through the last turn. Annieswesterncard grabbed a clear advantage turning for home and was able to hold on easily for the win.

Well Said, who got off to a slow start and continued to lag through much of the mile, hit his best stride late and closed well for the place spot while Count On Art rounded out the top three. The winner returned $4.50.

Annieswesterncard – Metro Pace elim

"John's (Campbell) wheel was half coming apart behind the gate, so having him in front of me, I wasn't real comfortable with that," said Gingras. "I was keeping a close eye on it and around the last turn I had a ton of horse, so I had to give him a shot. This horse always shows last quarters in :26 seconds on his program, so I knew he had plenty of ability."

The victory was the fourth in seven starts this season for Annieswesterncard who is trained by Joe Seekman for Sawgrass Farms Llc. of Lockport, Illinois. His bankroll now stands at just over $73,000.

In the final elimination, Woodrow Wilson champion Major In Art made a quarter-pole move to the front, controlled easy fractions and then cruised to a 1:53 victory for Brian Sears. The son of Art Major - Miami Spice used a strong :27-second final quarter to easily fend off Part Shark and Nicholas C Hanover.

Major In Art – Metro Pace elim

"I'm sure he was a little short tonight," admitted winning driver Brian Sears. "He's still very green you know, going to the front he kinds of let you go a little bit, but when he heard the horses coming on he just picked up the bit and did what he had to do.

"He was running in a little bit. This is a new track, a new surface and banked a little more than he's used to so hopefully they can make a couple of changes or do some vet work, whatever has to be done. He's still kind of figuring things out as he goes along."

The win was the fourth of the campaign in five outings for the Justin Lebo trainee and increased his seasonal take to just over $226,000 for the Major In Art Stable of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania.

The $1 million Metro Pace will be part of a power-packed program next Saturday night at Mohawk, which also includes the Breeders Crown championships for the older performers and the final of the Shes A Great Lady for two-year-old pacing fillies.

All three winners got to choose their posts for the final. Here is the field for this year's Metro Pace in post position order:

1. Nicholas C Hanover
2. Nebupanezzar
3. Annieswesterncard
4. Major In Art
5. Well Said
6. Amazon Art
7. Artists Rally
8. Part Shark
9. Scottie C
10. Count On Art

To view Saturday's results, click here.

(WEG)