Super Chapter made an authoritative brush to the lead heading to the half and strode confidently to a track- and Canadian-record 1:49.3 victory in the $620,000 Grade 1 Maple Leaf Trot, a trotting free-for-all event, on Saturday, Sept. 5 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Dexter Dunn eased odds-on favourite Super Chapter out of post two to land in fourth behind a :26.4 battle to the quarter between Go Dog Go (Scott Zeron), French Wine (Jason Bartlett) and Antognoni S (Yannick Gingras). French Wine pushed to grab the lead from Go Dog Go to the backstretch while Antognoni S took back to third and Dunn revved his charge for a sweep.

Super Chapter marched up the rim and took command from French Wine past a :54.4 half as Emoticon Legacy (Bob McClure) surged uncovered on the outside to press the leader. Emoticon Legacy loomed within a length of Super Chapter past three-quarters in 1:22.2, but Super Chapter smoothly rebuffed that rival when kicking for home. The leader then kept the inside seam sealed while drifting mildly for the finish to hold back French Wine and win by three-quarters of a length. Emoticon Legacy stayed on for third.

“It was a pretty good first quarter there,” Dunn said after the race. “As soon as the pace slowed down, I thought if I don't go the front I'm going to be first over with Bobby [McClure and Emoticon Legacy] on my back. We know how fast that horse is, but he's just so brave and so tough, this horse. Bobby was traveling pretty good coming off the turn as well, and [I] had French Wine breathing down my neck as well. So you know, I knew we were going to have to knuckle down pretty good. But this horse gives you so much confidence in him when you sit behind him. He's just awesome to drive and he kicked well today.”

Super Chapter’s 1:49.3 win lowered the track and Canadian record for an aged trotting stallion of 1:49.4, set by Aetos Kronos S in 2025, that he equalled with his victory in the Maple Leaf Trot elimination. The Saturday mile came two-fifths of a second off the stakes record and overall Canadian record set last year by Lexus Kody. Super Chapter also gave trainer Marcus Melander his third win in the Maple Leaf Trot after the conditioner won in 2018 with Crazy Wow and in 2024 with Periculum.

“I'm honoured to win this race again,” Melander said. “I mean, it's a hard race to win, and the horse is amazing. In the last turn there, Emoticon came very close, and I thought it's going to be a big fight there down the wire. And it was, but he really fights them off great. He has his cheek rolls on him, so I guess when he saw Emoticon there, he really started fighting again.”

A four-year-old stallion by Chapter Seven out of 2014 Hambletonian Oaks winner Lifetime Pursuit, Super Chapter – owned by Jeffrey Snyder of New York, N.Y., Arthur Pronti of Jersey City, N.J. and Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. of Hanover, Pa. – ​ collected his fifth win from seven starts this season. He raised his career totals to 19 wins and $3,223,843 from 32 starts, reaching triple-millionaire status with the victory. He paid $3.60 to win. ​

To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Woodbine)